We keep having to add engine oil to our Chevy 8.1L motorhome in signature...like 16 oz. every 500 miles. It had a leak a couple months ago and we had an oil line changed. No visible leak now. No smoke coming out of exhaust pipe. Oil pressure on dash gauge is just like it's always been, about 55 when driving...with 40 being the middle and 80 the highest. Does that sound good? We don't even know what those numbers mean.We are over 3,000 miles from home, so can't go back to the mechanic right now.Just wondered if anyone has any ideas about our older motorhome, with 90,000 miles, that uses alot of oil. Should we be concerned? What can be done?The engine still sounds and runs great!

I had a '97 SBC with a bad valve stem seal suck approx 1qt per 600mi when I was on a trip from UT to CO. I did have a cold misfire at idle. The problem cylinder had heavy ash deposits on the spark plug. I could not see any smoke from the pipe. A 'quick' test would be to pull the spark plugs and inspect for abnormal, this would tell you which cylinder(s) are having an issue. Leak, rings, or valve stems.

Keep an eye on the oil level and when you get home, take it to a shop and have the motor rebuilt.90K in a Mo Ho, it's time.

1/2 qt in 500 miles but how much in 1000 miles? Many engines will use a half at and stay there for many miles. You don't need to add until it gets to "add" our almost.

K Charles wrote:1/2 qt in 500 miles but how much in 1000 miles? Many engines will use a half at and stay there for many miles. You don't need to add until it gets to "add" our almost.I agree, a qt to 1000 miles is no big deal. I don't think the manufacturer would fix that even if it was still under warranty.

Next oil change make sure you check the level immediately after to verify the full mark. Slight overfill can burn more oil.Fill by capacity specification not the stick.

Motorhome drinking oil | Good Sam Community

crawford
Explorer
Jul 20, 2019
a few qts of oil isn't worth a engine over haul be serious not stupid.
ArchHoagland
Explorer
Jul 21, 2019
I have 90,000 on my 8.1 and it uses a little bit under a quart about every 1000 miles or so. It's always been like that since new.

I do my own changes every 3,000 miles and use Mobile 1 15,000 extended synthetic with a AC Delco PF454 filter.

Stills runs like a top and I expect it will continue to do so for many years to come.
honda1
Explorer
Jul 21, 2019
change oil to castrel 10w30 reg oil & ac delco filter , has same problem with 2000 7.3 using mobile oil 1 qt every 1200 miles then went to 2100 miles to quart ..
JaxDad
Explorer III
Jul 21, 2019
SidecarFlip wrote:
Keep an eye on the oil level and when you get home, take it to a shop and have the motor rebuilt.

90K in a Mo Ho, it's time.

That’s just silly.

Lots of heavily loaded gas-burners go well into 3X or 4X that mileage without issue.

A buddy has several Mac tool trucks, they’re never anything but loaded up with tools and near GVWR. He runs them to several hundred thousand miles before even thinking of touching them.

Modern engines are a completely different creature than back in the day.
Executive45
Explorer III
Jul 21, 2019
Janss wrote:
We'll keep watching the dipstick over the next few thousand miles as we continue our trip. And someday when my body feels nimble, I might crawl under the motorhome to have a look at the undercarriage.

Thanks for the additional comments. All very helpful.

Just a comment. You're "ASSUMING" the dipstick is accurate. Many, if not most, are not. Next oil change, verify the 'lines' on the stick are accurate. If not, simply correct it with a file....Dennis
twodownzero
Explorer
Jul 22, 2019
okhmbldr wrote:
Another reason for this sudden use of oil is possibly the quality of oil added at the last oil change.
I have an Avalanche with 205,000 miles and has never used a drop of oil....until my oil change guy forgot and added their "house blend". I noticed that after 1000 miles it used a full quart and I was sad. All those years and never used a drop and now I was a user!
Later I noticed on my receipt he noted that the house blend had been used instead of the Castrol 10/30 that has been in the truck since new.
Anyway, I went back and he changed to my Castrol, and the truck hasn't used a drop since.
Just a thought.

Two things:

1) the base stock of almost all oils is so similar that this is not possible.

2) I highly doubt your Avalanche calls for 10W-30 oil and it absolutely did not come with that "new."
okhmbldr
Explorer
Jul 22, 2019
twodownzero wrote:
okhmbldr wrote:
Another reason for this sudden use of oil is possibly the quality of oil added at the last oil change.
I have an Avalanche with 205,000 miles and has never used a drop of oil....until my oil change guy forgot and added their "house blend". I noticed that after 1000 miles it used a full quart and I was sad. All those years and never used a drop and now I was a user!
Later I noticed on my receipt he noted that the house blend had been used instead of the Castrol 10/30 that has been in the truck since new.
Anyway, I went back and he changed to my Castrol, and the truck hasn't used a drop since.
Just a thought.

Two things:

1) the base stock of almost all oils is so similar that this is not possible.

2) I highly doubt your Avalanche calls for 10W-30 oil and it absolutely did not come with that "new."

Thank you soooo much for correcting MY story. Your are right, the Avalanche originally came with 5w30 as the recommended oil. But, at 205k miles and living in a hot climate, I choose to use the 10w30. And why would you care?
Second, the quik lube I used explained that their base oil that they put in my truck by mistake is actually a re-refined oil for the cheap oil changes and he admitted that it does burn in many vehicles. So, I'm just passing on the quik lube guys info. I thought if the OP had received a similar oil change recently that his problem could have been the same as mine.

Thanks again for setting me straight.
honda1
Explorer
Jul 24, 2019
had to many times, used moible oil or exion oil , start using oil, changed to castrol 10 w 30 is the one to use & made a big diffrence in oil useage , have been told by others have done the same , it does make a difference , wont hurt to try.
Bird_Freak
Explorer II
Jul 24, 2019
twodownzero wrote:
okhmbldr wrote:
Another reason for this sudden use of oil is possibly the quality of oil added at the last oil change.
I have an Avalanche with 205,000 miles and has never used a drop of oil....until my oil change guy forgot and added their "house blend". I noticed that after 1000 miles it used a full quart and I was sad. All those years and never used a drop and now I was a user!
Later I noticed on my receipt he noted that the house blend had been used instead of the Castrol 10/30 that has been in the truck since new.
Anyway, I went back and he changed to my Castrol, and the truck hasn't used a drop since.
Just a thought.

Two things:

1) the base stock of almost all oils is so similar that this is not possible.

2) I highly doubt your Avalanche calls for 10W-30 oil and it absolutely did not come with that "new."
Your number 1 is not correct. When I was trucking I would use a gallon of Chevron oil on a west coast trip. On Mystic oil it never used more than two qt's between changes. That was 3 west coast runs.

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