Lopoetve

iTrader: (1)

Ok, it's not that bad, but talk about frustrating. 2001 car, original engine, just turned over 30,000 miles total. I bought it at 26k, used, earlier this year. immediately did an oil change with full synth, 5w-30, and double checked where the levels were after that.

Just rolled over 3k for the oil change, checked, and I'm almost 2 quarts low from where it was.



Where's the best place to start looking? Intake for blowby? Compression tester? Never actually had this kind of problem before.

RyanSws6

iTrader: (72)

Get rid of the PCV system and go to a beather. I just did it to mine. Do a quick search there's an LS1 how to site. I don't have the link.

fbodyman1026

iTrader: (11)

what type of oil were you running?

jsteele90

iTrader: (13)

if you are running mobil1 then get rid of that ****

Lopoetve

iTrader: (1)

Pennzoil 5w-30 full synthetic, can't remember what their brand name for it is. Why?

Lopoetve

iTrader: (1)

I only run that in the bike, as the clutch likes it.

jsteele90

iTrader: (13)

thats what i use in my car and it is way better than the mobil 1 i used to run. weird

thunderstruck507

iTrader: (18)

what brand oil you use isn't going to mean **** if you're using that much at 3k miles

check compression, look for leaks...but its not looking good

Lopoetve

iTrader: (1)

it's been parked in a clean garage - we're definitely not leaking

What's a rebuild cost to have done on one of these? It's my DD, so I don't have the time to try and do it myself. Assume toasted rings or valves, as that seems to be the worst case scenario.

fbodyman1026

iTrader: (11)

lol x2 but if he was using mobil1 10w-30 then that would have be a start. In my DD (01' grand prix) I used to burn alot of oil until I seafoamed and switched to Valvoline Maxlife.

beerwhiskeyjoe

change the pcv, lay off the throttle, and see what happens.

b0pric01

iTrader: (5)

are you sure you put enough in when you changed it? I'm not trying to second guess you or anything, but 2 qts is quite a bit to be losing. When I change my oil (which I used rp 5w30 for a while but now I use german castrol 0w30) I always change around 3k (within 100 miles) and yes, sometimes it is low by about 1/2-1 quart. I was worried at first but I believe it's just the pcv systems on these cars. Hopefully it's nothing serious, which with the mileage you've got on there I don't see how it could be unless you beat the hell out of that thing.

matt3383

iTrader: (3)

I had the same problem myself. I just re routed the valve covers together and put a breather on the oil cap. I was burning about 2 quarts every oil change, and im down to maybe 1/2 a quart now doing this.

Blazingz28

iTrader: (5)

Don't give people BAD advice like that. I, for one, don't like having moisture in my oil, as a DD. Maybe you do.

If anything besides swapping the PCV valve, maybe do the ls6 PCV conversion, a search will help you with that.

Lopoetve

iTrader: (1)

the PCV conversion - you mean the new PCV valve they came out with, or something else?

No offense taken I double checked all the containers - we definitely put the right amount in.

I haven't beat it too hard, but I wouldn't be surprised if the original owner did. I'm not him, sadly, and he's dead, so I can't exactly ask.

1 quart I wouldn't blink. That's something I'd expect on a big V8, especially with me getting on it plenty. 2 seems a bit much though!

SOMbitch

iTrader: (8)

^^^^THANK YOU.... I was cringing when I read that ****. The factory LS1 pvc sytems are are poor design and are known for sucking oil through the intake. Switch over to an LS6 pvc system as they are much better and should eliminate MOST if not all of your prob.

Just do this http://www.ls1howto.com/index.php?article=18

If you still have probs after that add a catch can.

bczee

iTrader: (12)

Take off the Throttle body and check for oil inside the intake manifold.. if you find a lot of oil there, then the PCV system is allowing oil to be sucked in and it is not doing it job.. But if your engine is production a lot of blow by, then you don't have much choice but to do a rebuild.
You might have someone do a compression check and a Leak down test.. I would look for bad valve oil seal as another possible cause. If it is, would be a good time to replace the valve spring with some better ones while the seals are being replaced.

You have a few options that might help....:
a) Switch to a newer design PCV Valve.
b) Install the newer LS6 PCV system (new valley cover)
c) Many will install catch cans to control the oil from being suck into the intake, but you will have to monitor the can.
d) Others will just do away with the PCV system and run a Breather system.. but that can lead to a oily mess.

toothdoc

iTrader: (7)

When I had the original LS1 in my car it used about 2 quarts every 3,000 miles since it was pretty much new. I took it back to the dealer and was told that was considered normal. What a crock of bs. With my LS6 it is so much better.

LS1-NAVY

iTrader: (1)

i say time for a catch can

SladeX

I found I was losing my oil via Mobil 1's 5w30 super thin "it's really a 20wt oil" bs. 1qt per 1000miles.

Switched to GC 0w30 and can go 7k miles with barely 1/2 qt lost.