Oil Consumption

[daniel]

try not adding cheap oil = /

[difill1]

My 2004 SRX V6 does not burn any oil. It has 52k miles and I change the oil at 6k intervals regardless of what the oil life indicator reads. I only use Mobil 1 EP 5w30 and add Seafoam just before oil changes (drive car 30 minutes before changing). The oil doesn't darken down beyond a medium brown/amber color and never has anything gritty in it. I also use the Seafoam in the gasoline - since noticing that the tailpipes stay clean and have no soot buildup. This really works well for me and the car runs great. I have used Seafoam in other cars and reduced oil burning and performance problems. After running say a half of tank of fuel with Seafoam, if you open up throttle to passing gear several times you will clear carbon out of the system that other cleaners cannot remove. It is really effective and has helped me several times. It is also useful in clearing the intermittent rough idle problem in the N engine. It just saved a friend of mine from having to have the camshaft replaced in a 2005 STS V8 ($1,600 at dealer) to cure this idle problem. In the past 10-15 years I have tried so many additives and oils and this is the best combination I have found by using the Mobil 1 oils and Seafoam.

[MN SRX]

My V8 doesn't seem to be burning oil at all, after 55k miles. Shortly after buying my SRX, I came across this article about oil consumption through this site (thanks!).

http://www.caddyinfo.com/northstaroil.htm

It says Northstars don't like to be babied. I don't know if its all factual, but seems plausible to me. I bought the SRX for the engine and the suspension, and I because i like to drive. I take good care of my cars, but I dont baby any of my motors!

Keep in mind that no one has ever designed a high revving, quad cam V8 to get groceries. They are designed to be driven. Maybe the cure for (or protection against) excessive oil consumption is a few good runs on some open roads. That's my plan, for now.

If it starts to go south, I may just downsize to a CTS-V or a BMW 335 and buy an old Escalade for hauling.

[George Ware]

WOW..after reading this post I ran out to check my oil in our AWD 04-Northstar V8.
We had the oil changed in July, 2k later the oil level is still 100% on the mark!
The oil life says 81%........Guess i'm lucky

George Ware

[akdj1055]

Don't quote me, as getting information out of GM is a lot harder than GM getting money from the taxpayer, but supposedly a TSB was issued July 23 regarding the oil consumption issue. You have to run through a battery of never-ending tests, and at the conclusion, if one ever makes it that far, it should lead to getting the motor re-ringed. Apparently, the General is finally admitting it's not uncommon to have a ring(s) go bad.

So far, 20,000 miles of consuming a quart every 1,000 - 1,200 miles isn't proof enough for them. And the failed timing gears - twice now in the last 15,000 miles, and the bad catalytic converter, and other emmission problems isn't enough either to condemn this motor. I guess I just never understood the true definition of normal.

[P05SRX]

I have an 05 AWD SRX that was just in the shop for an oil leak and oil change. I was driving back to VA from PA over the holiday weekend and the car started to make awful sounds and feel sluggish so I took into the shop and they said it was low on oil and it had an oil leak. Lucky I had the CPO warranty! Everything was covered, all I had to pay for is the oil filter.

I guess my lesson learned from that and reading this forum is to check my DA& oil and add it. I love the car and would by another in a heart beat.

[dcarr66]

Originally Posted by akdj1055

Don't quote me, as getting information out of GM is a lot harder than GM getting money from the taxpayer, but supposedly a TSB was issued July 23 regarding the oil consumption issue. You have to run through a battery of never-ending tests, and at the conclusion, if one ever makes it that far, it should lead to getting the motor re-ringed. Apparently, the General is finally admitting it's not uncommon to have a ring(s) go bad.

So far, 20,000 miles of consuming a quart every 1,000 - 1,200 miles isn't proof enough for them. And the failed timing gears - twice now in the last 15,000 miles, and the bad catalytic converter, and other emmission problems isn't enough either to condemn this motor. I guess I just never understood the true definition of normal.

Couldn't find a TSB on the DOT site (looked at 2006 and 2005 SRX). Has anyone heard confirmation?

I brought my '06 V6 in for a strange noise in the front-end at the end of August and was told it was way low on oil. Heard it again about a month ago (early December) and put a quart in. Heard it again over the weekend and put two quarts in and it's still not topped off. I've probably put no more than 1500 miles since early December, so this seems like it falls into the excessive category. Sounds like I need to document the oil consumption and have a chat with the service tech in another month or so...

[jpettit]

I have a 2006 V6 (non AWD) with 22,000 miles. My experience:

The car holds 6+ quarts when fully drained. This is up to 1/2 quart more than other member's experience. The oil pan on an AWD may be different and reduces capacity in that vehicle.
My car does not use oil.
I have no oil leaks.
Engine does not have any unusual sounds.
I changed the oil at 3k miles, 8k miles and at 16k miles
Mobil1 turns black by 8,000 miles, at which time 33% life is left showing on the indicator. I typically change any oil before it turns black.
Not all synthetic oils meet GM's standard. Read the label.
Castrol SynTec begins clearer than both Mobil1 and Royal Purple. I have no experience with Pennzoil Platinum.

I have a trivial amount of metal on the magnetic drain plug I installed as a replacement for the stock drain plug. This is typical of many engines but unnerving to most people. If it changes or consists of larger particles, I would be concerned.

A stuck PCV valve on an engine will commonly cause the crankcase to pressurize the engine and force oil out as leaks. I don't know anything about the SRX's PVC valve but see the discussion at http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums...-requires.html.

The owner's manuals for certain Mazda's, VW's and Audi's claim the consumption of 1 quart of oil per 1000 miles is considered normal for these cars. I know some drivers who experience this; others did not. Some service managers claim the statement is purely PR to lower the purchaser's expectations. I would rather know the facts.

[dcarr66]

The strange thing is that this excessive consumption seems to have just started, after 25k miles. It could be that it was running low before that but not low enough to cause any noticeable engine noise (I've had all of the oil changes done at the dealership). Even if that's the case, it's definitely gotten worse in the last 4-6 months.

[skip148]

I am new to this site, so this is a "dated' reply. My dealer told me that up to 1quart of oil for 1200-1500 miles was considered normal. I had a 2004 CTS ....same engine....it didn't use any oil at all.

Another issue is that the 6-CD changer keeps recycling CD's on it's own. The key doesn't even have to be in the car and it will just keep changing CD after CD for hours. I found it doing this several times. The only way to prevent it was not to have any CD's loaded.

I have had all kinds of "unexplainable" electrical glitches....one rear window can be put down using the switch on the rear door, but it won't go up. On the other rear door you can put the window up but you can't put it down.

The back-up warning lights/chime will come on on their own.... again with no key in the car while it is parked. The list goes on....

I love the car but these weird issues make it so I couldn't recommend it.