a new, equally impressive, trick!

350rs · 01-19-2010, 02:29 PM

My grand dammit can make oil disappear without so much as a puff of smoke. what can YOURS do?!

Searched for oil leaks, zero.
Checked coolant, nada ( even did the not so recommended taste test).
Exhaust smoke? Not in this car.

Yet i still seem to be about a quart low everytime i change the oil. Only this time im about 1000 from change and im about a quart low. So unless its a super small leak that wont make the tell tale blue smoke, im lost. Im using Valvoline 5-30 full synthetic. I am anal about changing before 3k even gets here. The oil itself looks fine. Just low. Anybody had any worthwhile luck with the lucas oil treatment? I use to use it, but stopped because of the cold weather. I did notice they have a treatment made specifically for synthetic. Any different? cause its almost double the price if i remember right.

nolimit · 01-19-2010, 03:09 PM

SAME THING HERE ! i have an 03 with only 54,000,i also change oil every 3 months or 3,000,which ever comes first,the last 2 times i've changed it,im between a half quart to quart low, motor is spotless, nothin in antifreeze ????

notsoaveragej0e · 01-19-2010, 08:21 PM

engine gnomes?

Step 1: Steal oil
Step 2: ?????
Step 3: PROFITS

GrandAmMe · 01-19-2010, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by notsoaveragej0e

engine gnomes?

Step 1: Steal oil
Step 2: ?????
Step 3: PROFITS

^^

350rs · 01-19-2010, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by notsoaveragej0e

engine gnomes?

Step 1: Steal oil
Step 2: ?????
Step 3: PROFITS

so i need an anti gnome alarm.. does a generic lawn gnome alarm cover it or do i need an engine alarm?

notsoaveragej0e · 01-19-2010, 09:33 PM

I'd recommend a spray, generally available at Home Depot, Lowes, etc.

AaronGTR · 01-19-2010, 09:52 PM

eh, my grand prix does the same thing. I have to add half a quart every few thousand miles. That's a slow enough rate that you can still be burning a little oil and not enough that you'll see it in the exhaust smoke.

WidbyJ · 01-20-2010, 09:39 AM

Think PCV system. Fumes/oil get burned when there is a good draw and combined with a working Cat may well never be visible. Probable culprit is overall looseness due to wear with nothing short of a rebuild to truly 'fix' it.

Oil is not forever. You should be checking it every couple of tanks of gas (in the old days it was at every fill up) and topping off as necessary. I used to keep a partial quart of oil tucked-away by the battery for this purpose. This is normal maintainance...

westerndragon · 01-20-2010, 09:54 AM

eh mine does it to but i drive mine pretty hard dot worry about it and as for the gnomes if you put a dwarf under the hood it works to keep them back and you can teach the dwarf to do an oil change your all set

psy7 · 01-20-2010, 10:05 AM

i havent had that problem yet but most likely burning oil,but not enoudh to notice out of the exhaust system

Malaclypse · 01-20-2010, 11:09 AM

GM's oil consumption guidelines consider 1 quart of consumption in 1,000 miles to be normal.

Its the PCV system design on the 3400. If you take the intake duct off you'll notice some oil residue in there and probably some in the throttle body and upper intake.

In short, just add oil.

cardude007617 · 01-20-2010, 12:46 PM

hmm my 2001 gt with 108k when i sold it didn't burn ANY oil....even over extended oil change intervals.

350rs · 01-20-2010, 04:35 PM

yea in the two years i have owned this thing it hasnt burned this much. Like stated im anal about my oil changes so im also anal on maintenance. I do check every 4 or 5 fillups probably.

Valve stem seals are goin i suppose. but with only 111000 miles it seems a bit much to me. Guess i just expect a lot. and 1 quart per 1000 miles?! thats terrible.. GM allows that and, on top of that, considers it NORMAL?! Man, im a die hard GM guy and thats very disappointing.

MIgrandamguy · 01-24-2010, 02:44 PM

heard about this happening on some older GM cars...no leaks on the ground after the car sat for awhile and no apparent leakage on or around the engine.

Turned out to be a leak from around the seal to the Oil Pressure Sensor. Only leaked when the car was on and had pressure in the system, so oil never came out when the car was off. Have you lifted the car and looked underneath the engine? I'm not sure exactly where the sensor is on the GTs, but that might be ur culprit

350rs · 01-24-2010, 10:07 PM

been there done that.

.

rtmach · 01-26-2010, 05:06 PM

FWIW

My wifes GAGT 3.4 suddenly started to make oil disappear like described. Just like magic. I changed out the lower intake manifold gasket and voila, problem solved.

