2001 VETTE - ABNORMAL OIL USAGE

[Don S.]

My 2001 vette is using 2-3 quarts of oil per 1000 miles. First, my dealer said there was a recall on the dipstick (sounded fishy but went along) and then he just gives me the general run-around.(he wants me to document at a GM dealer each time I add oil)
A first class technical guy (GM asks him his opinion) in our corvette club said to drain the synthetic oil and put in regular oil. (He said the synthetic oil is so slippery that the rings do not get a chance to seat).Then change back to synthetic again in 5-6 k miles. I am looking for suggestions on what to do . any second opinions out there.

[Duke W.]

Re: 2001 VETTE - ABNORMAL OIL USAGE

GM is aware that some 2001 and earlier Corvettes consume excessive oil and have corrected the problem in the field with different design rings that went into production in 2002. If you go to a board such as www.corvetteforum.com that has more of a focus on late models, you will probably find a good number of satisfied customers who experienced significantly less oil consumption after the rering.

I am sure there is a TSB on this issue, but can't quote the number. It sounds like your dealer is a dimbulb. Ask him to research his TSBs and give you a copy of the TSB on Corvette oil consumption. The first thing that has to be done is place your car on a documented oil consumption test where you have all oil added at the dealer along with recording the mileage. Your reported oil consumption is well in excess of the limit for warranty repair of this problem, so all you have to do is find a competent dealer service department, have the high consumption documented to authorize the work, and have it done.

I would suggest that you specifically search for a dealer service department who has a tech that has done at least one Corvette rering job, so you aren't the guinea pig.

Duke

[Duke W.]

PS

That whole business about synthetic oil being "too slippery" is just another mindless myth!!! Synthetic oil is NOT more slippery and GM DOES NOT use or recommend conventional mineral-base oil for C5 breakin. The C5 engines are specifically designed for high oil operating temperatures with high temperature gasket and elastomer materials throughout the engine, and the oil life monitor is specifically "tuned" to the long life properties of synthetic motor oil, specifically Mobil 1.

Find a competent dealer service department, get your car on the oil consumption test to document the excess consumption, and have the rering performed under warranty.

Duke

[Don S.]

Re: PS

Duke -- thanks for the info. I suppose the documention of the oil usage at a gm dealer is the program they have me on. However the problem is is that I am a snowbird and am away for 6 mos. of the year. That leaves six mos to drive and I put on only about 5 to 6 k miles per year.. not only will my warranty expire before I complete the tests but I find it impractical to find a gm dealer when I am in the middle of a trip (ie corvette caravan to Bowling Geeen). Driving around while looking for a dealer and waitng for an appointment in a strange city when you are a couple of quarts of oil down seems to me to be might not be the best of programs.

[Patrick H.]

Ring Recall

Don,

My guess, also, is that you have a 6 speed. Most of the cases of high oil usage are limited to those. Allegedly the rings cannot do a sufficient job of oil control if the engine is run at "higher than average" rpms around town. With an auto trans and the computer doing the shifting, the problem doesn't occur.

Yes, GM redesigned the rings for 2002 and later. As Duke mentions, a competent, large GM dealer who sells lots of Corvettes will know exactly what is wrong and how to fix it.

If you need to, let us know where you're at and I'm sure you'll get references off the board. In addition, the C5 forum on the Corvette Forum will likely be able to send you in the right direction.

Patrick

[Joe L.]

Re: PS

Don------

I don't know which I'd be more concerned about:

A) Having a car which experiences high oil consumption, or;

B) Letting the "factory trained" service technicians at any dealership perform, essentially, an in-car, bottom end overhaul of my engine.

[Don S.]

Re: Ring Recall

Patrick-- yes i have a six speed and I forgot to mention that the dealer told me to keep out of the "fun gears" (3 and 4) and get into overdrive as soon as possible. I live in Brockville, Ontario, Canada and the GM dealer in Brockville sells about 2 vettes per year. Also he is severely ticked off with me for going 200 miles away to Toronto to buy the car when he could have supplied it if I waited 7 months extra for delivery and paid 1500.00 more than the Toronto price. He said i had a H-- of a nerve bringing the car there to get service. Well I guess I win some and lose some.

