01 Oil Consumption Fix?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,478
Likes: 38
From: Long Island NY
01 Oil Consumption Fix?
I have heard here at this Forum and elsewhere that if 10w 30 syn. oil is used instead of GM's 5w 30 recommended oil, that this will decrease the 01's oil consumption problem. I am about to do an oil change and will get this oil if this will help. However, why don't GM just recommend the heaver oil if this will decrease consumpton? I have ruled out having motor torn down at the Chevy dealer even though this option has been authorized by GM. I have decieded to live with this problem. Any info would help. Thanks, Paul.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 147
Likes: 0
From: Fort Myers FL
Good luck with that. Depending on how much you're burning you may be able to reduce it somwhat, but not much. You are still going to have crap all over the internals and exhaust tips. Unless it is very slight I would reconsider. Many of us here have had good luck with a rering.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 384
Likes: 0
From: Sarasota FL
Originally Posted by pinot
Good luck with that. Depending on how much you're burning you may be able to reduce it somwhat, but not much. You are still going to have crap all over the internals and exhaust tips. Unless it is very slight I would reconsider. Many of us here have had good luck with a rering.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,478
Likes: 38
From: Long Island NY
Originally Posted by ecook
Does the dealer cover the rering? I have an 01, seems to burn a little . I too was going to leave it alone.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 24,652
Likes: 298
From: NJ
St. Jude Donor '05-'08
I am going through the test right now (01 MN6 with 10K on it)
1st test 3/4 quart in 800 miles
2nd test 1.1 quart in 800 miles.
I still have a 3rd test to go, bu chances are with my consumption GM will rering the pistons and hopefully replace the pistons too.
I believe that GM thinks that anything over 1 quart in 2000 miles qualifies. I did my first test on my own after I saw some of the warning signs.
1. Blowing smoke on WOT (lots of smoke)
2. Black inside tailpipes (kind of wet in side too)
3. Dew out of tailpipes on cold startup
4. quart down when checked it the first time after oil change (about 700 miles)
I have talked to a few people that had it done and afterwards not a drop of oil was used between oil changes. I am hoping for the same theing. The only concern is finding a qualified GM tech that can do the work correctly. Luckily I have one in Central NJ, but lsitening to others they are not easy to find.
1st test 3/4 quart in 800 miles
2nd test 1.1 quart in 800 miles.
I still have a 3rd test to go, bu chances are with my consumption GM will rering the pistons and hopefully replace the pistons too.
I believe that GM thinks that anything over 1 quart in 2000 miles qualifies. I did my first test on my own after I saw some of the warning signs.
1. Blowing smoke on WOT (lots of smoke)
2. Black inside tailpipes (kind of wet in side too)
3. Dew out of tailpipes on cold startup
4. quart down when checked it the first time after oil change (about 700 miles)
I have talked to a few people that had it done and afterwards not a drop of oil was used between oil changes. I am hoping for the same theing. The only concern is finding a qualified GM tech that can do the work correctly. Luckily I have one in Central NJ, but lsitening to others they are not easy to find.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 313
Likes: 0
From: San Francisco Ca
My 2001 had an oil consumption issue also and I opted for a re-ring. What I didn't fully understand was that they only re-ringed #7 without removing the engine from the car. My car is back in the dealer after I found loads of metal chucks and head casket pieces in the oil. I now would have fought harder for a new engine and not a fix. Good luck!
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers
Joe Kucinski
The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained
Joe Kucinski
5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!
Joe Kucinski
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 7,064
Likes: 18
From: Arizona
Originally Posted by RichieRich
Sounds as if some of you guys have had this done out of warranty? My car has about 33K on it and it's only been a problem in the last year or so (warranty was up 9/03).
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 24,652
Likes: 298
From: NJ
St. Jude Donor '05-'08
Originally Posted by jeromeunderwood
Is this a recall? My warranty has gone out also.
