LS2 Oil Consumption
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: May 2005
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LS2 Oil Consumption Hey,
I'm new to the board here, and wanted to make everyone with an LS2 aware of a potentially serious problem...
In the first 3k miles, I probably burned 1.5 qts. I didn't think much of it, figured this was normal during break-in and within GM "specs." At 4k I check the oil, I'm a quart low and add a quart. I'm now at 4600, quart low again. So I've lost 2 quarts in 1600 miles. No leaks.
I went to a GTO meet Sunday and found another individual with an 05 GTO having the same issue (but worse). His rings were redone, among other things and he lost 3 more quarts in the 1500miles since the repair (they have a new motor ordered for him now). One of the guys there noticed I had oil splattered across my rear bumper. The other 05 had the same oil splatters. No other 05s at the meet were having this problem, but there are several other 05s on ls1gto.com having similar consumption issues.
So my car's at the dealer now getting looked at, I'll keep you updated. Just wanted to warn you all, make sure you check your oil frequently.....
Anyone else having this problem?
Rich
I'm new to the board here, and wanted to make everyone with an LS2 aware of a potentially serious problem...
In the first 3k miles, I probably burned 1.5 qts. I didn't think much of it, figured this was normal during break-in and within GM "specs." At 4k I check the oil, I'm a quart low and add a quart. I'm now at 4600, quart low again. So I've lost 2 quarts in 1600 miles. No leaks.
I went to a GTO meet Sunday and found another individual with an 05 GTO having the same issue (but worse). His rings were redone, among other things and he lost 3 more quarts in the 1500miles since the repair (they have a new motor ordered for him now). One of the guys there noticed I had oil splattered across my rear bumper. The other 05 had the same oil splatters. No other 05s at the meet were having this problem, but there are several other 05s on ls1gto.com having similar consumption issues.
So my car's at the dealer now getting looked at, I'll keep you updated. Just wanted to warn you all, make sure you check your oil frequently.....
Anyone else having this problem?
Rich
I know for a fact that they have had issues burning oil and everyone I've talked to about this said it was normal. Also I heard if you drive over 4000 RPM that thats when thye oil consumption happens. I had this problem with my 01 Z06 and stopped taking it over 4000 unless im racing and I stopped burning oil. I went through 2 quarts in about 2500 miles.
The standard for LS1 oil consumption was 1 quart per 1000 miles is acceptable according to the dealers I talked to. You need to contact a GM dealer for the exact LS2 spec.
It sounds like the LS2 has the same high rpm oil-consumption as the LS1. For that I would simply run an extra quart of oil. This is odd because GM supposedly addressed this issue with different rings.
It sounds like the LS2 has the same high rpm oil-consumption as the LS1. For that I would simply run an extra quart of oil. This is odd because GM supposedly addressed this issue with different rings.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: May 2005
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Originally Posted by BUYAMERICAN
All race engines burn oil when running hard to keep parts lubricated and to stay cool. I would worry if you doing normal driving(under 3,500) with this type of comsumption.
I had a 78 Formula with a mildly worked 400 I swapped in, didn't burn a single drop and I flogged that thing on a daily basis. Others with LS2s who beat their car harder than me aren't losing 1/2 of what I'm losing. I understand there will be some variation, but what I'm experiencing seems excessive. I'll keep you all posted.
Originally Posted by integrilin
I'll get the car back today, they want to do the oil consumption test. I agree it should burn some oil, but why would it be splattered across one side of my rear bumper and not the other? I'll take a picture today if I have time before work and post it up. I don't baby the car, but I'm not beating the crap out of it either (certainly not enough to explain 2 quarts in 1500 miles). The other guy used 3 quarts in 1500 miles (even after the repair).
I had a 78 Formula with a mildly worked 400 I swapped in, didn't burn a single drop and I flogged that thing on a daily basis. Others with LS2s who beat their car harder than me aren't losing 1/2 of what I'm losing. I understand there will be some variation, but what I'm experiencing seems excessive. I'll keep you all posted.
I had a 78 Formula with a mildly worked 400 I swapped in, didn't burn a single drop and I flogged that thing on a daily basis. Others with LS2s who beat their car harder than me aren't losing 1/2 of what I'm losing. I understand there will be some variation, but what I'm experiencing seems excessive. I'll keep you all posted.
Teching In
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 11
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From: Long Island, New York
They must have the same issues with ALL Gm motors. I was told exactly the same thing with my caddy having a Northstar in it. burns a quart every 1000 miles. As for Integrillin's exhaust , I saw it and that's not normal oil consumption. The other party that he mentions is having a new engine ordered and installed. And if that doesn't work, it lemon law for him, this will be number three for him.
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I say you should get your dealership as much trouble as possible. They will say that 1qt/1k miles is acceptable, but who in their right mind would be satisfied with that?
FYI, I have an 02 ls1 and burn less than 1/2 a quart in 7000 miles. So what is acceptable?
FYI, I have an 02 ls1 and burn less than 1/2 a quart in 7000 miles. So what is acceptable?
