Oil leaks

[DrBill]

Paul,, for the rest of the story, down there in Florida you could run any of those oils you mentioned, but at running temperature I don't think a leak would know the difference..

As others have said, you at least should find out where this leak is coming from before you try anything else to fix it..

If you don't want to take it to a rack and let someone look at it. (Probably the best idea), then what I use are spray bottles of foot powder (spray talcum powder) but the problem is you need to start off fairly clean and dry on your engine area before you spray it on,,, and as you mentioned, I don't know if you can possibly do that with your lack of room..

Anyway the procedure is to spray it on till you get a good white cover,,, then drive around the block a few times, and as they say,,, look for the wet spot....

 

[Soundguy]

is this a 5.3?

check the valve covers in any event.

ps. don't feel bad about a quart per 1k that's book normal according to GM

my yukon has gobbled a quart per 1k since NEW!

i have 70 year old tractors that don't burn or leak that much oil.. in fact I have a BARN FULL of old machines and NONE of them use that much oil!!!

It's a wonder why GM can't build something to compete with 70 year old tech and specs...

i sure am glad my tax money went into bailing out that sorry POS company...

 

[big bubba]

i sure am glad my tax money went into bailing out that sorry POS company...

souNdguy

some good points soundguy, but geez, interesting how something strictly mechanical or procedural can so quickly become so political & opinionated. but i do respect your long term field experience & expertise in this forum!

 

[Soundguy]

i felt the comment was pretty topical and applied to the situation. gm told me 1qt per 1k was 100% normal and in spec... and not to worry about it!!!

 

[Diamondpilot]

Time to trade it off....

Chris

 

[paulharvey]

Thanks for all the comments. This year has no PCV valve, it uses something different. I triple checked. I do seem to have a starting area to look at, it seems the gasket where the oil filter adapter meets the main motor block is prone to fail. I've read that the AC compressor has to be loosened and you come at it from passengers side wheel well...

About taking it to mechanic: a single hour of shop time buys a lot of oil; plus I don't think I could possibly keep my man card, I just sold both my trucks, and I hired a guy to fix my house AC... if I hire someone to fix my car, I might as well throw the man card away.

I didn't realize there was really a spec on oil loose, but I've had 2 dodges now, both 3.9L Dakota with 189,000 on one and 194,000 on the other that never used oil. My 2500hd never used oil, gmc 1500 with 174,000 never used any... maybe I've been spoiled, but I just was surprised anything could loose so much oil.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Thanks for all the comments. This year has no PCV valve, it uses something different. I triple checked. I do seem to have a starting area to look at, it seems the gasket where the oil filter adapter meets the main motor block is prone to fail. I've read that the AC compressor has to be loosened and you come at it from passengers side wheel well...

About taking it to mechanic: a single hour of shop time buys a lot of oil; plus I don't think I could possibly keep my man card, I just sold both my trucks, and I hired a guy to fix my house AC... if I hire someone to fix my car, I might as well throw the man card away.

I didn't realize there was really a spec on oil loose, but I've had 2 dodges now, both 3.9L Dakota with 189,000 on one and 194,000 on the other that never used oil. My 2500hd never used oil, gmc 1500 with 174,000 never used any... maybe I've been spoiled, but I just was surprised anything could loose so much oil.

One of my two Saturn's I owned used or lost a qt every 600 miles. It did this from 30,000 miles on. I complained to GM numerous times and they actually showed me in writing in a manual where it stated that was acceptable.

I am now on my 27th vehicle and it's been the only one I have had to add oil to between changes.

Chris

 

[Turbys_1700]

is this a 5.3?

check the valve covers in any event.

ps. don't feel bad about a quart per 1k that's book normal according to GM

my yukon has gobbled a quart per 1k since NEW!

i have 70 year old tractors that don't burn or leak that much oil.. in fact I have a BARN FULL of old machines and NONE of them use that much oil!!!

It's a wonder why GM can't build something to compete with 70 year old tech and specs...

i sure am glad my tax money went into bailing out that sorry POS company...

Soundguy...
Those issues with GM and oil burning has to do with their inconsistent build quality...
I have driven two Caddies over 200K and have a current Buick with 195K and all of those cars used a quart of oil at the 4K mile range...
But that was when they got over 150K miles...
Up to that point I never added any oil up to the oil change interval...
Just purchased an 07 Silverado with a 6.0 uses no oil at all and has 92K miles...
Perhaps I've been lucky to have not gotten one of those "oil burners"...
I wonder what % of cars GM has produced that uses that high amount of oil?

 

[MoMower]

Had a 96 Volvo 850, bought it at around 200k miles and it leaked like a ciev, a few oil changes with Valvoline high mileage took care of it. I would presume any high mileage oil would do the same due to the additives. YMMV

Sent from my idrankthekoolaid device c/o TractorByNet

 

[Soundguy]

Hard to say.

The co i work for bought that car brand new off the lot, a manager drove it for a very short period of time before changing jobs. The co was putting it up for sale and offered it to any of the employees for the price of just paying off the loan. Since it had built in equity I couldn't pass it up and assumed the loan with a small amount of bank paperwork. the truck even had one of those silver plan extended warranties. it got 2 years of oil change service at the dealer, which i took it to each time.. so it's not an issue of abuse. it got dealer service it's entire time from the factory and the extended warranty. it's fuel gauge went out 4 times, last time i just left it as it was out of warranty. a few other small odds n ends problem that don't keep it from starting and driving. had a major electrical fail one time that took out the harness and computer.. 4k$ worth of stuff. all said and done i paid 800$ so it wasn't too bad. it's had a power windo out.. normal stuff. it starts and runs ok and the tranny works fine.. etc. no complaints there.. just that oil use thing is annoying, and like dp said. gm will show you their spec says massive oil use is perfectly fine.

It's paid for and still starts every morning has about 220k on her. 4wd sometimes acts up.. but then again.. has only ever been needed 2-3 times ( wife drive the yukon ). at this point and hte cost of a new vehicle.. i plan on just paying the extra 3$ per 1k miles and dumping a quart of supertech in as long as she starts up every morning. that's the cheaper alternative then going and bying a new one.. or someone else's used problem. when she becomes unreliable i'll cut her loose.. ironically.. she will probably make it to 300k befor ethat happens.. like i said. the engine runs and the tranny shifs, and the diffy turns.. rest of the stuff on the truck may get iffy though..

Soundguy...
Those issues with GM and oil burning has to do with their inconsistent build quality...
I have driven two Caddies over 200K and have a current Buick with 195K and all of those cars used a quart of oil at the 4K mile range...
But that was when they got over 150K miles...
Up to that point I never added any oil up to the oil change interval...
Just purchased an 07 Silverado with a 6.0 uses no oil at all and has 92K miles...
Perhaps I've been lucky to have not gotten one of those "oil burners"...
I wonder what % of cars GM has produced that uses that high amount of oil?