8100 Oil consumption

[j7l2]

In 3000 miles my 8100 uses 2 qts of 10W-30 Penzoil, is this normal? Engine has 22500 miles on it with 4L80 trans.
Thank you,
JimO

[chuntag95]

It is not normal. No engine should consume oil at that rate. But (there is always a but), unless you have a good service rep and/or some other sign of a problem, you will probably get "That's within acceptable limits." from the General. I had a furd do that and they ended up replacing the engine after I unglued with the same line when used on me. I told them if there standards were so low, I would never pay another $40K for one of their POSs. Our one advantage was a horific burned oil smell that came and went. It finally came with the mechanic in the truck and an engine was ordered.

[Alta Lad]

Originally posted by j7l2:
In 3000 miles my 8100 uses 2 qts of 10W-30 Penzoil, is this normal? Engine has 22500 miles on it with 4L80 trans.
Thank you,
JimO

Unfortunatly with the 8.1 the deadler says " 1 litre of oil per 1800 km is normal." ( 1qt/1000m)
According to a AllData report GM spec is 1 qt of oil per 100 gallons of gasoline used. This is the ratio used to determine if the intake manifold bolts need to be replaced. Still trying to figure out how the bolts allow oil loss?
My 8.1 usually uses 1-2 litres of oil per 5000km, which it has from day one. I installed a winter front, blocking the grille comletly, and the oil consumption jumped to 2-3 lites per 5000 km. Keeping a closer eye on the oil level now and have removed half of the winter front. This summer I also plan to install hypertech programmer and a lower temp thermostat. It would appear to me that a higher engine temp equates to a higher oil consumption but have no evidence to prove that theory.

[dmaxalliTech]

The intake bolts allow oil consumption as the bolts go through the intake passages. The bolt sealer may not be suffecient to keep oil from wicking up the threads and getting sucked into the intake runners. It can actually create a vacuum to pull the oil up the threads. The new bolts have a better sealer to prevent this from happening

[ueckebes]

i have two different friends with 8.1 powered chevys one works his the other only tows a boat,both have complaints of high oil consumption [2 qts in 3000 miles] judgeing from this and a couple of other reports this seems to be normal for that engine.

[ueckebes]

i have two different friends with 8.1 powered chevys one works his the other only tows a boat,both have complaints of high oil consumption [2 qts in 3000 miles] judgeing from this and a couple of other reports this seems to be normal for that engine.

[Heartbeat Hauler]

Anybody tells me 2qts in 3000 mi is "normal" there's gonna be a fight. The service writer told my wife that same thing when she brought her 2001 Z06 vette in for using oil. It was using a quart per 1000 miles. I figured they were trying to take advantage of her, so I went in there and they told me the same thing. I got a hold of the salesman, had a talk with him and they fixed the leaking oil galley seal for the PCV valve. Persistence paid off.
JP

[dave p]

i have 45000 miles on my 2001 8.1 and do NOT have to add between oil changes of 3000 mile intervels. it does go down to half befor the change. gm quailty is in the toliet. i had 45 service calls on mine under warranty. dave p

[B1powered]

Here's something to stir your thoughts.
It could be the Volatility of the Motor oil you're using, Pennsoil isn't exactly known for low volatility(burn off). You could be losing that much mostly due to vaporization of the oil and not really that it's getting past the rings.
Conventional oils are generally higher in volatility(less stable) that synthetics.
Some conventionals are less volatile than others.
Maybe try another conventional next change.

[01max]

g.m has released a new intake gasket for oil consumption concerns, its to be done only after the intake bolts were replaced.

[madmatt]

this is suposed to be corrected in the 04.5s w/ changes to the heads and a new gasket is already in place on these engines. the 04.5 intake gasket WILL NOT fit the earlier 8.1s. the 01-04.5 L18s get part # 89017539.