2000 Coupe oil consumption problem
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 1,090
Likes: 2
From: Minneapolis Minnesota
2000 Coupe oil consumption problem
I just had the rings replaced under extended warranty on my 2000 Coupe. I'm posting this so others can have another data point and for the archives. I purchased the car new in October 1999, and it burned about a quart every 1600-1800 miles the first year. The oil consumption gradually got worse until it was burning about a quart every 1000 miles last year when I had about 35K miles on the car. This year it went to a quart every 500 miles. I now have 43K miles on the car. It took me about a month and a half to get the records the dealer needed to get the OK to open up the engine. The procedure was to buy one quart of oil at a time and save the dated receipt; then add the quart and write the odometer reading on the receipt. I would have taken the car in earlier if I didn't have the GMPP warranty. I had them replace the plugs when the engine was out, since it only cost for parts. The tech noted the clutch was about gone, so they put in a new clutch and flywheel for parts cost and one hour labor which was a substantial savings over what it would have been if I waited. I assume everything is in order now. They also fixed a leaking seal in the differential. I certainly got my money out of the GMPP warranty purchased from Ken Fichtner.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 1,090
Likes: 2
From: Minneapolis Minnesota
That's too much, I think. Here's what I was told: "If we open the engine up and don't find anything wrong, you'll have to pay for it. Rest assured we WILL find something wrong if you're burning a quart every 500 miles." They could see the blowby on the cylinder walls. Now, I took the car to a dealer with a tech that specializes in Vettes and who has a very good reputation. I think that's an important consideration. If you have a warranty about to run out, I'd sure get it taken care of now.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 8,004
Likes: 250
From: Tampa Fl
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14
my Y2K went in for her re-ring at 12500 miles 6 months ago. i was burning a quart every 1000-1500 miles. i have 1600 miles since the re-ring and havent burned a dropped. GM extended my warranty for free on the motor for 6 years and 60000 miles last year when I complaint about the oil consumption. They say there is no performance gain out of the new rings, then they should have saved us all a headache and used them from the start. I think that and piston slap as the two major reasons why GM had to develop a new motor i.e the LS2. 
Racer
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 390
Likes: 0
From: Calera Alabama
Originally Posted by SteveJ
I'm one of those who doesn't have signature enabled. Do you have an automatic? I think it's probably more of an issue with the 6 speed.
I have a 99 Coupe MN6. I see about half a quart between oil changes (5000 miles oil changes). So I view that is livable. On the other hand I have a friend who traded a 2000 Coupe MN6 for a 2003 Z06. He changes his oil about every 5000 miles and both of his has been a little more than a quart. I think it has a little bit to do with the break in. I put 1500 miles on mine before I got it over 3500 RPM’s. My friend on the other hand waited about 1000 miles and probably got it up to 4500 RPM’s. Just my 2 cents
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 21,405
Likes: 1,011
From: Various places in Southern California.
Originally Posted by TT_Vert
what is an acceptable oil consumption to GM? IM at 1 qt. per 1000 miles. THey did the truck PCV valve and it helped some but still at 1qt.
dave
dave
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Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 24,652
Likes: 298
From: NJ
St. Jude Donor '05-'08
My MY 01 MN6 with 10K miles is going in this week for oil consumption. From my calculations I am burning a quart every 500 miles.
It is easy to see that with the car at Max oil and full WOT smoke blows out the tail pipes. There is also black residue in the pipes.
I think my oil consumption is the extreme where most people seem to be burning 1 quart every 1000 miles.
I have documents about when I did the oil change and the 2 quarts I had to put in since then.
I will let people know what the service people say after Monday's visit...
It is easy to see that with the car at Max oil and full WOT smoke blows out the tail pipes. There is also black residue in the pipes.
I think my oil consumption is the extreme where most people seem to be burning 1 quart every 1000 miles.
I have documents about when I did the oil change and the 2 quarts I had to put in since then.
I will let people know what the service people say after Monday's visit...
