2009 Silverado burning oil!!?

[Ufatz]

Have heard rumblings about this in the last couple years and now it seems to be showing up on one of our trucks, a 2009 1500 Silverado with the "flex fuel" engine. Its the engine that runs on 4-cyl and then on 8-cly depending on load. Rumor is that once this engine reaches 60-70K miles it really starts burning oil.

Twice we've checked this one and found it downn more than 2 qts!!

Anybody else?

[MattL]

Mine does the same thing. Burns about a quart every 3-4,000 miles. I was told it has something to do with the active fuel management and the rings do not heat up enough to seal on the 4 cylinders that are shut off. And when they do fire it burns off the drops of oil that make it past.

[Newbie]

I have been having the same problem for 20,000 miles. I now have 54,000 miles on this 2009 5.3 Flex fuel engine. I have been on a oil consumtion test at Wilcox chevrolet in forestlake mn. This has been going on awhile.You have to have them check your oil every 500 miles. When I first noticed this I was over 2 quarts in 2400 miles. Took it in and everytime I get to around 500 miles They check and say only 1 quarter of oil low or even not low. They say 1 quart every 2000 miles is normal. What a bunch of talk.I know they must put in more than they say. I dont know what to do. When the truck is low on oil my lifters make noise on start up after sitting all night. Was under the impression this truck would last me. I am now retired and have a fing lemon. Good Luck go after them you know whats.

[JOHNBIGDOG]

I would like to start off by saying a "full" on a dip stick is anywhere in the cross hatched area of the dip stick. Usually when an oil consumption issue comes up, the dealership will fill up the crank case with 1/2 or 1 quart low during a normal oil change, they will then mark this new "low" mark on the actual dip stick so to figure out how much oil has been lost in between services.

In all honesty, oil does a very important job, it cleans, cools, and lubricates the engine; and should be checked regularly. 1 Quart of oil VS a new engine...well oil is cheep even at 11 bucks a quart. (cough, darn VW diesel oil) Anyhow, your hood can be opened by the owner, and the owner can pull the dipstick and check it before one brings it to the dealer. Honestly, we want the OEM's money. Sometimes more than others.... We do want to make the customer happy.

Now sometimes they will mark the drain plug to make sure it hasn't been tampered with, sometimes they wont. The owner may have an opportunity here to help out the situation, and make sure the drain plug is tight, if warranty is a factor.

I may regret sharing this information....

[fishhuntwork]

I worked at a Chrysler dealership for 8 years and did lots of factory training. They stated that 1 qrt of oil every 1,000 miles was normal. I know its not a chevy but just my 2 cents.

[Scott K]

and Ford says 1qt per 900 miles is normal. I say 1-2qts per 3000 is normal.

Most engines dont use that much, but some do. If it were mine, and it was out of warranty, I would guarantee you I would be just adding that 2 qts per 3000 miles, rather then paying $6000 to fix it. I am sure most people would agree. Unless it smoked bad, but if it smoked bad, it would more then likely be burning a lot more then 2 quarts per 3000 miles.

[leechlake]

I went through this with my suburban with the same engine. It was like clock work every 1000 miles it was down a quart. This started at around 30000 miles.

First the dealer had me keep a log and sure as heck it showed every 1000 miles it was down a quart. They did nothing...

Second, they made me bring it in every time it was down a quart so they could log it (as if I'd suck the oil out myself) I did it and it was always down a quart. They said it was "normal"

I actually sold the Suburban to a friend who knew of the issue and he went through the same routine and finally after nagging relentlessly they fixed it by some procedure that's beyond my mechanical ability. I believe it was rings etc.

It is now fixed, so it can be done and I believe they know what to do but you have to follow their plan. I've heard of it with many trucks.

[Whoaru99]

Get out there and pressure seal those rings.

[Ufatz]

Pressure seal the rings? Please tell us more!?

[Scott K]

Put your right foot down

[BoxMN]

My brother has a '07. He had a dramatic need for oil within the tests times, and a good dealer worked with him, checked the oil (over timespan of over a year), did the "fix" and it did not work. Monitored oil again, and still using excessive. Finally they ended putting a new '12 engine in it, just within the warranty miles. But they did not warranty the new engine at all, but they did say that this new engine will not have the same issue.

So far, no extreme oil usage on the new engine. Runs great, as did the last one, the last one just used way too much oil, even for the alleged normal oil usage new vehicles seem to be claiming.

[CaptainMusky]

Seems odd they wouldnt warranty the new motor at all. I guess since it was just prior to his other warranty ending.

I love the pressure seal comment. I was going to say the same thing.

Hammer down and you surely wont be in the 4 cyl mode often.

[Gus]

They would only warrant the new engine if he paid for it. I'm not arguing one way or the other. Just the way they do it.

[Ufatz]

Yes, you fellas confirmed what we had been told. It IS a nice truck, far more comfortable that the equivalent Ford-and I am a long time Ford man. But we will either (a) just dump oil in it or ( dump the truck and go back to Ford.

Maybe one of those really cool Lincoln pick up trucks so I can drive around our neighborhood demonstrating to the folks how dumb I really am!!! LOL!!!

[CAMAN]

I have to wonder why GM can't fix the engine's computer programming to make it cycle the 4 cylinders that are running in eco mode to keep them all warm. Instead of just running the same 4 cylinders all the time like it sounds like they are doing now.

[Whoaru99]

They would only warrant the new engine if he paid for it. I'm not arguing one way or the other. Just the way they do it.

Yeah, that's right, a warranty repair does not extend the original warranty period. Some campanies though may cover the replaced part under a service parts warranty if that warranty is longer than the remaining original warranty. Just depends on the policies of the company.

The policy of the company I work for is that a warranty repair is covered for the remainder of the original warranty or the service parts warranty on the replaced item, whichever is longer.

[crothmeier]

This problem was common in the '07 and early '08 models. I was told there is two options dealerships take if the engine falls out of "normal consumption", they tear down and install a part, or swap the whole engine.

My unlce had the "fix" done and traded, my buddy got a new engine and doesnt have the problem anymore. Both those were '07 Silverados with the 5.3L w/ AFM.

I have a late '08 and use about 1/2 qt every 3,000 miles.

[hoppe56307]

I have the same problem with my 07 as well they did the fix and it was still using a quart or more between oil changes. I am hoping the next step is to just swap it out.

[Capt. H (Ret.)]

They must have got it fixed because my 11 doesn't burn a drop and goes 6,000 between oil changes with DEXOL

Mik