Don

[Don S.]

Re: PS

Joe---

I suppose you are right. I guess also my choice is whether to obtain the ring fix vs. lose my " factory originality feature".

Don

[Duke W.]

Re: PS

As long as the problem is documented before the expiration of the warranty, they should honor the fix, even it you can't have it done before it expires.

If your personal schedule/slow mileage accumulation creates a problem with getting the test done, my suggestion would be to work out a reasonable plan with the service manager, and if he does not co-operate, request a personal meeting with his zone service rep.

Within six months of buying my Cosworth Vega in late '76 I was on a first name basis with my zone service rep, and even though the warranty was only 12/12000 back then, it took them two years to work off all the problems that were identified during the warranty period or maybe a bit beyond. After some initial fire fights they ended up bending over backwards to make me happy, especially after the gearbox seized up with no warning on the San Diego Freeway.

To put this in perspective, my '88 Mercedes Benz 190E 2.6 actually had more problems than the Cosworth Vega, and it took the full four year/50K warranty to work them all off, the last being a new water pump and complete cylinder head rebuild just before the warranty expired. Both the dealer service department and factory were exceptionally diligent at working off all the problems including some that took three tries to fix. I probably had a good lemon law case, but I really liked the car, and it's been well behaved, post warranty.

My hope is that, like my '91 MR2, my next new Corvette will NEVER have to go back to the dealer for any warranty repairs.

Duke

[Joe L.]

Re: PS

Don-----

I wouldn't be so worried about "factory originality", at all. I'd be worried about the myriad of other problems that could be CREATED in the effort to solve the problem that you have now.

[Duke W.]

Re: PS

The best new car warranty is the one that's never needed!!! There have been several C5 owners on The Corvette Forum who have had the rering done with success and no harm to the car. My hunch is that high oil consumption is an issue with no more than ten percent of the cars.

There are some Corvette techs out there that have done several rerings, so if you can find a high Corvette volume metropolitan dealer who has a tech experienced at this procedure, that is the best bet.

The only other alternative is to keep feeding it oil or trade/sell it without admitting the problem.

In the case of a car with low mileage I think GM would be willing to make the adjustment even after the three year limit, but sometimes it takes a strategically placed letter or phone call to get due consideration.

Duke

[Duke W.]

Re: Ring Recall

There's no need to drive a C5 like a sixties vintage two-liter 911, but apparently some owners do, and this can contribute to oil consumption.

I had a C5 Coupe and a Z06 that I borrowed from the GM press fleet, driving them a total of about 2000 miles. Nothwithstanding the outstanding power of the LS1 and LS6 engines, what really impressed me was their prodigious low end torque an docile low speed driveability. In normal driving I shifted them at 2K revs, but used lots of throttle, which kept me comfortably of traffic. It required me to be constantly shifting, but the more shifting means more driving fun in my book.

I LOVE TORQUE!!!

Duke

[Patrick H.]

Re: Ring Recall

Don,

With that attitude, I'd find another dealer to service it anyway.

If the drive to the US isn't bad, I can hook you up with a great dealer in suburban Detroit who will have you fixed pronto. The Service Manager is a member of our NCRS Chapter.

Otherwise find the largest Corvette-selling dealer in Toronto, and pay him a visit. I'd bet that you could find the TSB number on another forum.

Patrick

[Don S.]

Re: Ring Recall

Patrick---
thanks for the offer of hooking me up with the detroit dealer. But 600 miles is a long way to go for an oil change. I guess i will opt for Toronto., Thanks anyway.

Don

[Henry J.]

Don: 2001 VETTE - ABNORMAL OIL USAGE

Don, you probably know this already, but... Wilson Niblett Chev-Olds Corvette in Richmond Hill claims to be the largest Corvette dealer in Canada. They do move a lot of Corvettes. Perhaps they might be able to help you.