Updated Gen 3/4 LSx driver valve cover on the Suburban today (w/ pic)

[redhat]

Replaced the driver side valve cover on the 2005 Suburban today. During its usual oil change interval, it would consume about a 1/2 to 3/4 of a quart of oil. Figured it was time to put a revised valve cover on. Sure enough, the valve cover was original and had the old PCV design.

I went ahead and installed an updated Dorman cover. Price was about $60, where as a GM one was at the time going to run me $140. Figured it’s simple enough to at least give the Dorman one a try.

Snapped this picture of the valve train while the cover was off. For 230k, I think this looks gorgeous. This would be the dirtier side as well. I would be well inclined to say that this truck had a decent interval throughout its lifetime. Since we have owned it, I have stuck to a 3-5k interval of Mobil 1 EP, Valvoline Conventional, Rotella Gas Truck and Rotella T4.

What a good little 5.3. Love this truck.

 

[fantastic]

GM has done well with their V8's but that's what you'd expect to get at least 200k+ out of them. Looks like some surface varnish though?
I see where the local mice have been serving their dinner.

 

[dumkid]

I don't think much oil gets to the rockers on pushrod engines, gm pushrod I've opened looks like that

 

[Dave9]

I see where the local mice have been serving their dinner.

Yeah I like to get a cordless leaf blower or air compressor involved before pulling covers off.

Oil vapor varnish on something like that is normal after 18yrs & 230K mi.

 

[350Rocket]

Replaced the driver side valve cover on the 2005 Suburban today. During its usual oil change interval, it would consume about a 1/2 to 3/4 of a quart of oil. Figured it was time to put a revised valve cover on. Sure enough, the valve cover was original and had the old PCV design.

I went ahead and installed an updated Dorman cover. Price was about $60, where as a GM one was at the time going to run me $140. Figured it’s simple enough to at least give the Dorman one a try.

Snapped this picture of the valve train while the cover was off. For 230k, I think this looks gorgeous. This would be the dirtier side as well. I would be well inclined to say that this truck had a decent interval throughout its lifetime. Since we have owned it, I have stuck to a 3-5k interval of Mobil 1 EP, Valvoline Conventional, Rotella Gas Truck and Rotella T4.

View attachment 186911

What a good little 5.3. Love this truck.

For comparison, this was mine when I did it 2 years ago. I did the same intervals as you with full synthetic, but previously it was conventional every 3-4k miles and prior to that whenever the olm went off. My PCV was completely plugged and it would fill my catch can with oil after a few hundred miles of driving.

 

[redhat]

FWIW I pulled a set of 243 heads at the junkyard the other day. Now this is what I call spotless.

 

[gman2304]

I’ve considered pulling the drivers side valve cover on my 2005 5.3 and maybe preemptively replacing it with the updated version just because. Mine is down about 1/2 qt at 5,000 miles so I’m thinking I don’t have a problem…yet. With 242,000 miles on mine, I’m hoping it looks as good as yours . I agree, the GM 5.3 is an amazing little engine!

 

[redhat]

I’ve considered pulling the drivers side valve cover on my 2005 5.3 and maybe preemptively replacing it with the updated version just because. Mine is down about 1/2 qt at 5,000 miles so I’m thinking I don’t have a problem…yet. With 242,000 miles on mine, I’m hoping it looks as good as yours . I agree, the GM 5.3 is an amazing little engine!

Sure is. On my Tahoe with about 130k on a 6.0 LQ4 that is cammed… I use no noticeable oil over an oil change.

I don’t annihilate the truck, but it does it driven hard and used like a truck.

I have had this updated cover on it. I think it this cover might even make your 1/2 quart go to 0.