Racer
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 274
Likes: 0
From: Houston Texas
When does the Low Oil Level light come on. I used the Trip B to see how long after the oil was changed. It came on at 2500. So I only got 2500 miles since the oil was changed before I had consumed enough oil for the warning to come on.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 19,984
Likes: 6,783
From: Bonneville Salt Flats
Consumption reports have been all over the ballpark since I've been a member. Some get worse with miles, some better. My '01 used perhaps a half quart every 1000 miles until it hit about 20,000. Since that time I've not seen any oil use in about 2000 miles. Never showed excessive blackening of exhausts, while a friend's 04 has from the get-go with no usage. Go figure.
I envy those who have a knowledgable, trustworthy, and careful dealer tech. Given my limited experience with my dealer and my car, the LAST thing I'd want would be them tearing into my engine.
All the best.
I envy those who have a knowledgable, trustworthy, and careful dealer tech. Given my limited experience with my dealer and my car, the LAST thing I'd want would be them tearing into my engine.
All the best.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,697
Likes: 707
From: Pingree Grove IL
Originally Posted by Boos2
When does the Low Oil Level light come on. I used the Trip B to see how long after the oil was changed. It came on at 2500. So I only got 2500 miles since the oil was changed before I had consumed enough oil for the warning to come on.
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 15,324
Likes: 2,080
From: Guelph, Ontario
Originally Posted by kvozel
I don't understand the issue....
Mine's a 2000, daily driver.... 41,000 miles.... no oil problems.
Mine's a 2000, daily driver.... 41,000 miles.... no oil problems.
My 98 has 35k on it and uses no oil either, and has no piston slap. I'm using German made Castrol Syntec 0w30 in it. I think the early LS1s are less prone to piston slap and oil consumption.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 815
Likes: 0
From: Richmond VA
I think break in is the key as mentioned above. My 98 LS1 had 60K hard miles and would make it between changes with 1/4 - 1/2 quart consumed. I figured driving events would really hurt it, but they never made a difference.
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 82
Likes: 0
From: Pittsburgh PA
St. Jude Donor '05
Hi Steve,
I have a 2001 and had the same issue. I had the rings and seals done in Dec on 2003 after a run around from the dealer. I have a buddy that is a service manager and he got me a post from GMs intranet that 2000 - 2003 ls1 engines sould consume about 1 qt every 1400 - 1700 miles as normal usage. Mine was using 1 qt for every 600 miles. He also got me a post that stated high usage in corvettes (Less than 1000 per qt), reguires the ring to be replaced.
Here is the problem with the dealers! The R&R manuals only allow 13 hours for this job and that is all they can get paid for it from GM, so they try not to do it as it takes many more hours to get the job done correctly. I had to get nasty
to get the job done. I took the car in and told them not to give it back until it was fixed. I am no machanic, but I know that 1 qt every 6oo miles is not normal and the carbon build up on the tip was not normal. When I dropped a copy of the service bulletin in their laps they had no choice but to fix it.
I have a 2001 and had the same issue. I had the rings and seals done in Dec on 2003 after a run around from the dealer. I have a buddy that is a service manager and he got me a post from GMs intranet that 2000 - 2003 ls1 engines sould consume about 1 qt every 1400 - 1700 miles as normal usage. Mine was using 1 qt for every 600 miles. He also got me a post that stated high usage in corvettes (Less than 1000 per qt), reguires the ring to be replaced.
Here is the problem with the dealers! The R&R manuals only allow 13 hours for this job and that is all they can get paid for it from GM, so they try not to do it as it takes many more hours to get the job done correctly. I had to get nasty
to get the job done. I took the car in and told them not to give it back until it was fixed. I am no machanic, but I know that 1 qt every 6oo miles is not normal and the carbon build up on the tip was not normal. When I dropped a copy of the service bulletin in their laps they had no choice but to fix it.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 1,090
Likes: 2
From: Minneapolis Minnesota
The good thing about the ring job being a rather common problem is that I'm sure the tech had done several before mine. I was fairly careful during break-in, so I'm not going to say that was a factor in my case. I don't think having the motor opened up will hurt resale. I can say I now have a "hand built engine" like the new Z06 