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TECH Apprentice
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 303
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From: toronto
i a have LS2 FTR 402 stroker i have including breakin 1500 miles used 1 pint & iv'e hand it on the floor 
my heads & cam on my old ls1 burnt more !! so it's a good thing to burn a little !!! most oil was crankcase venting i think 
my heads & cam on my old ls1 burnt more !! so it's a good thing to burn a little !!! most oil was crankcase venting i think Last edited by STROKER R/T; Jul 13, 2005 at 03:33 PM.
TECH Veteran
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 4,055
Likes: 1
From: Hartsdale, NY
Super high engine oil consumption is very common in Gen 3 engines. Note: I did not say this is normal - just very common.
In the LS1 engines this was often accompanied by pistom slap which is a metalic noise at start up.
GM supposedly fixed this critical design flaw by changing the piston rings in later engines and using different pistons. Unfortunately, these bastards did not recall the entire line of engines which they should have done immediately.
If you buy a GM car you should expect things like this to happen. It is one of the many reasons that the company is in the dumper now.
Have a nice day!
PS - my heavily moded 99 LS6 does not burn any oil - I'm just lucky, however.
In the LS1 engines this was often accompanied by pistom slap which is a metalic noise at start up.
GM supposedly fixed this critical design flaw by changing the piston rings in later engines and using different pistons. Unfortunately, these bastards did not recall the entire line of engines which they should have done immediately.
If you buy a GM car you should expect things like this to happen. It is one of the many reasons that the company is in the dumper now.
Have a nice day!
PS - my heavily moded 99 LS6 does not burn any oil - I'm just lucky, however.
my 00 ws6 was an oil burning machine past 3500 rpms.james bond status.
my extended warr co replaced the short block with a jasper reman unit.
have not burned a drop.its definately luck of the draw on older ls1s. but if your
serious & dedicated then putting a real set of rings or ones that fit might not be a bad
idea.i replaced my motor at 32'000 miles.thanks to gm.
my extended warr co replaced the short block with a jasper reman unit.
have not burned a drop.its definately luck of the draw on older ls1s. but if your
serious & dedicated then putting a real set of rings or ones that fit might not be a bad
idea.i replaced my motor at 32'000 miles.thanks to gm.
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 531
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From: Helendale, Ca (SilverLakes)
GM insists on using very Low Tension Oil Rings on the LS series motors in order to milk every last bit of power out of them. Motors that have been rebuilt using Standard Tension Oil Rings hardly ever use any oil. Of course the Dealers will tell you that it is normal for the LS engines to burn oil because that is the way they were built.
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 34,611
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From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
It certainly is the "luck of the draw" so to speak. My '00 used about 1 quart in 800-1000 miles. Granted, it was modded (cam, headers, stall, bolt-ons) and the 3500 stall kept the revs pretty high until lock-up. But still, it was using oil even when stock, just not as bad.
My '98 doesn't seem to use any oil at all though, thankfully.
My '98 doesn't seem to use any oil at all though, thankfully.
Well I had an 01 WS6 and it ate up about 1 quart every 950-1,000 miles, but ran great and didn't smoke, I had it from 13,000 to 25,000miles. My new car, 02 WS6, had 25k on it when I got it, I changed the oil and after 3k I had used only 1/2 quart! Over the last 3500 I have used only .250-.33 of a quart. I am VERY impressed with this car, it runs awesome, 12 sec 1/4s stock, and hardly any oil consumption. It has been down the 1/4 13 times, involved in several street races, and taken WOT numerous times during this 6500 miles. I don't know what the previous owner used in it before me, but it seemed to use less the last 3500 miles than it did the first 3k, it may use even less this next go around....which is fixing to start this week when I change it. Mobil 1 0w40 BTW. GM needs to address their inconsistancy of their engines in a bad way!!!!!
My '98 Z-28 doesn't burn a drop. It had 92,000 miles on it when I bought it. Changed heads, cam, oil pump, etc at 98,000 miles, but still has the stock shortblock in it. Switched to Amsoil 10w-40 then and has 108,000 miles on it now. Actually it uses about 1/2 pint between oil changes, but that is going to the oil accumulator in the pcv line.
If the engine is using oil you have a problem somewhere.
If the engine is using oil you have a problem somewhere.
TECH Regular
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 416
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From: Minnesota
Originally Posted by DrkPhx
For that I would simply run an extra quart of oil.
Originally Posted by Muffracing
That is not good advice to give. If you have too much oil you will get captivation, and could blow the engine. You should not be running an engine with extra oil in it, If anything a little low is better.
If anything a little low is better
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Joined: May 2004
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From: Wichita KS
i had oil consumption problems until i switched to Mobil 1 0W-40, now i loose maybe 1 quart every 3500-5000mi.
But, i only put in 5.5, and i am damn close to filling a 1.5 gallon bucket when i empty it, so maybe i am losing even less, and that was on a 6k interval. Who knows... Just get her over 10k mi and try running a synthetic, that will probably lessen the problem significantly
But, i only put in 5.5, and i am damn close to filling a 1.5 gallon bucket when i empty it, so maybe i am losing even less, and that was on a 6k interval. Who knows... Just get her over 10k mi and try running a synthetic, that will probably lessen the problem significantly