Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 10-22-2018, 08:09 AM   #1
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Warsaw,NC
Posts: 7,184
Duramax engine oil

What is normal oil loss between oil changes? My Silverado has 150,000 miles and a lot of the miles towing a camper. I have noticed on the last few oil changes that I’m losing a quart of oil. Is this normal?
spock123 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-22-2018, 08:12 AM   #2
Senior Member
 
SeaDog's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: x
Posts: 12,423
What milage schedule are you on for oil changes
__________________
Retired Navy
Jake my sidekick (yellow Lab) 10/04 - 05/20
2017 RAM 2500 CC 4X4 Cummins Diesel
2016 Flagstaff 26 FKWS
AF&AM & El Korah Shrine of Idaho
SeaDog is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-22-2018, 08:14 AM   #3
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Warsaw,NC
Posts: 7,184
I just use what the truck says. I use synthetic oil
spock123 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-22-2018, 08:22 AM   #4
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Northeast Ohio
Posts: 266
Sea Dog means at how many miles after an oil change are you finding it a quart low? 3000 miles? 8000 miles?
My17Ram is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-22-2018, 08:36 AM   #5
Senior Member
 
DieselDrax's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Monticello, IL
Posts: 1,696
Quote:
Originally Posted by My17Ram View Post
Sea Dog means at how many miles after an oil change are you finding it a quart low? 3000 miles? 8000 miles?


Er, no he doesn’t. He clearly asked what his oil change interval is.

To the OP, you must have some idea of how often the truck says it’s time to change the oil. A quart isn’t out of spec unless it’s every couple thousand miles or so. A quart after 6000-7000 miles isn’t a problem especially considering your truck holds what, 15 quarts or so?
__________________
2017 GMC Canyon - CCLB, 4x4, 2.8L Duramax, ARE Z-series shell
2013 Shamrock 21SS
DieselDrax is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-22-2018, 08:51 AM   #6
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Warsaw,NC
Posts: 7,184
My Silverado holds ten quarts. To be honest I haven’t really checked how many miles I go between oil changes, I just go with whenever the meter says change the oil on the truck.
spock123 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-22-2018, 08:55 AM   #7
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Warsaw,NC
Posts: 7,184
How often I change the oil is not what I wanted to know. I was asking if it was normal after 150,000 miles on the engine, was to normal to lose a quart of oil between changes. That’s what I wanted to know
spock123 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-22-2018, 09:01 AM   #8
Senior Member
 
DieselDrax's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Monticello, IL
Posts: 1,696
Quote:
Originally Posted by spock123 View Post
How often I change the oil is not what I wanted to know. I was asking if it was normal after 150,000 miles on the engine, was to normal to lose a quart of oil between changes. That’s what I wanted to know


I was referring to SeaDog’s question and the apparent confusion someone had with it.
__________________
2017 GMC Canyon - CCLB, 4x4, 2.8L Duramax, ARE Z-series shell
2013 Shamrock 21SS
DieselDrax is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-22-2018, 09:03 AM   #9
Senior Member
 
SeaDog's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: x
Posts: 12,423
Not knowing how or when the computer on your truck signals the oil change. by particulate contact or miles it is almost impossible to answer your question. Like was said if you are putting on more then six thousand miles to a change that would seem normal. You do check the oil when you get fuel right, so there should be no surprises.
__________________
Retired Navy
Jake my sidekick (yellow Lab) 10/04 - 05/20
2017 RAM 2500 CC 4X4 Cummins Diesel
2016 Flagstaff 26 FKWS
AF&AM & El Korah Shrine of Idaho
SeaDog is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-22-2018, 09:10 AM   #10
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Warsaw,NC
Posts: 7,184
Quote:
Originally Posted by SeaDog View Post
Not knowing how or when the computer on your truck signals the oil change. by particulate contact or miles it is almost impossible to answer your question. Like was said if you are putting on more then six thousand miles to a change that would seem normal. You do check the oil when you get fuel right, so there should be no surprises.


You missed my question. I deleted the emissions on my truck. I just wanted to know on a engine that had a 150,000 miles was it normal to lose a quart of oil between changes. If you have no idea or don’t know don’t answer.
spock123 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-22-2018, 09:13 AM   #11
Senior Member
 
DieselDrax's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Monticello, IL
Posts: 1,696
Quote:
Originally Posted by spock123 View Post
You missed my question. I deleted the emissions on my truck. I just wanted to know on a engine that had a 150,000 miles was it normal to lose a quart of oil between changes. If you have no idea or don’t know don’t answer.


Dude, without knowing HOW MANY MILES between oil changes how do you expect anyone to know if it’s normal?

A quart every 5,000-6,000 miles is normal, especially if towing. Also, make sure you’re checking the oil level after the truck has sat for at least 20 mins or overnight to give the oil time to drain back into the pan.
__________________
2017 GMC Canyon - CCLB, 4x4, 2.8L Duramax, ARE Z-series shell
2013 Shamrock 21SS
DieselDrax is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-22-2018, 09:20 AM   #12
Senior Member
 
SeaDog's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: x
Posts: 12,423
easy answer yes
__________________
Retired Navy
Jake my sidekick (yellow Lab) 10/04 - 05/20
2017 RAM 2500 CC 4X4 Cummins Diesel
2016 Flagstaff 26 FKWS
AF&AM & El Korah Shrine of Idaho
SeaDog is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-22-2018, 09:28 AM   #13
Senior Member
 
Jim34RL's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Oswego il
Posts: 2,428
If you are concerned about the health of the engine, I would do a couple of oil samples and send them to a qualified lab. What this will tell you if there are any abnormal wear issues and contaminates in your engine oil. Such as excess diesel fuel, Silicon, Sodium and than wear metals like Iron, Nickel, Aluminum, to name a few things. Oil consumption is a normal process over time and mileage but some engines may burn more oil than others as they age. The rings will wear and the cylinder walls could wear also. High metal contaminates could be telling you that the engine is starting to wear as it ages (high mileage) and oil blow by could occur. Since you have a diesel the engine will burn this oil blow by away in the combustion process.

