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

On my 2002, I just wait until it says "Check Engine Oil" and that is at about 2500. Then I know it is time for an oil change.

If you like, send a sample out to Blackstone at next oil change and see what kind of shape the motor is in, Here's mine for about 140k miles, looks pretty clean.

So i'm most likely ok, using about 1.5 quarts in almost 4000 miles seems normal. I'm not really into adding additives to the oil so i'm sticking with my 5w30 Valvoline.

I owned a 2002 YukonXL with 8.1L from new until 2 months ago. It ALWAYS used a quart every ~1500miles. I took in a couple times at first. They did the bolt service bulletin mentioned above, no impact. Messed around with something else to no avail, and finally told me "that's normal for a big block." I used Mobil1 for all 185K miles, don't want to think of the money I burned...but oil paled in comparison to the gas...it did pull great though...

I have an 8.1(in sig) and it uses around 1 quart every 1200 miles while towing and a quart every 2000 or so when daily driving. It is normal.

BurbMan wrote:
Mike, didn't know that. Only basing that on cars I've owned, my '94 SHO with a 16v Yamaha V6 didn't use a drop between changes, neither does my DW's 05 Hemi Magnum. Had an '00 Expedition with 5.4 that didn't use a drop, same iwth the 94 and 97 4Runners. My experience for the last 20 years has been that if you need to add oil between changes it's either burning it or leaking it, but then again I don't have any experience with the motors you mention. Good to know.

Right not all of them do. My 3800 does not, nor does the 2.4 Ecotec we have. But lots of new engines burn oil.

5.4 oil usage
There are hundreds of threads just like the one above at that site.
According to a guy who is on that site and works Ford, acceptable usage for the old 4.6/5.4 as put forth in a TSB by Ford is about 1 quart per 1500 miles. He posted it at one point when some one was less than happy with that answer form the dealer.

It seems to me the type and brand of oil also affects the usage, I can't prove that, but if you spend some time at that site there are folks, who apparently have WAY TOO much time on their hands, that have graphed out their oil usage based on weight and oil brand. It blows my mind. You should see some of the newer Hondas they complain about.
I have personally have been lucky, if you want to call it that as I believe every oil burning scenario is hit or miss, my 6.0 GM uses very little oil 1/2 a quart per 5000 miles, but the Trans Am uses about quart every 2500 to 3000 miles. Has done it since day one.
There is a TSB for the GM LS engines talking about acceptable oil usage being about 1 1/2 quart per 3000 miles. I have it somewhere...

BurbMan wrote:
Fairly normal. I use about a quart every 3000 miles, has since it was new. Now at 144,000, doesn't use any more, or any less either....

I would stay away from additives, your oil usage doesn't indicate a loss of compression or other problem.

There is an oil level sensor in the pan, if it 2 qts low the message center will say "Low Oil Level"...just add a quart of your favorite 5w 30 and you are back in business. I usually carry an extra quart on long trips so I have the same brand that I put in at the last change. So don't worry about it getting too low without you knowing about it.

Some folks complained about oil consumption along with the infamous "piston slap" in the early days of the 8.1 The design of the pistons is hypereuritic(sp?) or some such, meaning they expand as they heat up and therefore have extra clearance when cold. I find that I use more oil with short trips start/stop around town than on long drives, even when towing.

The GM yardstick for "excessive" oil consumption was more than a quart for every 100 gallons of gas, which at 10 mpg is like 1000 miles. One of the reasons I never went to synthetic was I would just change the oil every 3000 miles, so I never had to add any.

I just went to Mobil 1 on my last oil change and am going to go 7000 miles and see what's what. We took a short camping trip (90 mins each way) the weekend before last, and I'm a 1/2 quart down already. Depending on how much Mobil 1 I have to add before the next change, I may go back to dino oil...

Sorry the comment regarding hypereutectic pistons is exactly wrong. Hypereutectic pistons are an aluminium alloy with a high silicon content which makes them expand LESS therefore allowing closer tolerances

Mike, didn't know that. Only basing that on cars I've owned, my '94 SHO with a 16v Yamaha V6 didn't use a drop between changes, neither does my DW's 05 Hemi Magnum. Had an '00 Expedition with 5.4 that didn't use a drop, same iwth the 94 and 97 4Runners. My experience for the last 20 years has been that if you need to add oil between changes it's either burning it or leaking it, but then again I don't have any experience with the motors you mention. Good to know.

BurbMan wrote:
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.

I really don't want to argue but that is not true. New Hondas burn that about every 3000 miles, the LS series of engines does it. As Do a few Toyotas, BMWs, and the Hyundai and Kia twins, the New Maxima and associated cars do as well. Better MPG more power=you use some oil.

Here is good site where it is all people discuss. Lots of good info there on what is considered "normal" by the manufacture for oil usage in a modern EFI car. It will surprise the heck out of you.
Bob is the oil guy website.

My Trans Am uses about a quart every 1000 miles.

As to the OP, your truck is fine.

1qt per 1000 is normal but here's a bulletin to look at:



High Oil Consumption (Replace Intake Manifold Bolts) #02-06-01-035 - (10/17/2002)
High Oil Consumption (Replace Intake Manifold Bolts)
2002 Chevrolet Avalanche
2001-2002 Chevrolet Silverado, Express, Suburban
2001-2002 GMC Sierra, Savana, Yukon XL
2001-2002 Chevrolet and GMC C6-7 Conventional Cab Medium Duty and B7 School Bus Models
with 8.1L Engine (VINs G, E -- RPO L18)
Condition
Some customers may comment about higher than expected oil consumption. Because this type of engine is used under various load conditions, the dealer should verify that the vehicle is using more than 0.946L (1 quart) of oil for every 379L (100 gallons) of fuel used.
Cause
Oil vapor pulled into combustion chamber through the intake manifold may cause this condition.
Correction
Replace all the intake manifold bolts. Replace one bolt at a time in sequence to keep the intake manifold from shifting.

Notice
Ensure the intake manifold does not shift as the intake manifold bolts are tightened in the proper sequence. Failure to follow the entire intake manifold bolt tightening sequence exactly may result in an oil leak and serious engine damage.

In the order shown below, remove each bolt and replace with a new bolt. Insert the new bolt and tighten to 5 N·m (44 lb in). Then move to the next bolt in sequence until all bolts have been replaced.

After all of the bolts have been replaced, tighten each bolt in sequence to 8 N·m (71 lb in).
Tighten all bolts in sequence to a final torque of 12 N·m (106 lb in).
Parts Information
Part Number
Description
Qty

12561518
Bolt, Intake Manifold
10
Parts are currently available from GMSPO.
Warranty Information
For vehicles repaired under warranty, use:
Labor Operation
Description
Models
Labor Time

J0290
Bolts, Intake Manifold - Tighten or Replace
C/K, C6-7, B7
0.7 hr

G Van
1.5 hrs