Generation III Internal Engine 1997-2006 LS1 | LS6
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

5.3L burning/using oil?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 2, 2010 | 01:05 AM
  #1  
sixt9er's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
15 Year Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 507
Likes: 8
From: Oakland, CA
Default 5.3L burning/using oil?

Got my oil changed about two months ago. Verified that oil was put back into the engine before I left Oil Changers. Got back home and verified it again, after vehicle set for a few hours. Put about 2200 miles on engine since then. Had a low-oil level message on dash board the other day. Checked the oil dipstick and nothing was even registering on the dipstick at all. It took about three quarts to bring the oil to the proper level. Never has there been a clue of oil leaking out of any seals and or any gaskets thus far. Vehicle now has about 129,xxx miles on it. Oil pressure is always upwards of 40 lbs..

Question 1- Is anyone else having these issues with there LS1's?
Question 2- Is this normal for these engines at this particular mileage level?
Reply
Old Mar 2, 2010 | 02:37 PM
  #2  
matrik's Avatar
12 Second Club
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 346
Likes: 0
From: Richmond, VA
Default

Is the car smoking at all? See anything leaking out? These cars do burn a lot of oil, but that seems extreme. Do a search and there is a ton of info on oil usage. I'm at your exactly milage pretty much, but the car doesn't use that much oil. I only have added about half a quart the past 1k+ miles.
Reply
Old Mar 2, 2010 | 02:44 PM
  #3  
bjamick's Avatar
TECH Veteran
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
iTrader: (31)
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 4,218
Likes: 3
From: Birmingham AL.
Default

Change the pcv valve, or add a nice catch can. That usually helps with the oil usage.
Reply
Old Mar 2, 2010 | 03:17 PM
  #4  
sixt9er's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
15 Year Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 507
Likes: 8
From: Oakland, CA
Default

Originally Posted by matrik
Is the car smoking at all? See anything leaking out? These cars do burn a lot of oil, but that seems extreme. Do a search and there is a ton of info on oil usage. I'm at your exactly milage pretty much, but the car doesn't use that much oil. I only have added about half a quart the past 1k+ miles.
Vehicle doesn't smoke at all...no dripping, no puddles under the truck, no indication of any leaks...hmmm...
Reply
Old Mar 2, 2010 | 04:17 PM
  #5  
Justus67's Avatar
Launching!
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 240
Likes: 0
From: Freeport
Default

Mine had 90,xxx on it, and it ate a little more tha a quart every 2000-2500 with noe smoke, dripping or puddle. But then it threw a rod, hope not the same for you. Have someone stand behind the truck on a cold start up and see if you get a puff of smoke when it starts, it may be smoking very faintly the whole time its running.
Reply
Old Mar 2, 2010 | 05:16 PM
  #6  
sixt9er's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
15 Year Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 507
Likes: 8
From: Oakland, CA
Default

Originally Posted by Justus67
Mine had 90,xxx on it, and it ate a little more tha a quart every 2000-2500 with noe smoke, dripping or puddle. But then it threw a rod, hope not the same for you. Have someone stand behind the truck on a cold start up and see if you get a puff of smoke when it starts, it may be smoking very faintly the whole time its running.
It only puffs upon very hard acceleration I noticed.
Reply
Old Mar 2, 2010 | 08:41 PM
  #7  
matrik's Avatar
12 Second Club
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 346
Likes: 0
From: Richmond, VA
Default

Originally Posted by sixt9er
It only puffs upon very hard acceleration I noticed.
I know you said it doesn't smoke, but verify the car doesn't smoke at all on startup or idle. Mine was very faint at first, then got progessively worse. Put out a nice blue cloud at WOT toward the end. Also, the car was burning a lot oil. I drove the car maybe 120 miles up to D.C and the low oil light came on when I got there. Had checked the oil before I left too. Had to replace the valve seals, and no more smoking/crazy oil consumption at all

You can also pull the oil filler cap off, and see if its smoking out there at idle. That would be a result of blowby which = bad piston rings.
Reply
Old Mar 2, 2010 | 08:50 PM
  #8  
sixt9er's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
15 Year Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 507
Likes: 8
From: Oakland, CA
Default

Good point, Matrik!
I will run that check when the sun comes up.
Worse case scenario is that I need to replace the entire engine with a new 5.7L...with a way bigger cam!
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-5

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-9

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:21 AM.

story-0
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-2
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-5
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-6
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE