This is where synthetics shine they are so slick they can creep into parts better and some actually can benefit like lifters now rings and seals on the other hand need some grip.
oil flow question on gm 5.3
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This is where synthetics shine they are so slick they can creep into parts better and some actually can benefit like lifters now rings and seals on the other hand need some grip.
OP
Soundguy
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to me it did sound like valve train rattle.. but hd been told by someone else it wasn't.. but was soemthing endemic to the 5.3 in either case.. adding mmo or a lil atf to the oil always made it go away for an oil change.. but came back on the next. with this syn oil change.. it went away.. so that's cool..
Highbeam
Super Member
They call it piston slap. These engines use a short skirted piston that can rock easily in the cylinders. As the engine warms up the extra slop in the cylinder goes away and the pistons stop slapping.
Almost sounds like a knock. Too deep for a lifter tick or exhaust leak tick.
Almost sounds like a knock. Too deep for a lifter tick or exhaust leak tick.
clemsonfor
Super Member
What i meant with the 15k a year thing is that if you drive it 30k a year i doubt it will last 5 years if you drive 12-15k a year it likely will last 10 years if you want it to. But i think you got waht i meant.
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Soundguy
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it likely won't see more than 15k.. 12k is probably realistic though.
Back in the old days (70's-80's) we used to see small blocks using oil because the intake gaskets would suck oil up out of the lifter galley by 6 & 8 cyls by the egr ports.
These new gen motors have intake issues also but if that truck has always used oil I suspect there is a piston with an issue either a ring groove is wide or an oil ring rail is damaged or missing.
At one time when I worked at GM dealerships we heard all sorts of stories from techs doing warranty work about how some engines etc came off the line all messed up so anything is possible after all they are assembled by machines.
These new gen motors have intake issues also but if that truck has always used oil I suspect there is a piston with an issue either a ring groove is wide or an oil ring rail is damaged or missing.
At one time when I worked at GM dealerships we heard all sorts of stories from techs doing warranty work about how some engines etc came off the line all messed up so anything is possible after all they are assembled by machines.
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Soundguy
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I'd agree with that.. except that if you call the dealer, and (eventually) gm, and talk to alot of service people at the dealership and from gm.. they all say the same story and quote you some gm spec out of a book ( their book )..and say it is normal consumption for that engine.
Toyboy
Platinum Member
This thread is interesting in that my '05 5.3 w/62k has had a steady diet of 5w-30 Mobil 1 and it don't seem to use a drop between 3.5k filter changes. I'm sure it uses some but you can't tell it by the dip stick. Your consumption is scarey to me. I could not live w/that.
I just changed oil & filter yesterday because it had been almost 2 years but only 7.8k miles. And the filter does let a lot run by, maybe 1/4 qt. when changed. I seem to make a mess every time I do that.
I just changed oil & filter yesterday because it had been almost 2 years but only 7.8k miles. And the filter does let a lot run by, maybe 1/4 qt. when changed. I seem to make a mess every time I do that.
I'd agree with that.. except that if you call the dealer, and (eventually) gm, and talk to alot of service people at the dealership and from gm.. they all say the same story and quote you some gm spec out of a book ( their book )..and say it is normal consumption for that engine.
If I remember right that spec used to 1 qt in 500 miles or maybe 1k but either way its bogus and is a cya for GM.
Engines actually are designed to use some like to lube valve guides and cylinder walls but rarely rarely is is measurable between normal maintenance schedules like 5k hwy and 3k city like I have my customers on.
In fact imo whats an engine to GM when it would go a long ways tword building a life long return customer?! Toyota is at the top in that regard I cant even begin to say how much good will they do for customers its amazing and thats why they have the loyal following they have and always will.
jwstewar
Elite Member
I've got 2 5.3s. A '99 in my Silverado w/ 120k miles and our 2008 Suburban w/ 22k miles. The Silverado is worked hard and isn't driven unless it is towing or hauling something including our 36' 10k pound camper. Both have had the piston slap since about 10k miles, but neither of them uses any oil that is measurable on the dip stick. On the other hand, my two Honda's have used oil. The first one my wife bought new in '97, I met her when it had 30k miles on it. We ran it to 252k miles. It used 1.5 qts of oil between oil changes done according to the maintenance indicator. This one is a 2000 we bought with 71k miles on it. It uses a quart every 1500 miles or so. It is supposed to take 4.5 quarts, I usually put 5 in it so that it take me 2000 miles before I have to add oil. I usually add oil at the 2k and 4k mark between oil changes and then when the light comes on I change it.