Suggestion for GM 5.3 short trips?

[MGPD03]

I have a NNBS 2007 Chevrolet Silverado with roughly 104k on the odometer.

It's always been treated to PP 5xw30 and Wix filters (6mo. or 7500mi. OCI), but for some reason I decided this last OC to try Rotella T6 and a quart of MMO because I noticed a bit of light colored "crud" on the drain plug. Also, roughly 1/2-1qt. of oil vanishes per OCI.

I'm assuming the "crud" is from really short trips i.e. start, drive one mile, sit for ten hours, start, and drive one mile. It does get the occasional long drive, but the short trips probably represent 98% of the last 10k miles.

So, that being said, any recommendations on oil/filter to go with shortened OCIs?

 

[Slick17601]

Pennoil Yellow Bottle would be my choice. Stock up during the Pep Boys Black Friday sales.

 

[demarpaint]

Pennzoil Conventional and a Pure One filter is a good combo. Although I'd stick to PP since it probably cleans better, and in your case you'll need that. I would also add a pint of MMO for the last 1000-2000 miles of your OCI once a year. Opinions vary on that.

 

[AMC]

I have a silverado also with basically the same engine, see my sig. It sounds like your plan of 5w-40 with MMO is right on for the periodic engine cleaning. If you want faster results you could try the oil addtive Kreen from Kano labs, the makers of kano kroil penetrating oil. If you want, a thorough de-carb on the intake tube and do a seafoam treatment through the brake booster to clean up the top end and intake system wouldn't hurt.

As far as your regular OCIs, I would run a quality SN rated 5w30 and change it every 5,000 miles reguardless of what your oil life monitor says. With as short of trips that you are doing, you will have some issues with fuel dillution and sludge.

 

[cancov]

My brother has a '07 Sierra (New Body Style) with the 5.3 with Active Fuel Management. He has also exerperienced oil consumption. He tried Mobil 1, 5W30, but consumed it quite dramtically. I don't remember exactly how much, but it was enough for him to take it to the dealership for a consumption test. Oh, he bought it used, so he had never experienced it earlier. But the dealership dumped the remaining Mobil 1 and replaced it with Valvoline 5w30 conventional, which the truck didn't consume enought to take further action. The consumption of Valvoline conventional was also less than the Mobil 1. From here my brother has success with Amsoil OE, 5W30, and low consumption until last week. My brother fills his truck to the top of the FULL mark and watches it consume down to bottom of the textured indicator. He has found out that this is about a quart, from topping off. Well, again, last week he came to this same circumstance after 4,500 miles and just simply decided to perform an oil change instead of topping off and running another 500-1000 miles. His truck is not short tripped with an agressive maintenance schedule. So I think he is going to stick to conventional, and specifically Valvoline conventional, 10W30, this time to see how consumption goes.

On a different note, how did the Rotella T6, 5W40, do in the 5.3? I'm sure he wouldn't be against trying the 'tella.

 

[AMC]

Oil consumption is a known problem for the GM 5.3L V8 reguardless of which year you have, which vehicle the engine is in, how you drive or any other factor. It is just a fact of life for this engine. I forget the exact explaination of why the engine does this but I believe it has something to do with excessive amounts of oil getting into the PCV system and being burned off. The soultion is to clean the cylinders by soaking them for a few days in MMO, cleaning the intake and PCV systems with seafoam or something like it.
If the engine consumes more than a quart of oil a month and your engine is under warranty, the dealership can replace the piston skirts with newly designed ones and make a few changes to the PCV system to stop this.
Without getting off on too big of a tanget, oil consumption is considered normal for these engines and many people have found using an HDEO or just different brands of 5w30 or 10w30 are consumed less than others. You may have to experiment a bit and find what works best for you. Good luck

 

[SteveSRT8]

My personal fleet vehicle has a 5.3 and never uses a drop. As a matter of fact we own more than a few, and we have no oil consumption issues at all. So they do not ALL burn a ton of oil, just a few. We also own 6.0 engines which are virtually identical and they use no or very little oil. One has 400k miles on it!

Frankly 1/2 to 1 quart across 7500 miles isn't that much at all. That's a complete non-problem.

In our fleet we typically go up a grade on oil if there is excessive consumption. Excessive in my book is over a quart per OCI. Try some Mobil 1 0w-40 and see how it goes.

 

[INDYMAC]

I just read this article this morning about gen IV GM engine designs and what some of the problems are. My daughter has the 5.3L iron block in her 2008 Avalanche, and it doesn't have lifter noise or oil consumption at all. But the aluminum blocks seem to have some problems. Anyways, it's a good read:

http://www.enginebuildermag.com/Content/Site302/Articles/03_01_2012/986163348GMGENI_00000051561.pdf

 

[Loobed]

Originally Posted By: MGPD03
I have a NNBS 2007 Chevrolet Silverado with roughly 104k on the odometer.

It's always been treated to PP 5xw30 and Wix filters (6mo. or 7500mi. OCI), but for some reason I decided this last OC to try Rotella T6 and a quart of MMO because I noticed a bit of light colored "crud" on the drain plug. Also, roughly 1/2-1qt. of oil vanishes per OCI.

I'm assuming the "crud" is from really short trips i.e. start, drive one mile, sit for ten hours, start, and drive one mile. It does get the occasional long drive, but the short trips probably represent 98% of the last 10k miles.

So, that being said, any recommendations on oil/filter to go with shortened OCIs?



There is an oil use problem with 2007 5.3 AFM engines.
http://www.chevytalk.org/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/264300/

I suggest making your own synthetic blend. Use 3 qts Pennzoil conventional and 3 qts of Pennzoil Platinum.

 

[chevydude]

My '07 uses a quart at 3000 miles. AFM is causing this issue on a lot of 5.3L. There is a TSB out there but everything I have read about the corrections is not very promising. The fix may be worse that the problem. Recommend the dealership to do your consumption test in order for any waranty work if you still have any.

 

[Durango]

Originally Posted By: MGPD03
I have a NNBS 2007 Chevrolet Silverado with roughly 104k on the odometer.

It's always been treated to PP 5xw30 and Wix filters (6mo. or 7500mi. OCI), but for some reason I decided this last OC to try Rotella T6 and a quart of MMO because I noticed a bit of light colored "crud" on the drain plug. Also, roughly 1/2-1qt. of oil vanishes per OCI.

I'm assuming the "crud" is from really short trips i.e. start, drive one mile, sit for ten hours, start, and drive one mile. It does get the occasional long drive, but the short trips probably represent 98% of the last 10k miles.

So, that being said, any recommendations on oil/filter to go with shortened OCIs?


MGPD03,

If I were you I'd just stay with/using PP 5WX30 and the Wix Filters as they both are quality products. I see no reason why you want to try Rotella T6.

I admit you have a very odd driving schedule and if you continue to see light colored crud on the plug just take the Chevy out on the highway and drive it for about 1/2 hour. That should heat up the engine and allow the oil to absorb moisture internally.

I myself only drive about 20 miles per day and so I take my car/truck on the highway for a good spin once per month.

Durango

 

[MGPD03]

Thanks for the input all, it does seem that the consumption is a common issue albeit a minor one...just odd.

The T6 is doing great in the 5.3, not much difference actually (was a bit cheaper however).

I think the consensus seems to be just shorten the OCI and use quality oil/filter... I'm just so used to long trips and 10k/annual OCIs.

As always BITOG is a great resource. THANKS ALL!