350rs · 01-26-2010, 05:11 PM

ive replaced it.. but i noticed the other day a small amount of coolant below the TB.. might be leaking AGAIN!

psy7 · 01-26-2010, 09:44 PM

possibly depends on if u put the stock gaskets that car has when out the factory or something similar

350rs · 01-27-2010, 01:51 PM

i used the felpro "problem solver" gaskets. Metal with the rubber rings around various ports. No matter though, its small enough. Im HOPEFULLY gettin a new job soon, and i can get something else. If it falls through ( like the last one), ill fix it again. Im sure this is a great car for some. but for me its been nothing but trouble. Ill never buy a uncertified used car again i can tell ya that.

350rs · 01-27-2010, 06:12 PM

is the size of the bolt heads on the bolts holding down the LIM a 10? im gonna try and just tighten them a bit, maybe they got a bit loose. Ill cross my fingers and try it tomorrow.

also.. can a person get to all or at least most of them without taking the UIM off?

01-19-2010, 02:29 PM	#1
350rs GAGT - Member AKA: Tom Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: St. Louis, MO Age: 33 Posts: 547 Vehicle: 01 GT, 89 L98 Camaro	a new, equally impressive, trick! My grand dammit can make oil disappear without so much as a puff of smoke. what can YOURS do?! Searched for oil leaks, zero. Checked coolant, nada ( even did the not so recommended taste test). Exhaust smoke? Not in this car. Yet i still seem to be about a quart low everytime i change the oil. Only this time im about 1000 from change and im about a quart low. So unless its a super small leak that wont make the tell tale blue smoke, im lost. Im using Valvoline 5-30 full synthetic. I am anal about changing before 3k even gets here. The oil itself looks fine. Just low. Anybody had any worthwhile luck with the lucas oil treatment? I use to use it, but stopped because of the cold weather. I did notice they have a treatment made specifically for synthetic. Any different? cause its almost double the price if i remember right.

01-19-2010, 03:09 PM	#2
nolimit GAGT - Member AKA: Chris Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Indianapolis,In Posts: 86 Vehicle: 2003 Grand Am Gt	SAME THING HERE ! i have an 03 with only 54,000,i also change oil every 3 months or 3,000,which ever comes first,the last 2 times i've changed it,im between a half quart to quart low, motor is spotless, nothin in antifreeze ???? __________________ 03 P.O.S

01-19-2010, 08:21 PM	#3
notsoaveragej0e Causes a ruckus AKA: Joe Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Detroit, MI Age: 34 Posts: 5,011 Vehicle: Maligoat	engine gnomes? Step 1: Steal oil Step 2: ????? Step 3: PROFITS __________________

01-19-2010, 09:33 PM	#6
notsoaveragej0e Causes a ruckus AKA: Joe Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Detroit, MI Age: 34 Posts: 5,011 Vehicle: Maligoat	I'd recommend a spray, generally available at Home Depot, Lowes, etc. __________________

01-19-2010, 09:52 PM	#7
AaronGTR BlingWithBallz AKA: Aaron Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Detroit area, MI Age: 43 Posts: 12,254 Vehicle: 2000 Grand Am GT1 2dr	eh, my grand prix does the same thing. I have to add half a quart every few thousand miles. That's a slow enough rate that you can still be burning a little oil and not enough that you'll see it in the exhaust smoke. __________________ The few, the proud, the boosted! 13.788 @ 103.73 mph (3/2011) 320 whp and 300 ft/lbs torque. (3/2011) See it here. the total package.

01-20-2010, 09:39 AM	#8
WidbyJ GAGT - Member AKA: Jesse Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Wenatchee, WA Age: 60 Posts: 277 Vehicle: 1999 Malibu S/C	Think PCV system. Fumes/oil get burned when there is a good draw and combined with a working Cat may well never be visible. Probable culprit is overall looseness due to wear with nothing short of a rebuild to truly 'fix' it. Oil is not forever. You should be checking it every couple of tanks of gas (in the old days it was at every fill up) and topping off as necessary. I used to keep a partial quart of oil tucked-away by the battery for this purpose. This is normal maintainance...

01-20-2010, 09:54 AM	#9
westerndragon GAGT - Member AKA: Eric Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Lewiston Maine Posts: 601 Vehicle: 1999 GT1	eh mine does it to but i drive mine pretty hard dot worry about it and as for the gnomes if you put a dwarf under the hood it works to keep them back and you can teach the dwarf to do an oil change your all set __________________ NOM NOM NOM!

