Have 2006 C6 approximately 20 months old with 22,500 miles on it. Presently at 80% use of my third oil change. Recently the check oil light came on and when I checked the oil level I was down 1 & 1/2 quarts. There are no leaks and does not appear to be buring it out of the exhausts. In the October issue of Corvetter Magazine the Teck Nerd talked about some C6's having piston-ring seating problems that caused the engine to consume more oil. Is anyone else having this type of oil consumption problems and is there a test that the dealer can do to check this issue out.

 

I would have the dealer do a compression test. If its not leaking anywhere then it has to be going somewhere.

 

 

A compression test MAY not be a good indicator. Oil consumption in the cylinders is caused by loose oil rings. The compression test doesn't check this- it indicates the condition of the compression rings.
You COULD get a good compression reading and still have bad oil rings. Of course, if you get a bad compression reading then you have some kind of piston/ring issues.
Pull the spark plugs and see if they are oily or very black. Also, pull the throttle body and check for oil in the intake manifold.
Do you do a lot of WOT or hard acceleration? Do you have ANY mods?

 

I have only put in a quart in 4000 miles, most of the oil consumption came in the 1st gear autox runs

 

maybe he is pulling the oil in threw the PCV system,, if its still under warranty, let the dealer figure it out, if not,, try capping off the port infront of the throttle body, adding a filter to the oil cap, and installing an oil catch can inbetween the valve cover and the line behind the throttle body.

you could also pop off the TB and look inside the intake manifold and see for yourself.

-carl

 

 

That is most likely. My front ( I have two) catch can is full after a run. That is about the right consumption for this situation.

 

2 Catch Cans!!! And they are actually catching oil?!?

Your one of the few I've heard having positive results with catch cans.

Can you post some pics of your set up?

 

My catch can caught oil too, but so did my manifold Now its 12AN lines that vent, not connected to the intake any more.

My car used oil when I first got it. I was a lil worried, it was about a quart every 5000 miles. Then I took it to a track and beat the ever living snot out of it. Never used any again. Guess I re-seated the rings (which is almost impossible) but I have no other explanaiton.

 

There's nothing wrong with it. You need to check the oil more often and keep it full. Letting it get low will increase the usage, the dilution crap - condesates, combustion by products... become a higher percent of the oil when the level is low, thus it burns off faster.

Most cars that I see where the people follow the OLM (6-10K or more between changes) and never open the hood are quite low at change time.

a qt and a half in 80% of the OLM time is nothing. That's probably a qt in 5K or so, rings and valves are lubed by engine oil you know. An engine that burned zero oil would quickly wear out the rings, cylinder walls and valve guides.

I see it all the time, people go huge miles without ever opening the hood and then have a tizzy when they find out how low it is. Someday there may be magic honing and perfect seal rings, but until then, a minor amount of oil burnoff is normal.

Some driving styles will never see the burn off as they are adding crud at the same rate of the burn off. Then they'll swear "this car doesn't burn a drop," yes it does, but it also adds some condensation, fuel ...

If it were 1 qt in 1,000 miles of normal driving, I'd say check into a problem. Better than that, it's fine.

 

"Re-seating rings" is possible with the use of a break-in oil. Just don't use it all the time as it has minimal AW (antiwear) additives. If done right, they'll re-seat in less than 1 hour's run time. If done wrong, you'll wear out your engine prematurely. There are some rings of such questionable quality that you can "break the seal" of the rings with an oil that's "too good." (Some Toyota owners in the 1970's can attest.)

 

The rule from the factory is 1qt/2000 miles. If you have a m6 and buzz the motor it may use more and not have any problem at all. It sounds like you are well within the guidelines.



#01-06-01-011D: Information on Engine Oil Consumption Guidelines - (Apr 3, 2007)
Subject: Information on Engine Oil Consumption Guidelines


Models: 1998-2007 GM Passenger Cars and Gasoline Powered Light Duty Trucks Under 8500 LB GVW (Including Saturn)

2003-2007 HUMMER H2

2006-2007 HUMMER H3

2005-2007 Saab 9-7X




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This bulletin is being revised to include information on manual transmission vehicles and additional warranty statements. Please discard Corporate Bulletin Number 01-06-01-011C (Section 06 -- Engine/Propulsion System).


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All engines require oil to lubricate and protect the load bearing and internal moving parts from wear including cylinder walls, pistons and piston rings. When a piston moves down its cylinder, a thin film of oil is left on the cylinder wall. During the power stroke, part of this oil layer is consumed in the combustion process. As a result, varying rates of oil consumption are accepted as normal in all engines.

Oil Consumption
The accepted rate of oil consumption for engines used in the vehicles referenced is 0.946 liter (1 qt) in 3200 km (2000 mi).
Important: Certain 2006 and 2007 models have a new GM Extended Warranty. Please refer to the appropriate Owner's Manual for warranty information.