I would not rely on an engine computer to tell me when to change the oil/filter on any truck. I would go by the manual in your truck that will list oil change intervals based on time and mileage and heavy towing or not. Or I would use a lab recommendation like I do, as to when to change the oil/filter. The engine ECM is not monitoring the oil quality, it is purely a logarithm that an anyslist programmed into the ECM to tell you when to change the oil based on time.

Just my $0.02
__________________
Jim W.
2016 34RL CC; 2008 Ram Mega Cab 2500HD, 6.7L, 68RFE 6 speed, 4X4, Smarty S67, TDR 145K+miles
Jim34RL is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-22-2018, 09:42 AM   #14
Senior Member
 
Blackrock's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: SE Arizona's Gila Vally
Posts: 1,505
Quote:
Originally Posted by spock123 View Post
You missed my question. I deleted the emissions on my truck. I just wanted to know on a engine that had a 150,000 miles was it normal to lose a quart of oil between changes. If you have no idea or don’t know don’t answer.
Yes it is normal to use a quart of oil between oil changes. Never mind whether high mileage or not. Doesn't really matter the make of the engine either. Don't worry this is not a sign that your engine is going to 'Crater' any time soon.
__________________
2016 RAM 1500 - 2016 Keystone Laredo 265SRK
The road goes on forever and the party never ends.
Illegitimum non carborundum
Blackrock is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-22-2018, 09:51 AM   #15
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 5,712
If you lose a quart at 1000-2000 miles....you've got a problem. If you lose a quart every 5-6000 miles, no big deal. This isn't rocket science.
TheWolfPaq82 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-22-2018, 10:11 AM   #16
Senior Member
 
Chuck_S's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Richmond VA
Posts: 4,510
Oil use is normal in ANY modern engine and as they age they tend to use more oil as the clearances open up. The oil change interval question was appropriate. Using a quart every 3000 miles is a lot more oil use than using a quart every 10,000 miles.

Many manufacturers went to 0W-20 engine oil for better fuel economy. This thin oil tends to be "used" in the engine more than (say) 10W-30 and is normal.

Regardless the oil level need only be somewhere between the marks on the dipstick. Not necessary to have it at the top mark (but it shouldn't be over).

-- Chuck
Chuck_S is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-22-2018, 10:14 AM   #17
Insert witty title here
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: About 30 miles west of Beantown.
Posts: 4,023
Quote:
Originally Posted by spock123 View Post
My Silverado holds ten quarts. To be honest I haven’t really checked how many miles I go between oil changes, I just go with whenever the meter says change the oil on the truck.

x2
__________________

2021 Transcend Xplor 247BH
Husky WDH with Sway Control
2021 Chevy Silverado 2500HD LT 6.6L V8 Duramax
Forever in my memory. Forever in my heart.
Laurie J. Wood 3/22/67 - 8/23/19
timfromma is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-22-2018, 10:46 AM   #18
Senior Member
 
NMWildcat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Southern NM
Posts: 9,505
My 2007 LBZ Duramax has 150,000 miles. It is a daily driver. I change the oil every 5k. Non-synthetic. I don't trust the dic to tell me when to do it. If I am towing, it is normal to use 1 quart, or a little more, in 5k. So when I am towing frequently, I change the oil at 3 to 4k. When not towing, no, it doesn't use enough oil to notice in 5000 miles. But yes, In general, all diesels use oil during operation. The amount depends on severity of use and engine condition. Does this help?

If you are going by the computer for oil change intervals, I'm assuming the interval is closer to 10k. So one quart of usage should be of no concern.

The Duramax Diesel forum has lots more info on this that might interest you.
__________________
Scott and Liz - Southern NM
2012 Wildcat Sterling 32RL - w/level up (best option ever)
2007 Chevy 2500HD Duramax
Reese Fifth Airborne Sidewinder
NMWildcat is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 10-22-2018, 12:02 PM   #19
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Northeast Ohio
Posts: 266
Quote:
Originally Posted by spock123 View Post
My Silverado holds ten quarts. To be honest I haven’t really checked how many miles I go between oil changes, I just go with whenever the meter says change the oil on the truck.
This was my point in my post above. Since you do not track the miles between changes it is difficult to say whether your oil consumption is excessive.
Bottom line, 1 quart usage at the indicated change interval is not excessive. If it increases to two quarts, you have an engine that is wearing out.
My17Ram is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-22-2018, 04:46 PM   #20
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Warsaw,NC
Posts: 7,184
Once I get back home I’ll change the oil and write the mileage down. I’m taking truck back to the shop that did the delete on the Silverado to flush the transmission and flush the antifreeze. I’ll ask them. Thanks for the advice
spock123 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Forest River, Inc. or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:23 AM.