Using Oil, Any suggestions?

[ckt]

I use 15w/40, SI-4 oil in my truck, it only has 15k on it, and it appears to be using about a quart in 4-5k miles. I didn't notice any usage the first couple of oil changes.

[rob@rone.ca]

What year is it - does it have the LLY engine (2004.5)

Lots of heavy towing in hot temperatures??

My 05 has absolutely no perceptible oil consumption so far, but I'm only half way through my second change.

[DmaxMaverick]

SI-4???

Your oil should be CI-4, 15-40.

1 qt. in 4-5K would be considered very normal, and I wouldn't worry about it. Change oil brands and see what usage you get. The difference between brands can swing at least that much.

[ckt]

My truck is an 05 lly. Yes the oil is CI-4, not SI. I am just not used to this. I have had several new chevy trucks, and not one would use oil. Is it more likely for the diesels to use oil? When the truck had 3k miles on it we took it on a camping trip that was about 2200 miles of solid towing in the mountains in hot temperatures, and I don't remember it using any oil. The current oil change is a mixture of towing and normal (after camping season, no towing this winter). I think the oil I am running is top shelf (15w/40 Plus 50 John Deere). Sort of a synthetic, I can't imagine a beter quality oil, I could be wrong.

[LanduytG]

My 04.5 will use 1 to 2 quarts in 10K depending on what I am doing. Running around town it will use more but if I load it down it won't use hardly any. I wouldn't worry at all over that amount.

Greg

[Kennedy]

Drive your truck and enjoy the hell out of it. While many use no oil, this little bit is absolutely nothing to worry about...

[ckt]

Thank you, that is good to know.

[Driveshaft]

Typical diesels will use about that much in 4500 to 5000. Mine does. Load it up and pull hard and that will slow down using for a while. Goes back to the big trucks, they typically use a little oil breaking in, then slow down to nothing or almost nothing unless they are lugged a lot. When loaded and not lugged, they will slow down. My dmax does this after pulling my tractor some where and quits using for a while. I do not pull loads quite as often as others here do, but when I do, it causes the dmax to act better until it gets used to not pulling. It typically uses about a 1 to 1 1/2 quarts around 5000 miles. I change just the filter at 5000 and change the filter and oil at 10,000.

[gmmerlin]

From GM
[quote]Oil usage has a direct relationship with the amount of fuel used. The harder an engine works, the more fuel and oil it will use. Therefore, oil usage as a factor of fuel usage is a more accurate indicator of acceptable oil consumption levels than vehicle mileage.

The accepted rate of oil consumption for the 6.6L Duramax

[Jim Brzozowski]

A quart of oil for every 100 gallons of fuel used?? Rediculous GM---If mine ever ever used that much oil I'd get rid of it.
Normal is for me running the 7500 miles between oil changes and not adding a drop of oil. My last oil analysis with just over 6800 miles on it(just checking to be sure) was so good it was amazing to me. Maybe its the oil guard bypass, I even started running their full flow filters. Got a little over 2500 miles on since the last oil change and the oil on a paper towl looks like new. At 20 MPG x 100 gallons that would only be 2000 miles to burn a quart. I would be embarissed to make that claim if I built that engine.

[Like A Rock]

Do you feel that the JD Plus 50 is a good decision for the Duramax trucks?

I am a long time reader and supporter of this page and the info has been very helpful through the years.

In my company, I have '01 D/A 2500HD LB7, '03 D/A LLY 2500HD, and '06 2500HD LBZ.

I am trying to make a decision on oil that would be best with all our equipment including these trucks Duramax motors.

Thanks

[Black95TD]

I have had very good luck with Shell Rotella T 15W-40. May old 95 went 120K and was not burning any oil when I sold it - leaked a little from the cooler lines. I'm using Shell 5W- 40 Syn for the winter. It starts and runs nicely when its cold. The pressure drops down earlier than the 15W-40 which I would think would help on mileage.

I was in my buddies garage yesterday looking over his 350 rebuild for his Corvette and noticed several gallons of Shell 15W-40. Comp Cams told him they have done a huge amount of research on oils and now recommend Shell fleet oil for rebuilds using their cams.