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Excessive Oil Comsumption?

LJ Hawkeye

Member
Joined
Feb 18, 2006
Messages
6
Location
La Jolla, California
Corvette
2001 Silver Coupe
This issue may have been posted previously, and if so I apologize. I have searched through the different threads, and haven't found a specific answer to my question.

My vette is an '01 coupe with 39,200 miles. Almost since I got it (ordered it from the factory) in November, '00, I thought it was using oil - roughly 1 qt. every 1,500 to 2,000 miles. I didn't get concerned, since I just assumed that was typical for that model (my previous vette was an '87). I mentioned it several times to my dealer's service department, but was always told that was normal. At 27,320, the dealer did an oil change and began an oil consumption test. I monitored the consumption, with the following results:
28,332 - 1 qt
29,373 - 1 qt
30,598 - 1 qt
31,371 - 2 qts
Each time I added oil, I spoke with my service technician and was told that the consumption was "normal".

Since then, I have continued to monitor the consumption, but haven't kept track. At 37,366, I reported to the dealer that in the last 1,700 miles, I had added 4 qts of oil. They then suggested another oil consumption test. I changed the oil at 37,652. Following is the usage since the oil change:
38,459 - 1 qt
38,865 - 2 qts
39,200 - Low Oil Level light came on yesterday, although the dip stick showed full at the time (engine hot) and now shows 1 qt low (engine cold).

Since my dealer's service department doesn't seem to be too concerned (when I mentioned my concern the last time, their response was, "Well, you have plenty of time left on your extended warranty, so don't worry about it."), I decided to get some outside advice.

I guess what I'm looking for right now is to get opinions as to if this consumption is in fact "normal", or could there be some other reason? I have never seen any sign of oil leaks on the garage floor. I would like to "build a case" before I go back to the dealer again.

Thanks for any and all assistance.

LJ Hawkeye
 
LJ Hawkeye,
Welcome to the CAC.
Your oil consumption does not sound normal, it sounds high.
C4C5Specialist has mentioned that up to 1 qt every 2000 miles is normal. Hopefully he will chime in here.

From your log, it looks like you are using (best case) 1 qt every 1000 miles, with worse and worst cases of 2 quarts per 1000, and 4 quarts in 1700 miles. That does not sound ok to me.

Here is a link to a TSB that you may have seen already:
http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/kb/question.php?qstId=263

Tammy
 
Hi there,
That is correct.
GM specifications is that 1 quart consumption in 2000 miles is classified as normal.
More than that, should be documented by your GM dealership for 2000 miles and then verified.
Then a repair should be determined.
Allthebest, cfourc5
 

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