2005 Buick Lesabre, 80,000 miles. Having to add oil too frequently between oil changes. 2-3 quarts. Have used Pennzoil Platinum 5-30 as recommended. TSA says these cars could loose oil from exhaust valve seals. Dealer wants to do an oil analysis every 1000 miles over 3-4 thousand miles. It has been a very hot summer in Louisiana and wonder if this oil has high enough viscosity. No oil smoke from exhaust. I would rather use Bob's labs as long as they have the ability to pick up possible valve seals or guide problem. Any help appreciated!
excessive oil consumption
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Barry Mangham
Originally Posted By: barryboy
2005 Buick Lesabre, 80,000 miles. Having to add oil too frequently between oil changes. 2-3 quarts.
How many miles between changes?
Originally Posted By: barryboy
It has been a very hot summer in Louisiana and wonder if this oil has high enough viscosity.
The weather is cooling down now. You should have your answer shortly.
Originally Posted By: barryboy
I would rather use Bob's labs as long as they have the ability to pick up possible valve seals or guide problem.
Terry Dyson is your man. He's expensive but he gets it done.
Blackstone's standard tests aren't enough to provide the information you need, and if you tack on the additional services required you will easily exceed the cost of a Dyson analysis -- without the benefit of an extensive personalized and interactive interpretation.
2005 Buick Lesabre, 80,000 miles. Having to add oil too frequently between oil changes. 2-3 quarts.
How many miles between changes?
Originally Posted By: barryboy
It has been a very hot summer in Louisiana and wonder if this oil has high enough viscosity.
The weather is cooling down now. You should have your answer shortly.
Originally Posted By: barryboy
I would rather use Bob's labs as long as they have the ability to pick up possible valve seals or guide problem.
Terry Dyson is your man. He's expensive but he gets it done.
Blackstone's standard tests aren't enough to provide the information you need, and if you tack on the additional services required you will easily exceed the cost of a Dyson analysis -- without the benefit of an extensive personalized and interactive interpretation.
new car?
I would suggest trying a different oil as well. I have a 2005 Grand Prix with the 3800 V6 and only 30k miles. Its was using 1.5 quarts per 5k change with castrol gtx 5w30. I switched to Motorcraft semi-synthetic 5w30 and the car has not been using a drop ever since. Sometimes cars are particular about what they like.
IMHO, 80k should not be considered "High Mileage" - going with a thicker oil, or to a high mileage formula is merely a band-aid, IMHO. There is something wrong going here, and it needs to be investigated.
Did the stealership tell you what "lab" they would be using? And is the cost on you or them (the dealer)?
I'd contact Blackstone Labs directly, and ask them if their tests would be able to help in this area though.....
Did the stealership tell you what "lab" they would be using? And is the cost on you or them (the dealer)?
I'd contact Blackstone Labs directly, and ask them if their tests would be able to help in this area though.....
I'd just try a diff oil before spending money on a used oil analysis. You're out of warranty, so your choices are open. Try a fill of GC and report back.
With all that fresh oil being added/replenished, an analysis is not going to tell you much in concrete terms.
Rings/bores are likely, as are intake valve guides. The intakes operate under vacuum, and are more likely to weep oil than the exhausts, which are under pressure.
But loose guides are loose guides. Either can cause oil consumption.
Rings/bores are likely, as are intake valve guides. The intakes operate under vacuum, and are more likely to weep oil than the exhausts, which are under pressure.
But loose guides are loose guides. Either can cause oil consumption.
Yes the cost of dealership analysis would be on me. If it does need work on the heads/guides what type of repair service would be best. I feel like dealerships at too costly!
Also, what is GC oil
Also, what is GC oil
If the heads are found to be bad a cheap way to solve the problem is a cylinder head exchange.
I have gotten both sides of a V8 at my local one for under 200 bucks total!
I have gotten both sides of a V8 at my local one for under 200 bucks total!
GC is German Castrol. I'm no expert on it but I think its usually 0w30 and says European formula on the jug or something like that.
Originally Posted By: nwjones18
GC is German Castrol. I'm no expert on it but I think its usually 0w30 and says European formula on the jug or something like that.
Yup. Always 0w-30, and always says European Formula on the bottle.
It's called "German Castrol" because it's the only grade of Castrol Syntec that is made in Germany.
It's being recommended because, at operating temperatures, it's much thicker than most 0w-30, 5w30, and 10w30 oils.
GC is German Castrol. I'm no expert on it but I think its usually 0w30 and says European formula on the jug or something like that.
Yup. Always 0w-30, and always says European Formula on the bottle.
It's called "German Castrol" because it's the only grade of Castrol Syntec that is made in Germany.
It's being recommended because, at operating temperatures, it's much thicker than most 0w-30, 5w30, and 10w30 oils.
+1 widman
Originally Posted By: widman
PCV...... a defective PCV mis 80% of the problems of high consumption when it goes up quickly or has good compression. If not the pcv, do a compression check.
Analysis isn't going to tell you anything.
A compression test won't tell you anything either if the engine is running well.
PCV...... a defective PCV mis 80% of the problems of high consumption when it goes up quickly or has good compression. If not the pcv, do a compression check.
Analysis isn't going to tell you anything.
A compression test won't tell you anything either if the engine is running well.
Yep i will check pcv thanks
Doubt it's the PVC. I think their is a TSB on series III 3800 about valve stem seals being replaced due to high oil consumption. My 3800 goes thur a qt every 2k. It was every 1200 miles before I did the valve stems. But mine is a series II and was the first year of production for the Series II 3800.
I don't see how an UOA can uncover valve stem seal or guide wear problems. Let's use some common sense here.
If the engine is running well, aside from checking the PCV and checking for obvious leaks, it would be silly to spend lots of money on a new cylinder head or anything of that nature.
If the engine is running well, aside from checking the PCV and checking for obvious leaks, it would be silly to spend lots of money on a new cylinder head or anything of that nature.
The blue cloud of death after an overnight cooldown & cold start is usually a symptom of worn valve seals/guides, oil that disappears while driving with no smoke is usually leakage or bad rings. How is a 5 year old GM vehicle warranty? If you have an extended warranty I'd get on them to do a compression & leakdown test & find the actual problem!
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