LS4 Performance Grand Prix GXP | Monte Carlo SS | Impala SS | LaCrosse Super

Oil Burning Issue

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Aug 6, 2010 | 10:46 AM
  #1  
EmersonHart13's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Resident
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 920
Likes: 0
Default Oil Burning Issue

I am at about 45 percent on the Oil Life Monitor and my oil light came one, I proceeded to add 2 quarts. WTF...

Car has never burned oil, but something of note did happen about 2 weeks ago. My brother borrowed my car and the heavens opened and we got insane rain here in Chicago. The front end got a "little" wet and that includes the possibility of ingesting some water. I was not there so I do not know the exact story, but I can tell you he did not try to drive through a giant lake he just got trapped nose first to one on the highway and no way to get away as the water rose.

But that is not the point... This morning after driving to work I did a white smoke test recommended to me by a friend, pulled the dipstick and I was sending smoke signals, oh joy.

Your thoughts please
Reply
Old Aug 6, 2010 | 10:55 AM
  #2  
AlabamaGuy's Avatar
TECH Addict
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,802
Likes: 0
Default

If there's water in the oil, you don't need to run it. Change it, then change it again, then again, then maybe 3 more times untill all the water's out. lol
Reply
Old Aug 6, 2010 | 10:58 AM
  #3  
EmersonHart13's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Resident
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 920
Likes: 0
Default

How would it get into the oil? (isn't the system sealed?) ...and would that cause me to burn oil? (oil and water don't mix so I don't see how that would work)
Reply
Old Aug 6, 2010 | 11:21 AM
  #4  
AlabamaGuy's Avatar
TECH Addict
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,802
Likes: 0
Default

Originally Posted by EmersonHart13
How would it get into the oil? (isn't the system sealed?) ...and would that cause me to burn oil? (oil and water don't mix so I don't see how that would work)
Look at the oil. It will look milky if there's water in it.
Reply
Old Aug 6, 2010 | 11:25 AM
  #5  
EmersonHart13's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Resident
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 920
Likes: 0
Default

How would it get in there, and cause subsequent burning?

Photo that he sent me the day of:

Reply
Old Aug 6, 2010 | 11:37 AM
  #6  
AlabamaGuy's Avatar
TECH Addict
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,802
Likes: 0
Default

It's normal for LSx engines to burn oil. We need to rule out that there's not water in it.
Reply
Old Aug 6, 2010 | 11:39 AM
  #7  
EmersonHart13's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Resident
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 920
Likes: 0
Default

I know it is, and I am not saying there isn't water in there, I just want to understand how it could get in there and why that would cause burning oil.
Reply
Old Aug 6, 2010 | 11:45 AM
  #8  
AlabamaGuy's Avatar
TECH Addict
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,802
Likes: 0
Default

Water will find its way into the crankcase. The same way the oil gets into the cylinder, water can get from the cylinder into the crankcase only the water is much thinner than the oil.
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-1

Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

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

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

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

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-5

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

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-7

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-8

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

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

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Aug 6, 2010 | 11:49 AM
  #9  
EmersonHart13's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Resident
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 920
Likes: 0
Default

Ah so you are saying if it got ingested into the cylinder it "slid down the side" into the crankcase...

I gotcha... So now why would that cause the oil to burn off, at a more rapid pace...
Reply
Old Aug 6, 2010 | 12:05 PM
  #10  
AlabamaGuy's Avatar
TECH Addict
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,802
Likes: 0
Default

Originally Posted by EmersonHart13
Ah so you are saying if it got ingested into the cylinder it "slid down the side" into the crankcase...

I gotcha... So now why would that cause the oil to burn off, at a more rapid pace...
My oil light's came on before. Could be driving habits, heat making it thinner, who knows. Maybe someone else can chime in?

Oil might have got watered down, making it seep by more?
Reply
Old Aug 6, 2010 | 12:06 PM
  #11  
SidewaysV8's Avatar
On The Tree
 
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 129
Likes: 0
From: St. Louis, MO
Default

Originally Posted by EmersonHart13
Ah so you are saying if it got ingested into the cylinder it "slid down the side" into the crankcase...

