Bulletin No.: PIP5382E
Date: Sep-2016

Subject:

Gen5 Oil Consumption

Models:

2015-2016 Cadillac Escalade
2014-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
2015-2016 Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe
2014-2016 GMC Sierra 1500
2015-2016 GMC Yukon XL
Built with RPO’s 5.3L 6.2L L83 L86 LV3

This PI was superseded to update Recommendation/Instructions. Please discard PIP5382D.
The following diagnosis might be helpful if the vehicle exhibits the symptom(s) described in this PI.

Condition/Concern
A vehicle may have complaints of excessive oil consumption 1 quart in 2000 miles.

Recommendation/Instructions
If you are working on one of the above vehicles with excessive oil consumption of 1 quart in 2000 miles or 1.5 qts in 100 hours or more do the following.
Start an oil consumption test by changing the oil and filter, fill the engine oil with the recommended amount of oil per SI. Start the engine, run it and check oil
level, mark the dipstick at the level it shows.
Recommend the customer use top tier fuel (see the latest version of 05-06-04-022) while doing the oil consumption test.
Not Waiting Long Enough After Running Engine to Check Oil Level Some engines require more time than others for the oil to drain back into the crankcase. To
assure a sufficient amount of oil has drained back to the crankcase, and an accurate reading can be obtained, the vehicle should be allowed to sit for at least
15 minutes, after the engine has been shut off, before taking an oil level reading. In order to ensure accurate results, the temperature of the oil should be close
to the same temperature as the last time the oil level was checked
Note: Many factors can affect a customer's concern with oil consumption. Driving habits and vehicle maintenance vary from owner to owner.
Thoroughly evaluate each case before deciding whether the vehicle in question has abnormal engine oil consumption.
Please confirm you have properly checked the oil level per Owner’s Manual/SI, before you contact PQC with the following information.
VIN

Mileage

Engine Hours

Have you Confirmed the proper oil level per Owner’s Manual (see below) (Y/N)

Determine usage: Is vehicle used for fleet purposes? (Y/N)

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Does vehicle idle for long period of time? (Y/N)

Is vehicle properly maintained? (Y/N)

Did you do the following:

•

If this is a customer’s vehicle (and not a fleet vehicle)Did you Perform 1000 mile oil consumption test (Y/N)

•

If this a fleet vehicle, did you Perform 100 hour oil consumption test if fleet vehicle (Y/N)

•

Did you check the crank case pressure, cylinder leakage and check the compression (Y/N)

•

Is there excessive oil inside/behind throttle body (Y/N)

•

Is there excessive oil inside intake manifold – dip finger to determine if oil is inside first intake runner(Y/N)

•

Is there excessive oil in PCV and PCV lines (Y/N)

•

Check the bolt torque on the Valve Lifter Oil Manifold Assembly(Y/N)

•

Are there excessive deposits on intake valves. (Y/N)

•

Is left head (odd bank) worse than right head (Y/N)

•

Is the air filter box sealed and together properly (Y/N)

•

Is the air filter aftermarket (Y/N)

•

Check for dust intrusion (Y/N)

•

Where does the customer purchase their fuel?

•

How much oil was added during oil change?

Engine Oil
For diesel engine vehicles, see “Engine Oil” in the Duramax diesel supplement.
To ensure proper engine performance and long life, careful attention must be paid to engine oil. Following these simple, but important steps will help protect your
investment:
–

Use engine oil approved to the proper specification and of the proper viscosity grade. See “Selecting the Right Engine Oil” in this section.

–

Check the engine oil level regularly and maintain the proper oil level. See “Checking Engine Oil” and “When to Add Engine Oil” in this section.

–

Change the engine oil at the appropriate time. See Engine oil life system.

–

Always dispose of engine oil properly. See “What to Do with Used Oil” in this section.

Checking Engine Oil
It is a good idea to check the engine oil level at each fuel fill. In order to get an accurate reading, the vehicle must be on level ground. The engine oil dipstick
handle is a loop. See Engine Compartment Overview for the location of the engine oil dipstick. If a low oil message displays on the DIC, it is important to park on
level ground to accurately measure the oil level on the dipstick. Idling the vehicle on steep grades for a long time can influence the level sensing accuracy
Obtaining an accurate oil level reading is essential:
If the engine has been running recently, turn off the engine and allow several minutes for the oil to drain back into the oil pan. Checking the oil level too soon
after engine shutoff will not provide an accurate oil level reading
Warning: The engine oil dipstick handle may be hot; it could burn you. Use a towel or glove to touch the dipstick handle.
Pull out the dipstick and wipe it with a clean paper towel or cloth, then push it back in all the way. Remove it again, keeping the tip down, and check the level.

When to add engine oil
If the oil is below the cross-hatched area at the tip of the dipstick, add 1 L (1 qt) of the recommended oil and then recheck the level.
Caution: Do not add too much oil. Oil levels above or below the acceptable operating range shown on the dipstick are harmful to the engine. If you find that you
have an oil level above the operating range, i.e., the engine has so much oil that the oil level gets above the cross-hatched area that shows the proper operating
range, the engine could be damaged. You should drain out the excess oil or limit driving of the vehicle.
Please follow this diagnostic or repair process thoroughly and complete each step. If the condition exhibited is resolved without completing every step, the
remaining steps do not need to be performed.

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GM bulletins are intended for use by professional technicians, NOT a "do-it-yourselfer". They are written to inform these technicians of conditions that may
occur on some vehicles, or to provide information that could assist in the proper service of a vehicle. Properly trained technicians have the equipment, tools,
safety instructions, and know-how to do a job properly and safely. If a condition is described, DO NOT assume that the bulletin applies to your vehicle, or that
your vehicle will have that condition. See your GM dealer for information on whether your vehicle may benefit from the information.

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