WTH? Why is my Tahoe drinking oil?

[ChrisAU]

Last weekend I got the Tahoe back home from a long trip to New Orleans and back, put just over 1000 miles on her in a 3 day span. On Monday I drove it to work, but when I went to lunch the DIC read "engine oil level low." Thinking it may have been the incline I was parked on, I shrugged it off when I glanced at my pressure gauge and it was reading normal. Then, leaving work after parking somewhere different, same warning on the DIC.

So, I stopped at the local parts place and picked up a quart of Mobil 1 FS 5W-20, and checked it when I got home. Sure enough, it was barely on the dipstick. I put about 3/4 of a quart in until it was back to normal levels. I changed the oil myself in July, and the oil life % was at about 51% last week when this occurred. Pressure was always normal.

It doesn't leak a drop, everything is dry underneath. Where did that 3/4 of a quart go? What would cause a 4 year old vehicle with 60k miles to drink that much oil in just about 3500 miles?

 

[Sheriff]

I put about 3/4 of a quart in until it was back to normal levels. ..... Where did that 3/4 of a quart go? What would cause a 4 year old vehicle with 60k miles to drink that much oil in just about 3500 miles?

Unless I am mistaken, that's acceptable and normal consumption on just about any engine.

Especially an engine with 60,000 miles on it.

 

[07Burb]

Unless I am mistaken, that's acceptable and normal consumption on just about any engine.

Especially an engine with 60,000 miles on it.

x2 on this especially the 5.3 which is known to "consume" a small amount of oil. I have the same experience with my Burb at the 50% life mark. It's like clockwork

 

[Zed 71]

Knock on wood, mine has been ok. Whay type of oil are you all using?

 

[Faceplant]

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.....

 

[ChrisAU]

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.....

This.

My '05 F150 with 110k didn't drink a drop. My '99 Z-71 with 180k didn't drink a drop (5.3L). My '93 Sierra with 165k didn't drink a drop. My '92 Silverado with 240k didn't drink a drop.

It's not normal.

 

[GM Customer Service]

Have you talked to your dealer about this issue, yet? They may have more information on your engine and will be able to provide you with the best options for you and your Tahoe.
Breanne
GM Customer Service

 

[KCFLHTK]

My 07 LTZ is burning about a quart every 1k miles. Took it in yesterday. I'm not happy. Traded a perfectly good Jeep Commander in on this thing because I always wanted one. I'm wishing now I would have kept the Jeep Commander Limited. The Jeep never burned a drop of oil with the 5.7 Hemi.

 

[Djay762]

This is not normal for any engine, but it is normal for the '07 5.3. They are known to consume alot of oil.

 

[KCFLHTK]

What's different about the 07's that makes them consume more oil than say an 08?