2011 V6 Burns Oil

[burnn1]

72,000 highway miles on my 2011 V6. This summer, she started burning oil at about a quart every 3-4 tanks of gas - almost as bad as my Vega did way back when. Garage floor is clean - unlikely it's a leak. Dealer says "it happens on older cars - Chevy recommends checking oil every time you gas up". I think this is BS and should dump her. Auto Zone says use Lucas Stabilizer.

Thoughts?

[mikeyg36]

Probably a stretched timing chain. I know the LLTs have issues with burning oil and stretched chains.

[nyrfan]

Originally Posted by mikeyg36

Probably a stretched timing chain. I know the LLTs have issues with burning oil and stretched chains.

This. Common issue on the LLT, do a search and you'll come across many threads.

[rtcat600man]

Originally Posted by mikeyg36

Probably a stretched timing chain. I know the LLTs have issues with burning oil and stretched chains.

FYI.......The stretched chain has nothing to do with the burning of oil.

2 separate issues.

Best thing you can do is change the oil often, every 3k - 5k miles, do not follow the DIC.

If you read some of the GM information they report that burning 1qt. / 1000 miles is normal.

I am at 59K miles and just now seeing I am losing about 1/2 qt. per oil change.

Also depends on how far you drive per start up. The more you can get the oil to operating temperature to burn of moisture the better it is for everything.

[philthy]

Originally Posted by rtcat600man

FYI.......The stretched chain has nothing to do with the burning of oil.

2 separate issues.

Best thing you can do is change the oil often, every 3k - 5k miles, do not follow the DIC.

If you read some of the GM information they report that burning 1qt. / 1000 miles is normal.

I am at 59K miles and just now seeing I am losing about 1/2 qt. per oil change.

Also depends on how far you drive per start up. The more you can get the oil to operating temperature to burn of moisture the better it is for everything.

My timing chain went at around 34,000 miles and my Camaro never burned any oil. Oil changes were done when the DIC read about 20% life left. I did not feel comfortable driving 6000-7000 miles on an oil change.

[shrinkdoc]

Originally Posted by burnn1

72,000 highway miles on my 2011 V6. This summer, she started burning oil at about a quart every 3-4 tanks of gas - almost as bad as my Vega did way back when. Garage floor is clean - unlikely it's a leak. Dealer says "it happens on older cars - Chevy recommends checking oil every time you gas up". I think this is BS and should dump her. Auto Zone says use Lucas Stabilizer.

Thoughts?

Either dump it or drive it hard and destroy the engine before the 100k mi warranty ends. Just make sure you have oil in it when its towed to the shop.

[nyrfan]

Originally Posted by rtcat600man

FYI.......The stretched chain has nothing to do with the burning of oil.



2 separate issues.



Best thing you can do is change the oil often, every 3k - 5k miles, do not follow the DIC.



If you read some of the GM information they report that burning 1qt. / 1000 miles is normal.



I am at 59K miles and just now seeing I am losing about 1/2 qt. per oil change.



Also depends on how far you drive per start up. The more you can get the oil to operating temperature to burn of moisture the better it is for everything.

I always thought if the chain was stretched you'd burn more then the normal amount of oil.


Sent from my AGM, 2SS/RS

[911medic]

Originally Posted by nyrfan

I always thought if the chain was stretched you'd burn more then the normal amount of oil.


Sent from my AGM, 2SS/RS

I think it's the other way around. Low oil (from whatever cause) leads to timing chain issues.

[mikeyg36]

Originally Posted by nyrfan

I always thought if the chain was stretched you'd burn more then the normal amount of oil.


Sent from my AGM, 2SS/RS

That's what I thought

[scrming]

Originally Posted by 911medic

I think it's the other way around. Low oil (from whatever cause) leads to timing chain issues.

Two separate issues. The mysterious disappearing oil and stretched timing chain. Now dirty oil can lead to the chains stretching sooner, hence GM changing the Oil Life Monitor for sooner oil changes.

As for the mysterious disappearing oil... that normally leads to a spun bearing and trashed motor...

[KMPrenger]

Originally Posted by rtcat600man

....

Also depends on how far you drive per start up. The more you can get the oil to operating temperature to burn of moisture the better it is for everything.

I believe this is a large part of it.

Doing short trips in these engines leads to an excess of moisture and gas in the oil which will lead to other issues which I'd guess includes bearing and chains failing.

I'd love to know the driving habits of those whose chains went out early.

It is a design flaw in my opinion, but if the engine is ran long enough to burn up the gas/moisture during each drive my understanding is that this greatly reduces the chances of failures.

But yes...definitely keep an eye on your oil level and don't let it drop.

[Sikoriko]

check your spark plugs. Somebody had issues with the valve guides wearing out

[mikeyg36]

Originally Posted by KMPrenger

I believe this is a large part of it.

Doing short trips in these engines leads to an excess of moisture and gas in the oil which will lead to other issues which I'd guess includes bearing and chains failing.

I'd love to know the driving habits of those whose chains went out early.

It is a design flaw in my opinion, but if the engine is ran long enough to burn up the gas/moisture during each drive my understanding is that this greatly reduces the chances of failures.

But yes...definitely keep an eye on your oil level and don't let it drop.

That's messed up that it has this many problems. I was looking at a V6 before I got my car and these timing chain issues are what drove me away from it. I lucked out in the long run but I feel bad for everyone that got screwed over with this engine.

[rtcat600man]

Originally Posted by Sikoriko

check your spark plugs. Somebody had issues with the valve guides wearing out

Interesting, that is the first I ever heard of this one, and I have been following this forum for over 4 years now.