I don't believe this is a recall so if your warranty has expired then it will out of your pocket. I am lucky to still have my warranty, but with GM knowing there is a problem you would think they would just fix cars that have the problem - No Questions Asked!
I think it is a very expensive job so if you don't ahve a warranty then you might just want to keep watching the oil level and filling it when needed....
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,478
Likes: 38
From: Long Island NY
Originally Posted by Wicked Weasel
I don't believe this is a recall so if your warranty has expired then it will out of your pocket. I am lucky to still have my warranty, but with GM knowing there is a problem you would think they would just fix cars that have the problem - No Questions Asked!
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 4,988
Likes: 16
From: Hooterville, NJ
[QUOTE=C5X2C]My 2001 had an oil consumption issue also and I opted for a re-ring. What I didn't fully understand was that they only re-ringed #7 without removing the engine from the car.
Hmmm, interesting that number seven cylinder. When I had my car at the tuner for Head /Cam this past summer and they leaked the engine down the number seven cylinder was out of spec...all others within. Anyway, after the re-ring and several thousand miles later everything is good no oil consumption what so ever. Anyway, if they do the re-ring properly you should be fine.
Hmmm, interesting that number seven cylinder. When I had my car at the tuner for Head /Cam this past summer and they leaked the engine down the number seven cylinder was out of spec...all others within. Anyway, after the re-ring and several thousand miles later everything is good no oil consumption what so ever. Anyway, if they do the re-ring properly you should be fine.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: Parker CO
I have an 01 with automatic trans. I complained several times during the first three years to the service manager here in the Denver area (Purifoy Chevrolet). This dealer is very reputable and well known for repair/knowledge of the Corvette. I stated my oil consumption was @ 1qt every 12-1800 miles depending on driving conditions. I was told that it was only the Z06 that was covered under the re-ring plan. Then I was told that consumption needed to be 1qt per 800 or fewer miles. The last time I checked the issue with the dealer was 1 week before my 3 year anniversary.I did purchase a GM warranty extension and then I switched dealers. Two months later when I mentioned the issue to the new dealer's service manager he pulled the GM position paper and oil consumption measuring program documents out. He put me on the measuring plan and I got my rings replaced. The GM documents clearly stated that oil consumption had to be 1qt per 2000 or fewer miles. I burn NO oil since the ring replacement. Lucky I had the extended warranty as the original dealer totally misinformed me and ran me out of the GM warranty period. The re- ring would not have been covered if I did not have the extended warranty. Guess at which dealer I have recently bought 2 new cars.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 6,362
Likes: 30
From: Oak Harbor WA
Mine is in the shop for a new cam and set of lifters thanks to sucking 2 qts of oil during one afternoon of rambunctuous driving. My car used a full 2 qts of oil in 300 miles. GM is not doing the re-ring while the engine is out because the oil useage hasn't been documented enough...yet. My service writer is behind me and I've already prepared him that my driving habits will require a re-ring in the very near future. I have the extended warranty so the car is covered, else I would just suck it up and carry lots of oil in the back just in case. My extended ends 2/07 and so it will be done before then....car has only 10K on it now as an mid production car built in Jan '01. 
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 24,652
Likes: 298
From: NJ
St. Jude Donor '05-'08
Originally Posted by Goody
Mine is in the shop for a new cam and set of lifters thanks to sucking 2 qts of oil during one afternoon of rambunctuous driving. My car used a full 2 qts of oil in 300 miles. GM is not doing the re-ring while the engine is out because the oil useage hasn't been documented enough...yet. My service writer is behind me and I've already prepared him that my driving habits will require a re-ring in the very near future. I have the extended warranty so the car is covered, else I would just suck it up and carry lots of oil in the back just in case. My extended ends 2/07 and so it will be done before then....car has only 10K on it now as an mid production car built in Jan '01.
Now that is stupid - they know soemthing is wrong and have the engine apart, but they are not going to fix it because it is not documented on your car. Well hell it is documented on a sheet load of other early run 01s.
No wonder companies lose so much money...