I gotcha... So now why would that cause the oil to burn off, at a more rapid pace...
Clogged PCV system and/or faulty solenoids in the AFM system is what I've been able to attribute the oil consumption to. Search for some of my posts, as I've linked to several TSB's from GM regarding this.
Reply
Old Aug 6, 2010 | 12:14 PM
  #12  
EmersonHart13's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Resident
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 920
Likes: 0
Default

Well this makes me feel better, I was fearing a partial hydro-lock trashed rings thing going on here, but maybe it isn't that.
Reply
Old Aug 6, 2010 | 12:43 PM
  #13  
indynotch50's Avatar
Launching!
 
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 265
Likes: 0
From: Morristown, IN
Default

Originally Posted by EmersonHart13
Well this makes me feel better, I was fearing a partial hydro-lock trashed rings thing going on here, but maybe it isn't that.

Dude from the looks of that picture I'd sure check into that lol. That stuff is DEEP.
Like AB guy is saying though, change the oil and check it out. it will literally look like a chocolate milkshake if it has water in it. If so you will need to change it a few times back to back to back. If it looks good you can rule out step #1 and have nice fresh oil.
I wouldn't worry so much about a hydro-lock unless it's way down on power and is starting to knock.
Reply
Old Aug 6, 2010 | 01:01 PM
  #14  
94ss06gxp's Avatar
TECH Addict
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,351
Likes: 0
From: Mid MI
Default

DAMN!!!!! thats alot of water. you would know if it was hydrolocked real quick lol . . is he floating in that pic? i noticed his speed is 0.
Reply
Old Aug 6, 2010 | 01:25 PM
  #15  
LS1 Racing's Avatar
TECH Addict
20 Year Member
Photogenic
iTrader: (15)
 
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,419
Likes: 6
From: 78°14′46″N 15°27′56″E
Default

If you hydrolocked, you'd know it, but since the car isn't making any nasty noises or misfiring, I don't think you need to worry about THAT.

However, I agree with AG. You gotta make sure that there's no oil in the crankcase. I would do at least 3 oil changes in short succession and change the PCV valve.
Reply
Old Aug 6, 2010 | 01:29 PM
  #16  
EmersonHart13's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Resident
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 920
Likes: 0
Default

Car runs great, which is the weird part. He told me it was running a bit rough when it was sitting in the water, but barely noticeable.

LOL, no he was not floating, just waiting for traffic behind him to back up so he could.

I will do a change tomorrow morning, I do not drive a lot (less than 10k a year) so even though it was 2 weeks ago I have not put on many miles.

As an FYI I run Castrol Syntec Blend and AC Delco filters.
Reply
Old Aug 6, 2010 | 01:40 PM
  #17  
EmersonHart13's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Resident
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 920
Likes: 0
Default

Also, just wanted to say thanks for everyone's input and in advance for future help.
Reply
Old Aug 6, 2010 | 01:43 PM
  #18  
indynotch50's Avatar
Launching!
 
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 265
Likes: 0
From: Morristown, IN
Default

Just as a future reference, let us know how the oil looks. A quick pic would be great.
Reply
Old Aug 6, 2010 | 01:53 PM
  #19  
EmersonHart13's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Resident
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 920
Likes: 0
Default

I will, it will get drained first thing tomorrow, if I didn't have to work and didn't have a wedding rehearsal dinner it would get done sooner. I want to do it right now... I actually considered taking the day off of work to play with the car. But then I realized I should do a bit of research first.
Reply
Old Aug 6, 2010 | 05:04 PM
  #20  
Brian396's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 749
Likes: 0
From: Ottawa IL
Default

Oil seals are designed to keep oil in. Not water out. Water will easily go past the rear main and dampener seal.
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:42 AM.

story-0
Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?

Slideshow: We take a close look at the ONE and Artidiag 800BT2 diagnostic tools from Topdon and the reasons to buy one over the other.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 11:05:11


VIEW MORE
story-1
Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine

Slideshow: The controversial Ferrari F6 swaps its original flat-12 for a Corvette Z06-derived LT4 V8 and sends power to four rear wheels through a custom-built drivetrain.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-26 18:23:54


VIEW MORE
story-2
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

Slideshow:These GM engines didn't just make huge power, they survived abuse, boost, track days, and six-digit mileage with a reputation for refusing to quit.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-21 16:45:27


VIEW MORE
story-3
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-4
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-5
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-6
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-7
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-8
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-9
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