This rate only applies to personal use vehicles, under warranty, that are driven in a non-aggressive manner and maintained in accordance with the appropriate maintenance schedule, with less than 58,000 km (36,000 mi), or 80,450 km (50,000 mi) for Cadillac, driven at legal speeds in an unloaded (for trucks) condition.

Important: This rate does not apply to vehicles that are driven in an aggressive manner, at high RPM, high speeds, or in a loaded condition (for trucks). Oil consumption for vehicles driven under these conditions will be more.

Many factors can affect a customer's concern with oil consumption. Driving habits and vehicle maintenance vary from owner to owner. Thoroughly evaluate each case before deciding whether the vehicle in question has abnormal engine oil consumption.

Gasket and External Leaks
Inspect the oil pan and engine covers for leakage due to over-tightened, damaged, or out of place gaskets. Inspect oil lines and fittings for signs of leakage.

Improper Reading of the Oil Level Indicator (Dipstick)
Verify that the dipstick tube is fully seated in the block. When checking the oil level, make sure the dipstick is wiped clean before taking an oil level reading and fully depress the dipstick until the shoulder bottoms out on the dipstick tube. The dipstick should be the proper part number for the engine/vehicle that is being checked.

Notice: Operating your vehicle with an oil level that is below the minimum level indicated on the engine oil dipstick can result in severe engine damage. Repairs resulting from operating an engine with insufficient oil are not covered under the terms of the New Vehicle Warranty.

Important: Refer to Owner Manual in SI for checking and adding engine oil.

Not Waiting Long Enough After Running Engine to Check Oil Level
Some engines require more time than others for the oil to drain back into the crankcase. To assure a sufficient amount of oil has drained back to the crankcase, and an accurate reading can be obtained, the vehicle should be allowed to sit for at least 15 minutes, after the engine has been shut off, before taking an oil level reading. In order to ensure accurate results, the temperature of the oil should be close to the same temperature as the last time the oil level was checked.

Important: This does not apply to 2006 and 2007 Corvette ZO6 equipped with the 7.0L LS7 engine (dry sump). Follow the instructions in the Owner's Manual for checking the oil in this application.

Improper Oil Fill After an Oil Change
Following an oil change, verify that the proper amount and type of oil was put in the engine and that the oil level on the dipstick is not above the full mark or below the add marks. Refer to the Owner's Manual or Service Manual for information on recommended oil quantity, viscosity, and quality.

Aggressive Driving, High Speed or High RPM Driving
Aggressive driving and/or continuous driving at high speeds/high RPMs will increase oil consumption. Because this may not always be an everyday occurrence, it is hard to determine exactly how much the oil economy will be affected.

A higher rate of oil consumption is normal for vehicles equipped with manual transmissions that are driven aggressively. By "aggressive," we mean operation at high RPM (3,000 RPM to redline), with frequent use of engine braking (using the engine to slow the vehicle). Vehicles that are driven aggressively may consume engine oil at a rate of up to 0.946 L (1 quart) every 805 km (500 mi). This is normal for a vehicle that is driven aggressively. No repair is necessary. This characteristic does, however, require the owner to check the engine oil level at sufficiently frequent intervals, especially when driving aggressively, to assure the oil level remains within the recommended operating range. As the Owner’s Manual recommends, you should check the oil level every time you get fuel.
Towing or Heavy Usage
Towing a trailer will increase oil consumption and may cause oil consumption to fall below the normal accepted rate referenced in this bulletin for an unloaded vehicle in a personal use application. Large frontal area trailers will further increase the work required from the engine, especially at highway speeds, and thus increases the rate of oil consumption.

Crankcase Ventilation System
Verify that the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) system is operating properly. Blockages, restrictions, or damage to the PCV system can result in increased oil use.

Oil Dilution (Fuel and Water)
On vehicles that are usually driven short distances, less than 8 km (5 mi), especially in colder weather, unburned fuel and condensation generated from cold engine operation may not get hot enough to evaporate out of the oil. When this occurs, the dipstick may indicate that the oil level is over-full. Subsequent driving on a trip of sufficient length to enable normal engine operating temperature for 30 minutes or more, in order to vaporize excess moisture and fuel, may give the customer the impression of excessive oil consumption.

Engine Temperature
If an engine is run at overheated temperatures (see Owner's Manual or Service Manual) for more than brief periods, oil will oxidize at a faster than normal rate. In addition, gaskets may distort, piston rings may stick, and excessive wear may result. Verify that all cooling system components are in proper working order.

Engine Wear
Piston scuffing, excessive piston-to-wall clearance, tapered or out of round cylinders, worn, damaged or improperly installed valve guides, seals and piston rings will all cause an increase in oil consumption.

Measurement of Oil Consumption
Engines require a period of time to BREAK IN so that moving parts are properly seated. Therefore, oil economy should not be tested until the vehicle has accumulated at least 6400 km (4000 mi). An exception would be allowed only if an engine is reported to be using more than 0.946 liter (1 qt) in 1600 km (1000 mi).