What a Joke! GM and its latest recall.

[FlaDon]

One half to one quart of oil per 3500 miles! That's drinking oil? I'm sorry, but as a Civil Engineer with 24.5K posts, you should know better. I don't mean to be harsh with anyone, but that's just plain silly.




Read it! Believe it! The secret is out and it's really true; all engines burn oil!

From AMSOil's website.

For example, Ford Motor Company considers consumption as high as one quart of oil per 1,000 miles to be acceptable in a gasoline engine.

 

[sld]

I think the phrase "uses no oil" equates to "no oil is added between changes".

There is a difference and I agree, all engines consume some amount of oil.

 

[Builder]

I think the phrase "uses no oil" equates to "no oil is added between changes".

There is a difference and I agree, all engines consume some amount of oil.

Well said.

The hash marks on the dipstick can show 1-2 quarts of consumption. When one changes their oil, they usually fill to top of dipstick. After 3K miles, it might be near the bottom of the dipstick. Thus the engine has actually burned at least a quart of oil. However, the owner convinces himself that none is burned because he never had to add any because the oil still shows in the acceptable range on the dipstick.

I had a Powerstroke that drank oil and required oil to be added before the 3K mark was hit, but showed no outward signs or problems. Ford said it was normal and good to go.

 

[ray66v]

Tell that to the mfgs. You cannot maintain the same oil level any other way. Fuel or water, one way or the other. Unless you want the engine to wear our quickly. It's not just a GM thing either.

Okay Don, if it's water, you would have a drop in coolant level. Owning a Chevrolet mans dealing with leaky intake gaskets, I watch coolant levels very closely. I constantly add coolant to the Malibu. I don't EVER add any to the Villager, and there is NEVER any white foam.

If it's any considerable amount of fuel in the crankcase, you can smell it, (I don't). Fuel also evaporates, along with condensation, when you drive it. You do not get a serious amount of accumulation of either one, if you drive any kind of distance. I live in the country, so just about any trip I make is 30 minutes, or more.

As an example of crankcase fuel evaporation, one of the airplanes I fly regularly, has a valve on the dash, to add gasoline to the crankcase. This is to thin the oil when attempting a cold start. According to the manual, up to 4 quarts of gasoline can be added to the 12 quarts of oil. The manual also states that a one hour flight is all that is necessary to eliminate the 4 quarts of gasoline from the oil. Doing the math, that's 1 quart of fuel evaporated from the crankcase, per 15 minutes of operation.

All I can tell you is the Nissan engine does not ever use any perceivable amount of oil. I change it every 5,000 miles. And it runs great at 180,000 miles. Your results apparently vary.

 

[FlaDon]

Well said.

The hash marks on the dipstick can show 1-2 quarts of consumption. When one changes their oil, they usually fill to top of dipstick. After 3K miles, it might be near the bottom of the dipstick. Thus the engine has actually burned at least a quart of oil. However, the owner convinces himself that none is burned because he never had to add any because the oil still shows in the acceptable range on the dipstick.

I had a Powerstroke that drank oil and required oil to be added before the 3K mark was hit, but showed no outward signs or problems. Ford said it was normal and good to go.

Dodge also says a qt per thousand is ok too. Quote from Justanswer's ASE techs.

hello, for dodge and their engines 1 quart in 1500 miles is not concidered excessive. they dont start to concidered oil consumption to be excessive unless the motor is using more then a quart every 1000 miles. as long as there are no leaks there isnt anything you have to worry about with the amount your motor is using.

Read more: using excessive oil - JustAnswer

So GM, Ford, and Dodge all agree that modern engines are okay if they burn one qt/1000 miles or less. As for the dipsticks, my 8.1 is okay from 7 to 4 qts and the dipstick is marked with a hole at 7, 6, 5, and 4 qts. 4 qts is the add mark.

