LS4 Performance - I now have a Batman smoke screen or I'm using a shit-ton of oil




XFiveLiter
02-14-2011, 08:05 PM
I always noticed my car used a little oil and I have to add some between oil changes but it was never visible until now. Most of my diving is around town with brief interstate travel added in.

So, last weekend I took a trip to Atlanta and sometimes after an extended time in 4cyl mode, I would hit a hill or want to pass and the second it switched back to 8cyl mode it would emit a nice blue cloud of smoke out of the exhaust as I looked in the rear view mirror. I had to add about a quart and a half on my trip, roughly a quart per 1k miles.

The car currently has 72k miles on it. Does anyone else's car do this too? What do you think the issue is, piston rings, pcv issues?

On a good note, I averaged about 30 MPG according to the DIC.


94ss06gxp
02-14-2011, 08:10 PM
i think DOD is the #1 culprit in oil consumption/stuff like that

XFiveLiter
02-14-2011, 08:21 PM
If that's the case, it's getting tuned out!!


CenTexSS
02-14-2011, 08:25 PM
Try your dealer, perhaps a fix under warranty?

EmersonHart13
02-14-2011, 08:35 PM
Tune it out, or wait, supposedly GM has a fix coming but we all know how that goes...

So yeah, tune it out. Do you run synthetic or dino oil? Burns less on dino oil.

XFiveLiter
02-14-2011, 10:24 PM
Tune it out, or wait, supposedly GM has a fix coming but we all know how that goes...

So yeah, tune it out. Do you run synthetic or dino oil? Burns less on dino oil.Synthetic when I do it but this last change a shop did it and used dino.

XFiveLiter
02-14-2011, 10:25 PM
Try your dealer, perhaps a fix under warranty?Yeah, I will see what they have to say about it. I will demand a new engine and trans!! Haha

BlauGXP
02-14-2011, 10:35 PM
If you've been using synthetic and just switched back to Dino oil, I wouldn't be surprised if that was a significant part of your problem. I've heard of people having serious issues doing so after a long time using synthetic. I always just stick with Syn.

EmersonHart13
02-15-2011, 09:04 AM
Yeah that switch might be it considering so many miles....

XFiveLiter
02-15-2011, 02:33 PM
Guess I'll go back to using synthetic exclusively and see what happens.

EmersonHart13
02-15-2011, 06:12 PM
Don't worry, GM says it is normal. LOL

XFiveLiter
02-15-2011, 07:57 PM
Don't worry, GM says it is normal. LOLOnly normal for GM! haha

gxp-miller-gxp
02-15-2011, 08:28 PM
there is a thread about this somewhere
gm said oil consumption is normal, but if blue smoke comes out or u have an extremely amount of oil consumption, then u take it in.
and they will fix it.
i cant remember what causes the blue smoke but its something obvious, cant think right now

2007SSImpala
02-15-2011, 09:29 PM
Sounds like your burning a lot of oil to me

RedHotG8
02-15-2011, 10:56 PM
If it's burning oil on acceleration the rings are worn. The DOD won't cause that since it just disables the lifters from opening the valves.

Ill_Born_ss
02-16-2011, 07:17 AM
First you need to determine where the oil is coming from.
There are 2 main TSB on these LS series engines.
1 is for the DoD/AFM oil dump causing coking of the oil scraper rings. (this one requires dealer service)
2 is for a simpler PCV baffel leak. Simply remove the PCV line from the throttlebody and the rear valve cover and hold it vertical if oil drips out, you most possibly have an improperly sealed baffel in the rear valve cover. (also looking into your throttlebody with the butterfly opened by hand it will be extreemly oily)
also due to the fact you are seeing smoke then the plugs are fouled and the maybe cat damaged.
If you have warrenty visit your dealer with patience and determined concern.

RedHotG8
02-16-2011, 07:39 AM
If the plugs were fouled the motor would run rough, so that's not the case. I do agree with the PVC issue though. It could also be worn out valve seals that are leaking.

zgoat
02-18-2011, 09:00 PM
I have the exact same issue. Would love to know what your dealer days.