Help! Engine blew at 45000 - Found other cases as well.

[cvbmcb]

File a case with GM and get them involved or go to another dealer.

[yescats]

Originally Posted by wakespeak

The L99 has a different PCV system than the LS3 and has Active Fuel Management, so there are more things going on. How many miles on your engine?

We have a Suburban with an LC9 5.3 that starting using oil around 65K, around a qt per 1000 miles. We would see the most oil use on the highway. My conclusion after Googling the problem was the Active Fuel Management was the main culprit, with the PCV system a distant second. I bought the Range device. Using the Range device seems to be the answer: lock out 4-cyl mode. Oil use is about 1/3 qt per 1000 miles now (97K on the motor at this point). If I take the Range device out and run on the highway, oil consumption goes up. If you have the same pattern try it.

I wouldn't beat up on GM. Other cars, including expensive German cars, Toyotas, etc have had oil consumption issues with their motors. You'll get 250K out of that L99 if you want to, but it may take a little understanding.

I have 37k miles on it. Bought it a couple of months ago so I don't know how other owners treated it. It was GM certified when I bought it. If that means anything.

[wakespeak]

Originally Posted by yescats

I have 37k miles on it. Bought it a couple of months ago so I don't know how other owners treated it. It was GM certified when I bought it. If that means anything.

I would just change the oil to a quality synthetic as a first step and watch the consumption pattern.

[yescats]

Originally Posted by wakespeak

I would just change the oil to a quality synthetic as a first step and watch the consumption pattern.

The sticker on the window says it was changed at a Chevy dealership under the Certified Maintenance program. But it just became ready for another one now according to the milage on the sticker

[NJBourne23]

Chevrolet will only suggest or change oil to what is requested for it. Synthetic is not suggested so they will not change it to synthetic unless you request and pay for it. I personally use Mobil 1 synthetic and a Mobil 1 filter in my V6. I also use 93 gas because i read that it helps with the extra "overshooting" of pistons during hard driving which pulls and stretches the chain. I can be totally off but to me i feel more comfortable lol.

My question would be, if someone bought new forged pistons, would that help with some of the oil use in the V6? Or is this mainly for strength during really hard driving?

[arkentect]

Ah yes the dreaded LLT bearing issue strikes again. Well I can say congrats and welcome to the club. Had mine blow at 42,000 miles due to a spun rod bearing which destroyed the crank and pretty much the bottom of the motor. I was still within warranty so the dealer replaced the motor.
If I were you I wouldnt leave the showroom floor till they warrantied the work. Don't bother filing a case with GM as they wont do anything about it if the dealer already blamed it on something you did.

[gajagfan]

Originally Posted by yescats

The sticker on the window says it was changed at a Chevy dealership under the Certified Maintenance program. But it just became ready for another one now according to the milage on the sticker

What does the "Oil Life %" in the DIC say?

[yescats]

Originally Posted by NJBourne23

Chevrolet will only suggest or change oil to what is requested for it. Synthetic is not suggested so they will not change it to synthetic unless you request and pay for it. I personally use Mobil 1 synthetic and a Mobil 1 filter in my V6. I also use 93 gas because i read that it helps with the extra "overshooting" of pistons during hard driving which pulls and stretches the chain. I can be totally off but to me i feel more comfortable lol.

My question would be, if someone bought new forged pistons, would that help with some of the oil use in the V6? Or is this mainly for strength during really hard driving?

I'm not sure what the hell this means! From the manual...

"Specification When dexos™ Oil
Not Available (V8 Engine)
This vehicle's engine requires a
special oil meeting GM Standard
GM4718M. Oils meeting this
standard may be identified as
synthetic. However, not all synthetic
oils will meet this GM standard.
Use only an oil that meets GM
Standard GM4718M."