I had an 07 Avalanche with the 5.3. Changed oil every 5000 miles. Never had to add any between changes and if it ever used any oil I could not detect it when checking the oil on the dipstick. The engine made acceptable power for my uses which included towing trailers up to 5000 pounds and delivered very acceptable fuel economy. It was a very good and trouble free vehicle. When I upgraded last year I went with a Longhorn Ram but if GM had upgraded the Ave I would have probably bought another.
2014 Silverado/Sierra released
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Diamondpilot
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You guys think I get heated here you should see me around my old college roommate Adam. He is die hard GM guy. We graduated college in 1992 and I would say he has had 12 gm trucks since then. Two were 2500 series with the 6.0L. All in all they were good to him but we once tried to use his 2003 to put in and out my boat, 15,600#, which was over the 12,000# tow rating I know but it would not pull the boat from the lake in 4 low. We did over 20,000# with a V-10 Ford's (1999-2001-2005) with no hesitation well over 100 times and have done 25,000# with the 05 V-10 Ford with 4.30 gears. Not sure what gears his 2500's had but I think they were all 4.10 gears until recently and the 6 speed tranny.
He has also had a Escalade and it was plagued from day one with wiring issues.
Now for the 5.3L trucks. He has had two Avalanches, three or four Tahoes, and maybe 4 or so Silverado's. Most of these have been fine trucks but 3 of these 5.3L motors have used as much as 1 qt of oil per 1500 miles. He was never happy about that. He did have one motor fail and one tranny fail. The motor that failed had a cam shaft break. Very unusual failure. His tranny that failed they found a ball bearing in it about the size of a pea that they could never trace down the source of. Best guess is that a machine on the assembly line failed and parts scattered and he was lucky enough to end up with one.
Now back to GM oil consumption. This is noting new. I have been a 8.1L boat motor lover for years but they use oil. About 1 qt every 30 hours. That is equal to 1000 miles in the boating world. I have also owned two Saturns, both with the DOHC 1.9L and both used oil. One just a qt between changes of 3,000 miles, the other used a qt every 600 miles and was not much better when I switched from the recommended 5W30 to 10W40. My grandfather had a few Northstar V8 Caddys and they all used oil. I have had about 25 cars and trucks from GM, Ford, Dodge, Honda, Toyota, Nissan, BMW, ect. The only 3 vehicles I have ever added a drop of oil to is the two GM cars I have had noted above and this was on 3,000 mile oil change intervals. I also add a qt of oil to my Twin Turbo BMW but on it I go 15,000 mile oil change intervals and I run a very thin 0W20 synthetic oil.
Now back to GM trucks and oil. I have done better than 100 oil changes on GM trucks in my last 20 years and it seems they can not build a truck without putting a cross member where the oil drains right on it and makes a big mess. I guess they could tout this as a anti-rust frame due to the constant oiling. Other manufactures put a deflector like all my Fords had to keep things clean.
Chris
He has also had a Escalade and it was plagued from day one with wiring issues.
Now for the 5.3L trucks. He has had two Avalanches, three or four Tahoes, and maybe 4 or so Silverado's. Most of these have been fine trucks but 3 of these 5.3L motors have used as much as 1 qt of oil per 1500 miles. He was never happy about that. He did have one motor fail and one tranny fail. The motor that failed had a cam shaft break. Very unusual failure. His tranny that failed they found a ball bearing in it about the size of a pea that they could never trace down the source of. Best guess is that a machine on the assembly line failed and parts scattered and he was lucky enough to end up with one.
Now back to GM oil consumption. This is noting new. I have been a 8.1L boat motor lover for years but they use oil. About 1 qt every 30 hours. That is equal to 1000 miles in the boating world. I have also owned two Saturns, both with the DOHC 1.9L and both used oil. One just a qt between changes of 3,000 miles, the other used a qt every 600 miles and was not much better when I switched from the recommended 5W30 to 10W40. My grandfather had a few Northstar V8 Caddys and they all used oil. I have had about 25 cars and trucks from GM, Ford, Dodge, Honda, Toyota, Nissan, BMW, ect. The only 3 vehicles I have ever added a drop of oil to is the two GM cars I have had noted above and this was on 3,000 mile oil change intervals. I also add a qt of oil to my Twin Turbo BMW but on it I go 15,000 mile oil change intervals and I run a very thin 0W20 synthetic oil.
Now back to GM trucks and oil. I have done better than 100 oil changes on GM trucks in my last 20 years and it seems they can not build a truck without putting a cross member where the oil drains right on it and makes a big mess. I guess they could tout this as a anti-rust frame due to the constant oiling. Other manufactures put a deflector like all my Fords had to keep things clean.
Chris
Peacock
Platinum Member
Are you seriously not able to keep oil off the skid plate on GM trucks? It is very easy to do. What 4 bolts? Or even a single rag is all that is needed. The Ford has a deflector because they had the 'better idea' to put the filter above the front axle.
Wow. Talk about grasping at straws people. It really is unbelievable the bias in here. I worked as a Ford tech for 4 years and I saw things that would keep me from ever buying an f-series truck. I don't feel the need to bring my brother's friend's cousin's neighbor's acquaintance and state that as a rule for the brand as a whole.
Wow. Talk about grasping at straws people. It really is unbelievable the bias in here. I worked as a Ford tech for 4 years and I saw things that would keep me from ever buying an f-series truck. I don't feel the need to bring my brother's friend's cousin's neighbor's acquaintance and state that as a rule for the brand as a whole.
timswi
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:drink:
Ryan03
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I just jack up the front end when changing the oil. This forces any oil that hits the skid plate to run toward the back of the plate and into the drain pan. Work smarter not harder.
timswi
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On my GMC, I only have to wipe off a slight amount on the crossmember...I don't see it as a problem, in fact I never gave it a second thought..I've dealt with far worse from other manufactuers...One paper towel takes care of it...If I jacked it up I wouldn't even have to do that...You're right.
joe t
Silver Member
Funny thing is I had an lt1 z28 camaro and it never used a drop. I mean 5000 mile oil changes with mobile 1 and it would be dead full when I changed it. Sold the car at 105k miles drove it from 16-21 years old.
Maybe gm should put a 1qt deeper pan on the trucks and a 2 qt safety zone on the dipstick.
Maybe gm should put a 1qt deeper pan on the trucks and a 2 qt safety zone on the dipstick.
clemsonfor
Super Member
my Saturn pours all over the axle and under carriage from the filter, but its so dirty n oily there and I have old wore out asphault and gravel I don't care where it goes I don't worry about it. I don't live in the "subdivision" as Phil Robertson says!! haha. I like the ranger I have easy oil plug and filter don't hit everything as you pull it off, I have a Mitubishi Mighty max farm truck, its pretty slick too, and the K10 is easy with the verticle filter that allows it to be filled to the top to be put on, and the drain is not in a place to get on stuff? But I drive old stuff and I like it old and easy to work on and costs nothing to own!
I'm on my 2nd Silverado 5.3 with the AFM. Neither of my trucks have burned a drop. In fact, until I read everyone here criticizing GM, I never even knew this was a problem. How about if you don't like something, don't buy it. I could never put down someone elses vehicle as bad as some do here. Freedom?
