I have a base 2000 with approx. 63,000 mi. Can any one tell me what normal oil consumption is, and if it is related to how hard you rev the engine under acceleration? thanks, all!!

 

That mileage, I would expect 0-1 qt between oil change intervals, even using the DIC which is about 8000 miles for typical street driving. This is provided:

1. The PVC system is working OK (common source)
2. The engine wasn't abused with cold starts and shut downs, followed by long periods of storage.
3. The engine never experienced an overheating issue due to lost coolant or a leak blown hose, etc.
4. It isn't a track-dedicated car. They do use oil when pounded because the oil gets really really hot and the oil vapor, foam, and just being in the upper end of the engine, is available to the PVC system for discharge (burns and therefoer goes)
5. mods. some mods to the engine can lead to more oil consumption.

Bottom line, you will need to better describe your problem and the known history of the car. A Y2K has the PVC plumbing wrapped around the valve cover, and there is a rubber angle hose fitting at the passenger side back of the valve cover that cracks with age and leaks, messing up PVC and causing lots of oil loss. Fix is simple. If you have an oily engine compartment look there.

 

thanks for your help. I quart per change is about what I've been experiencing. in a related question, I store my car for approx. 5 mos. [winter]. should I A. not start it at all. B. start it once in a while and run till up to op. temp.? thanks k24556!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I'd say 1qt between oil changes is the norm - could be a little more if it's often driven hard.

I never start my car in the winter unless I'm going to drive it far enough to get everything up to normal temps. However, I do drive it in the winter whenever the roads are clear, regardless of outside temperature. The car runs just as well at zero degrees F as it does at 70. Your choice!

 

I put my track car (Y2kFRC) on the upper rack early November, and take it down in March with about the same ritual 8VETTE7 used. My point with cold starts and shut downs has to do with moisture condensing on cold metal surfaces causing corrosion. So, My winter up includes bringing the car to full operating temp, then storing. Before it comes off the rack in the spring, I drain the oil from the crank case, and then startup in March for the next season with fresh oil in the engine.

You are fine on oil use. However with the age of the car (not so much the miles) the PVC system can probably use some work. All the hose parts are probably hard and not sealing well so the system is probably not performing up to snuff. If you are up to it, I suggest you pull the Y2k system and replace the valley cover with a 2004 valley cover There is some metal grinding involved, a little masking and care with grinding and will be fine. this puts the PVC flow path in the valley and not the rocker arm covers. The reason they pull so much oil at high rpm is that a lot of oil ends up in the top end and there is liquid oil (more of a very fine mist) carryover going into the PVC. With the Y2K setup, the PVC is pulling vapors from the valve covers. There is less oil at high rpm in the valley.The Ls1/2/6 engines are better at draining the top oil back to the crankcase, The Ls3/7 slightly different story.

 

Another consideration is with you having a 2000 model you have the "LS1" style PCV setup which has been shown to consume more oil over the later "LS6" style used in 2001-2004 C5s. Of course with any 1997-2000 C5 "mileage will vary" and some see little to no oil consumption while some see near a quart to a quart. Regardless starting in 2001 when all C5s received the LS6 intake they also received the LS6 PCV setup which helped tremendously with oil consumption issues.

Even when my '99 was below 50,000 miles I consumed right under a quart through the life of an oil change.

 

I have a '98 which I have owned from new. I've never had to add oil between changes. And no, it does not get babied.