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Old Aug 28, 2007 | 06:48 PM
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Default Oil Burnoff?

I have only had my '01 TA for a few months, but I have noticed that about every 2k miles, the low oil light comes on and I am about a quart low. Could this be a serious problem? Am I burning oil? I don't want to have to rebuild the shortblock with only 50k on the odometer.
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Old Aug 28, 2007 | 07:25 PM
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Does it smoke much? Mine goes through a quart every 1,300 miles or so. I'm pretty sure I have bad valve seals, maybe that's what you have too. Does it run strong? Any sign of poor compression/bad rings? Mine runs great but still burns oil.
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Old Aug 28, 2007 | 08:06 PM
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It seems to run just fine and makes good power. It has done this since I first bought it, but when I got the tune, the guy doing it said that a lot of LS1 motors have some burn off when under full throttle. That is the only time it smoke at all, right when I let out of a full throttle punch, and even then, it's not bad at all.
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Old Aug 28, 2007 | 08:58 PM
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That sounds a lot like a description I read once of bad valve seals. Personally I just live with it, maybe one day I will be motivated enough to change them
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Old Aug 29, 2007 | 03:55 AM
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It seems like alot to me considering my car doesn't burn hardly any (maybe 1/2 a quart every 5K)

BTW, how often are driving at full throttle. You make it seem like that's the only way you drive.
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Old Aug 29, 2007 | 06:50 PM
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I punch it pretty regularly I guess, but I don't run it ragged by any means. I had to drive the car on some long trips though cause I am working on the road and it is my primary driver right now. Before I left southern Minnesota (where I bought it), it was indicating LOW OIL, so I had it changed. Then I drove back to Memphis, Tennessee for a week, and after about 2 weeks here in northern Missouri, it is once again at LOW OIL. Do you think bad valve seals spell disaster for my motor in the near future or is it not something to panic over. The car really seems to run smooth and made good numbers on the dyno and doesn't really smoke at all.
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Old Aug 29, 2007 | 07:00 PM
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check pvc system, look inside intake for oil.
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Old Aug 29, 2007 | 07:04 PM
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Originally Posted by bluebird71
I punch it pretty regularly I guess, but I don't run it ragged by any means. I had to drive the car on some long trips though cause I am working on the road and it is my primary driver right now. Before I left southern Minnesota (where I bought it), it was indicating LOW OIL, so I had it changed. Then I drove back to Memphis, Tennessee for a week, and after about 2 weeks here in northern Missouri, it is once again at LOW OIL. Do you think bad valve seals spell disaster for my motor in the near future or is it not something to panic over. The car really seems to run smooth and made good numbers on the dyno and doesn't really smoke at all.
I can't see what it could really hurt, it might hurt the cats over time maybe. My car is just like yours, burns a lot of oil but doesn't smoke, runs great and makes good power. If anyone knows of anything bad happening from bad valve seals feel free to correct me.
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Old Aug 29, 2007 | 07:55 PM
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I will be sure and check the PCV when I get a chance, didn't notice anything out of the ordinary when I changed the lid a few weeks ago though. The hose from my lid to the "air pump" is disconnected now, but this was connected when I got it and was onld disconnected when I swapped lids so I don't think that has anything to do with it. I am a little bit more at ease about the situation now though, but I will keep asking around.
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Old Aug 29, 2007 | 08:02 PM
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check into buying or making a catch can. at 50K miles, i put NGK plugs in, then at 60K, i checked and the plugs were black. change the PCV valve and did the home depot homemade catch can. the catch can (for those who don't know) will prevent oil to be circulated into the engine through the intake with the fresh air coming throught the TB.
hope this helps... and hope your are using 100% synthetic oils.
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Old Sep 6, 2007 | 07:18 PM
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Of course, I only put full synthetic in all of my cars. This catch can idea sounds like a good one. I don't know about making one myself, but I bet I could get a good one for a decent price from JEGS.
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Old Sep 6, 2007 | 07:41 PM
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Originally Posted by FU_I_AM_UltraZ
check into buying or making a catch can. at 50K miles, i put NGK plugs in, then at 60K, i checked and the plugs were black. change the PCV valve and did the home depot homemade catch can. the catch can (for those who don't know) will prevent oil to be circulated into the engine through the intake with the fresh air coming throught the TB.
hope this helps... and hope your are using 100% synthetic oils.
the oil part is hog wash! You dont need to use syntheic oils..
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Old Sep 6, 2007 | 09:13 PM
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Originally Posted by bluebird71
Of course, I only put full synthetic in all of my cars. This catch can idea sounds like a good one. I don't know about making one myself, but I bet I could get a good one for a decent price from JEGS.
It's pretty easy and cheap to make your own catch can, that's what I did.
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Old Sep 7, 2007 | 07:46 AM
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Bluebird71, if you're using Mobil1 expect some burnoff. Mine used at least 1/2 qt in 3k miles just from the usual M1 habits.
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Old Sep 8, 2007 | 10:10 AM
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Im running just calstrol GTX 5w30 and Ive had this problem about 2 times. However I do change 3k/3mo so I always have fresh full oil in the pan.
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Old Sep 8, 2007 | 10:11 PM
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I am running Mobile 1, what other brands of oil might I consider switching to?
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Old Sep 9, 2007 | 09:00 AM
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Any 5w-30 oil will work in the LS1. I tried the thinnest two I could find and they both came back with very acceptable wear numbers. Anything above and including those two would work fine. Those two are Castrol Syntec and Havoline Deposit Shield.

I only did 2500 miles because I wanted to get them both tested this year, and I had absolutely NO oil useage on my 97,000 mile engine from either one.
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Old Sep 9, 2007 | 03:43 PM
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maybe yall should use 10-30
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Old Sep 12, 2007 | 10:17 PM
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Why would you use 10w-30 over 5w-30?
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