GM 8.1 496 gas engine "normal" oil loss/use?

I've got just over 135,000 miles and use more in town short drives than when pulling. About a pint on 900 miles of towing (MI to Myrtle Beach thru mtns) but almost a quart in about 1000 miles of city driving. Randu

I think all big block chev engine used some oil. My 73 454 was a qt for 1200 miles. Our 2001 3500 8.1 was 1/2 qt at 1500 miles so for a 3000 mile oil change I added 1/2 qt but really of course it used one qt for 3000 miles. Great engine.
chevman

My little 5.4L uses none. However, if I were to dangle some truck nutz from the hitch, they would be 1/4-20's. I remember the surprise over the oil usage of the 496 when it came out. Never heard of any problems as a result of it. We used to run 20w-50 in the old big blocks back when the earth was just beginning to cool. 10w-40 might be an option.

Most cars today don't use ANY oil and haven't since fuel injection became common, it was alarming to some for the 8.1 just introduced in 2001, to use a qt every 3000 miles.

cdlaine, your mileage is typical, I get 10 around town and 7-8 towing. The Allison will give you better mileage than the 4L80E in my burb.

I'm not an 8.1L owner, but been on RV.net for 10 years :W

Anyway, oil usage is a common complaint here from 8.1L owners. I seem to recall GM says a quart every 1000 miles is normal? Correct me if I'm wrong...

Back in the 70's, a quart per 600 miles was considered acceptable to the dealer for the 454 engines. Today we tend to thing that anything more than 1 quart per 4,000 miles between changes is not typical.

But I would want a engine to consume a little bit of oil. It helps lubricate the bottom end of the cylinder walls if a little goes past the cylinder rings, and is not 100% scraped off. The tiny amount of oil prevents the rings from scraping bare metal to bare metal while at the lowest piston stroke point.


Fred.

JustLab...

Always wanted to do that, thanks , very good info.

Not chipped, no mods except K&N air filtration. 10 years
of towing.

Charles

My '01 2500HD with the 8.1 used more oil than I thought it should with 5w-30. 10w-30 slowed the usage and 15w-40 stopped it.

Used oil analysis says the 15w-40 worked well in the 8.1

Sounds about right (all) , ... but I knew that going in.
Frequent changer of oil, doesn't seem to matter Dino or
Synth. . No obvious leaks. Expensive vehicles to own and
operate, never met a gas station it didn't love. I use to
worry about mileage and oil drinking... not so much anymore,
that worry didn't change anything. Now I put gas in when it
needs it, and change/add oil when it needs it. The 8.1L Vortec
with the Allison and 4.10 rear end is built to haul heavy
loads... I appreciate my truck.

Good luck

Charles

ps, I get nowhere near the mpg I see many state (underload or
free-wheeling). Good empty = 13-15mpg, hauling 5ver = 7-9 mpg.
..but haven't checked in a few years.

Agree. My 8.1 Silverado used a litre about every 3500 miles.