Where is the oil going?
Thread Starter
TECH Junkie
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 3,052
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From: Poplarville, MS
Where is the oil going? I have a 2002 LS1 WS6 that has a rebuilt engine it with 15,000 miles on it. The block was bored to 3.905 so that forged Mahle pistons could be used. The engine also has a catch can installed along with a LS6 valley cover. The catch can does not collect very much oil and the engine does not seem to have very much blow by. The engine is using around 2 quarts of oil every 8,000 miles. There are no oil leaks and the engine is not smoking out the tail pipe. Is this normal oil usage and if not where is the oil going?
2 Quarts every 8000 miles does not sound out of line to me. That is less than 1 qt per oil change, I would be happy with that burn. If you have something out of the ordinary you notice give me a call and I am happy to go over the system with you so you can find the issue.
Thank you,
Kyle
972-853-2450
Thompson Motorsports
Thank you,
Kyle
972-853-2450
Thompson Motorsports
TECH Addict
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 2,189
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From: Portland, Oregon
That is not an excessive amount of oil consumption, and I would not be worried.
As for where it goes... It burns. Plain and simple. Whatever isn't draining out with oil changes is burning up and either exiting with your exhaust, or turning into that black build up inside the engine, like on the back of your valves.
As for where it goes... It burns. Plain and simple. Whatever isn't draining out with oil changes is burning up and either exiting with your exhaust, or turning into that black build up inside the engine, like on the back of your valves.
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Verdad Gallardo TECH Addict
Joined: Jul 2013
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From: Portland, Oregon
Maybe I just hate having money, but I changed my mobile1 every 3000 miles, like clockwork. And I could have probably used it again when it came out.
Anyways, you have the better ls6 pcv system, and a catch can, so you are already set up pretty well. Keep an eye on the catch can, assuming it's of decent quality and actually does its job, excessive amounts of oil showing up in it (the catch can) will tell you if something is amiss.
And if it only has 15k after a new bore/hone with new pistons and new rings were installed, everything is still "getting to know each other", so you may have a little extra oil making past the rings until everything is nice and broken in.
But if it's not making smoke, it's obviously not too much oil being burned, so I think you are fine as long as you have good oil pressure.
Anyways, you have the better ls6 pcv system, and a catch can, so you are already set up pretty well. Keep an eye on the catch can, assuming it's of decent quality and actually does its job, excessive amounts of oil showing up in it (the catch can) will tell you if something is amiss.
And if it only has 15k after a new bore/hone with new pistons and new rings were installed, everything is still "getting to know each other", so you may have a little extra oil making past the rings until everything is nice and broken in.
But if it's not making smoke, it's obviously not too much oil being burned, so I think you are fine as long as you have good oil pressure.
Thread Starter
TECH Junkie
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 3,052
Likes: 716
From: Poplarville, MS
I thank everyone for their input but it was not my intention to start a debate on how often you should change oil. What I am asking is how much oil use is considered acceptable and why do these engine use oil? Is it low drag oil rings for example?
TECH Addict
Joined: Mar 2013
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GM's used to say normal oil consumption is 1 qt every 2k miles but now its 1 qt to every 100 gals of fuel. Also I've seen posted online new Corvette owners reporting GM telling them 1 qt every 500 miles normal........
I've had many ls cars and they all used oil, some 1qt every 500 miles driving normal. Most of them used in the 1-2 qt range in 6k miles.
I've had many ls cars and they all used oil, some 1qt every 500 miles driving normal. Most of them used in the 1-2 qt range in 6k miles.
My 230K+ 5.3 truck engine uses about one quart in 3,000 miles. A bit of that ends up in my catch can-I have the LS6 PCV upgrade done. I guess two quarts in 8,000 is OK.
I change oil at about 3,000 miles OR when the oil life thing says 30% OR if I think the oil is dirty on the stick.
I change oil at about 3,000 miles OR when the oil life thing says 30% OR if I think the oil is dirty on the stick.
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Joined: Mar 2013
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You'd be surprised how dark it could look and still be fine. I've run up to 7k and tested it and it was still fine. I've also had one LS engine that fouled the oil badly in 3k miles, that same engine had piston failure. Driving habits have a lot to do with it too.
TECH Addict
Joined: Jul 2013
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From: Portland, Oregon
This was my schedule, as well. 30% oil life and 3000-3500 miles always coincided so perfectly, that I think I subliminally made myself see the oil as dirty on the dipstick around the same mileage.