 

[Builder]

I don't see what the big deal is anyway. Most (not all) people that say their [fill in brand name here] "doesn't burn any oil" are being deceitful and just doing their part towards brand loyalty.

Sure, it cost $3-$5 for a quart between changes, but it doesn't mean your engine is necessarily a problem waiting to happen.

Excessive consumption is a different matter.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I lost respect for GM when my brand new Chevy truck burned a quart of oil every 1500 miles.

I took it into the dealer for warranty to get that fixed and was told that according to the warranty 1 quart of oil every 1000 miles is within specifications

Same thing with my Saturn. I would add a qt every 1200 miles or 3 tanks of fuel. To be fair it was a decent car, about the best thing GM made, but they canned it so I sold it and washed my hands of GM for good.:thumbsup:

My grandfather had 2 Northstar Caddys and they both burned oil in the qt/1000 mile range.

I have owned nearly 20 vehciles from Ford, Honda, Toyota, Chevy, Nissan, Dodge, ect. The only 2 I have ever had to add oil to between changes were the Saturn that I got rid of at 28,000 miles and the Blazer that I got rid of at around 35,000 miles. Many of my others had as much as 160,000 miles and never add a drop.

Chris

 

[CinderSchnauzer]

I lost respect for GM when my brand new Chevy truck burned a quart of oil every 1500 miles.

I took it into the dealer for warranty to get that fixed and was told that according to the warranty 1 quart of oil every 1000 miles is within specifications


that was my third chevy truck in a row that I had.
it was also my last. I now have a 2007 Ford F150, 90,000 miles. I've never had a thing go wrong on it, and I've never had it low on oil.

We all have our stories.

Had a 69 Ford Galaxie turn into a little pile of rust right in my driveway. Nice new 76 Crown Vic - half the paint peeled of in a few years. Tried a brand new Taurus in 1988. Had rust spots the size of a dime on the hood in less than a year - dealer said wait until there's a hole and then maybe we'll do something. Had to R&R the tranny 4 times and the A/C unit 3 times.

Driving down the road one day the door handle fell off - that was it for Ford. Traded it for a new Malibu - still have it - haven't even ridden in a Ford since then.

 

[careyo63]

I lost respect for GM when my brand new Chevy truck burned a quart of oil every 1500 miles.

I took it into the dealer for warranty to get that fixed and was told that according to the warranty 1 quart of oil every 1000 miles is within specifications


that was my third chevy truck in a row that I had.
it was also my last. I now have a 2007 Ford F150, 90,000 miles. I've never had a thing go wrong on it, and I've never had it low on oil.

My 2001 F-250 XLT has 99150 on it and it has only hit the shop once Vibration in the drive shaft. My local dealer had it corrected under warrenty in about a day.I'm pretty sure I most likely was the culpret when I hung my boat on the ramp on a bad drought year.Had 2 150's before it same thing.no problems at all. Sold one 375,000 miles when they went to the 97 new Style and frame. Just out grew it for my present 250 when I bought my Ranger bass boat and need the ext cab.
The Wifey's 05 Taurus Not the first complaint 110,000 only tires and brakes.
And on oil use Had all I could stand with the 350 days IMO not very fond of HYD. lifters thats was the worst oil blowing burning P.O.S that ever hit the road.

 

[Cat_Driver]

On my 04 and 05 GMC Dually it was an over heater from day one. I complained to no avail.
The Diesel page had hundred of guys that had overheating diesels and all placed a complaint with GM, but when i called GM said " I'm sorry I have never heard of that problem with our trucks'. On ingenious member of the site actually invented a cure for the over heating for about $1,000.00 while GM denied it had a problem.

The service Manger actually had the stones to tell me a Diesel engine running in the RED was normal, he said he has one and it does it all the time "don't worry"

What amazes me is how we still have major problems with autos when we now have computers with CAD capabilities and testing equipment by the truck load and yet we still have the problems we have.

I mean how do you build an overheating Diesel and diesel has been around since 1896.