WTH? Why is my Tahoe drinking oil?

[ChrisAU]

Yeah its very worrisome and not right. I shouldn't have to keep spare quarts of oil for a vehicle this new and nice.

 

[ezdaar]

do you have the new fixed orifice PCV valve?
supposedly that's what GM swaps to stop the oil consumption..

The original PCV allows so much flow that intake manifold vacume pulls oil into the intake and being burned off..
The small ID PCV supposedly slows the flow rate enough that it fix's the problem..

 

[ChrisAU]

Aha I do not believe I do. I browsed RockAuto real quick, have they changed it to the "Vapor Cannister Purge Valve"? They don't list a PCV Valve at all for our Tahoes.

 

[domin8]

This is not normal. I had a very similar experience as the OP last month. Drove from Chesapeake, VA to Elmira, NY, back to Chesapeake, to Pittsburgh, PA, and back to Chesapeake, all within a 2 week period. At 50% oil life I experienced the problem as well. My truck has just over 76k miles. Even though my truck is used, out of warranty, and never certified, my dealer took care of me. The latest TSB came out for this issue at the end of September. Yesterday, as per the TSB they replaced the left valve cover and put something in my engine and let it soak for 3 hours to clear the oil out of my intake manifold and carbon from top of pistons. I then got my truck back free of charge and asked to document any other times this situation occurs in the future. They also mentioned this problem is not just on the cast iron blocks (which mine is), but the aluminum blocks too. The fix varies depending on the block. My dealer also said that after using this new TSB they have not had to reattempt repairs on customers. Additionally, they noticed people who switched to Valvoline MaxLife are not having repeat problems either.

The point being, get this fixed by your dealer. The excessive oil consumption issue for the 07 Tahoes is NOT NORMAL.

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[ChrisAU]

You wouldn't happen to have the TSB number you could arm me with for a dealer trip do you?

 

[domin8]

I'll look to see if my receipt has anything and I'll get back to you after school tonight.

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[ChrisAU]

I'll look to see if my receipt has anything and I'll get back to you after school tonight.

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Awesome, thanks!

 

[domin8]

Looking at the receipt and I can't seem to see anything that specifically identifies a TSB number. However, there is this (complete with spelling errors):

A CUSTOMER STATES / VEHICLES LOW OIL LIGHT COMES ON AS WELL AS ADD OIL LIGHT /
CAUSE: INTERNAL
J7555 Install AFM Oil Deflector and Clean Carbon from Cylinder
14293 W94
1 12570427 COVER
3 88861802 CLEANER
76648 This condition may me caused by two conditions. Oil pulled through the PCV system or oil spray that is discharged from the AFM pressure reli FOUND OIL PUDDLING IN INTAKE MANIFOLD. INSPECT PCV SYSTEM FOR PROPER FUNCTION. PCV SYSTEM OPERATION IS NORMAL. REPLACED LEFT SIDE VALVE COVER WITH UPDATE DESIGN. ALSO CLEAN PISTONS BY PUTTING UPPER ENGINE AND FUEL INJECTOR CLEANER IN EACH CYLINDER AND LET SOAK FOR 2.5 HRS. CUSTOMER IS GIVER OIL CONSUMPTION WORKSHEET TO FERTHER CHECK OIL CONSUMPTION. DOCUMENT 2734055. LABOR OP J7555 CLEAN CARBON FROM CYLINDER AND INSTALL ROCKER ARM COVER-LEFT BANK (CASTIRON BLOCL V8) RPO LMG. 2.6 HRS.



That is pretty much everything from the receipt. I think all the random numbers are mileage and the service writer id number. I hope this helps. If not, let me know I'll see if I can get a TSB number from my service writer.

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[ChrisAU]

So they didn't know anything about a different PCV Valve design? That sounds like a plausible fix to me.

 

[Autbond]

If this is "normal" for any engine with 60k miles, then I have been extremely lucky in EVERY vehicle I have ever owned (more than 20). I had a multiple trucks with 150k+ miles that barely lost a drop between my 7k mile oil changes. I have also had multiple HIGH performance vehicles that I have run the ever living crap out of with little to no oil loss. This is a PROBLEM with this engine, and if you believe Chevys BS, you are kidding yourself. OP, your consumption doesn't seem as bad as many others I have heard of with the 5.3L, but keep an eye on it. At some point you may want to take it to a dealer and have them do an "oil consumption" review on it. I wonder if anyone with this issue has had a leakdown test.....

X2!