01-20-2010, 10:05 AM	#10
psy7 GAGT - Member AKA: michael Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: ashmore illinois Posts: 180 Vehicle: 02 grand am gt	i havent had that problem yet but most likely burning oil,but not enoudh to notice out of the exhaust system

01-20-2010, 11:09 AM	#11
Malaclypse Wrenched Loose AKA: Scott Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 1,209 Vehicle: 2013 Malibu 2LT	GM's oil consumption guidelines consider 1 quart of consumption in 1,000 miles to be normal. Its the PCV system design on the 3400. If you take the intake duct off you'll notice some oil residue in there and probably some in the throttle body and upper intake. In short, just add oil.

01-20-2010, 12:46 PM	#12
cardude007617 mmm turbo boost AKA: Paul Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Milwaukee WI Age: 31 Posts: 4,870 Vehicle: 2005 WRX Sedan 5 Speed	hmm my 2001 gt with 108k when i sold it didn't burn ANY oil....even over extended oil change intervals. __________________ http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2565053 -2005 World Rally Blue Subaru Impreza WRX Sedan: Tanabe Touring 3in catback, ERZ bellmouth catted downpipe, catless uppipe, SPT Pink springs, SPT short shifter, SPT intake, stereo, Cobb Accessport stage II, Prosport boost/oil temp/volt gauges, 35%, 17x8 Rota Torques, F/R strut braces It's what makes a Subaru, a Subaru.

01-20-2010, 04:35 PM	#13
350rs GAGT - Member AKA: Tom Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: St. Louis, MO Age: 33 Posts: 547 Vehicle: 01 GT, 89 L98 Camaro	yea in the two years i have owned this thing it hasnt burned this much. Like stated im anal about my oil changes so im also anal on maintenance. I do check every 4 or 5 fillups probably. Valve stem seals are goin i suppose. but with only 111000 miles it seems a bit much to me. Guess i just expect a lot. and 1 quart per 1000 miles?! thats terrible.. GM allows that and, on top of that, considers it NORMAL?! Man, im a die hard GM guy and thats very disappointing.

01-24-2010, 02:44 PM	#14
MIgrandamguy GAGT - Newbie AKA: Phill Join Date: May 2009 Location: MI Posts: 11 Vehicle: 2004 Grand Am GT Coupe	heard about this happening on some older GM cars...no leaks on the ground after the car sat for awhile and no apparent leakage on or around the engine. Turned out to be a leak from around the seal to the Oil Pressure Sensor. Only leaked when the car was on and had pressure in the system, so oil never came out when the car was off. Have you lifted the car and looked underneath the engine? I'm not sure exactly where the sensor is on the GTs, but that might be ur culprit

01-24-2010, 10:07 PM	#15
350rs GAGT - Member AKA: Tom Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: St. Louis, MO Age: 33 Posts: 547 Vehicle: 01 GT, 89 L98 Camaro	been there done that. .

01-26-2010, 05:06 PM	#16
rtmach GAGT - Newbie Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Beaver Dam WI Posts: 6 Vehicle: 99 GAGT sedan	FWIW My wifes GAGT 3.4 suddenly started to make oil disappear like described. Just like magic. I changed out the lower intake manifold gasket and voila, problem solved.

01-26-2010, 05:11 PM	#17
350rs GAGT - Member AKA: Tom Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: St. Louis, MO Age: 33 Posts: 547 Vehicle: 01 GT, 89 L98 Camaro	ive replaced it.. but i noticed the other day a small amount of coolant below the TB.. might be leaking AGAIN!

01-26-2010, 09:44 PM	#18
psy7 GAGT - Member AKA: michael Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: ashmore illinois Posts: 180 Vehicle: 02 grand am gt	possibly depends on if u put the stock gaskets that car has when out the factory or something similar

01-27-2010, 01:51 PM	#19
350rs GAGT - Member AKA: Tom Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: St. Louis, MO Age: 33 Posts: 547 Vehicle: 01 GT, 89 L98 Camaro	i used the felpro "problem solver" gaskets. Metal with the rubber rings around various ports. No matter though, its small enough. Im HOPEFULLY gettin a new job soon, and i can get something else. If it falls through ( like the last one), ill fix it again. Im sure this is a great car for some. but for me its been nothing but trouble. Ill never buy a uncertified used car again i can tell ya that.

01-27-2010, 06:12 PM	#20
350rs GAGT - Member AKA: Tom Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: St. Louis, MO Age: 33 Posts: 547 Vehicle: 01 GT, 89 L98 Camaro	is the size of the bolt heads on the bolts holding down the LIM a 10? im gonna try and just tighten them a bit, maybe they got a bit loose. Ill cross my fingers and try it tomorrow. also.. can a person get to all or at least most of them without taking the UIM off?

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