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2004 3.8 using oil

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photomatt

New member
Hello everyone. I have a 2004 GT2 that uses about a quart of oil to every 3000 miles (it is below the bottom hole on the dip stick at the 3000 mile oil change). The low oil light has not come on but it is definatly using oil. The tail pipes are not sooted up as I cleaned them all off about 10000 miles ago and it does not smoke. There are also no leaks that I can see or drips on the garage floor. I have never had a car that used ANY oil between changes so I am really getting concerned. There is 101,000 miles on it and I put on about 30,000 miles a year as my daily driver. Any thoughts about "why" it would be using oil? How about longivity of this motor? I would like to take care of it as best as I can... I use regular 5W30 oil, would using the "high Mileage" oil be any better? Oh ya, both intake gaskets were replaced at about 80,000 miles with the newest design by the dealer. Any thoughts would be helpful. This is the first GM car I have owned in a long while, having Toyota's for the last 20 years or so... Just not used to this. Thanks
 


i've owned 2 brand new trucks off the lot, and both by the time they hit 100,000 miles, kinda like a switch, they would eat oil, up a quart every 3,000 miles.

i was also mostly highway and doing 30,000 miles a year, so that adds up to a oil change every month. for its whole life, and it still ate oil.

by GM standards, this is acceptable.
 
Thanks for the reply's. I "want" this car to last to 200,000 like all the past cars I've had but am just not sure. With the oil usage and then all the talk about transmissions... Oh well, it is mine now, it is still cheaper to fix things than it is to buy something different! Does anyone think I should look into fixing it or is it a "normal" thing for these 3.8 engines? I have always heard they were one of the best engines out there? Thanks.
 
GM has technical bulletins that say for nearly every vehicle 1 quart is expected every 3000 miles. Especially if you romp. When you romp more oil vapor is sent through the pcv and into the intake. When that happens it naturally burns off, and slowly enough that you wouldn't see or notice it.

Typically when doing an intake on an L26/L36 you find the oil pooled in the intake as it has pockets. An L67/L32 does not have pockets and therefore the oil helps gunk up the charger inlet and leaves the LIM looking moist.

My suggestion is when doing your oil change, automatically dump in the full 5 quarts (manual says 4.5Q) and you'll likely never have a worry again. 5 quarts is perfect in our motors as we have a large enough pan to keep the crank from sitting in oil.
 
Ever since my 04 GT1 turned 100k on it. It's been using about a quart between oil changes. It's normal. In fact I will typically let the DIC tell me when to change the oil when it gives the low oil message.

180K miles later, it's still running strong with no leaks or burning.
 


dont wait for a low oil light to come on, your asking for trouble like that. just check your oil one a week, that way you know how fast it eating it.

i have no problem letting it hit the low hash mark, i quart low, but more then that is not good. can cause low oil pressure, and boom goes your engine, real fast.
 
What is the big deal if it uses a little oil? When it gets below the middle hole on the dipstick, add 1/2 quart. Problem solved!
 
Thanks for all the reply's! I am going to do my best NOT to worry about it! ha ha ha Oh, an no hot rodding with this car except in the passing lane once in a while. I average over 31 MPG by just taking it easy... :) At least it sounds like I'm not alone in the fact that it uses a little oil. It really IS a nice car and oil is cheap so adding extra once in a while will be what I am going to do. now to keep an eye on the transmission... ugh! Thanks again for all the reply's!
 
I seem to lose about a quart every 4000 miles. My OLM gets down to 15% life about every 7-8k. When i had it changed recently, they told me it was the oil pan gasket that was leaking.

I would consider a quart every 3-4k to be reasonable, but dont wait for the low oil light to tell you. They dont call them idiot lights for nothing.
 


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