• If you currently own, previously owned or want to own an Avalanche, we welcome you to become a member today. Membership is FREE, register now!

Check Engine Oil Level

midlifecrisis

midlifecrisis

Charter Member
SM 2003
Full Member
Joined
Jan 18, 2002
Messages
3,580
Location
New Jersey - Exit 5
My Av has about 24 K miles. My wife just called to tell me that the Check Engine Oil Level light came on this morning. This light has never come on before. The light eventually went off when the Av warmed up. It has been about 3000 miles since the last oil change. I am not at home so I can't check the oil level. She wants to know if she can still drive the Av.

Has anyone else had this light come on erroneously? Could it be due to really cold weather (teens here in NJ)? I plan on checking the oil when I get home.
 
Well, it was 1F this morning and I didn't get a Low oil light. And its been Very Cold for like 2 weeks with no problems. although it keeps bitching that I need to change the oil though.

JW
 
Me thinks you should check the dipstick to be safe. This probably would have taken my wife 2 weeks to inform me of :2:
 
midlifecrisis, I'd be cautious regards that indicator, as it may be signalling that you are in fact short of oil.

I've been monitoring another thread in here (I hope this works): http://www.chevyavalanchefanclub.com/cafcna/index.php?board=15;action=display;threadid=21440;start=msg337455#msg337455 which shows an AV 1500 with 37K miles burning 3 guarts in 4000 miles. I'd have someone check the dipstick, and add at least a quart (if that is indicated :6: )

The "fix" appears to be replacing the PCV.

Hope this helps. :B: Good luck :B:
 
Thanks for the info. I'll be sure to check it when I get home. My wife says it never came on again and I've never had a history of burning oil. Nonetheless it's better to be safe.
 
I didn't get home until 9:30 last night, but good thing I checked the oil level. It was very low. I had to run out to the store to get some 5W-30 oil, since all I had on hand was 10W-30. I added a quart just to get in in the acceptable range on the dipstick.

Now I'm wondering why the oil level was low. I've gone as much as 5000 miles previously between oil changes with no problems. I wonder if the dealer screwed up the last oil change. Or is the truck burning oil? I've never seen any blue smoke.

I guess I need to constantly check the oil level now to find out what's causing the problem.
 
Have you changed your PCV valve to the updated version? My oil consuption was up and down until I changed mine. Since I have changed it I have not had to add any oil between changes.
 
Did you change your own PCV valve or did the dealer do it under warranty? Is is a difficult install and what is the cost? If it isn't that expensive and difficult, I may just do it myself.

I seem to remember from years ago that the valve was rather inexpensive. The quick lube place I used to go to as a youngster was always trying to tell me that it was dirty and had to be replaced.
 
02 Z71 said:
Have you changed your PCV valve to the updated version? My oil consuption was up and down until I changed mine. Since I have changed it I have not had to add any oil between changes.
Click to expand...

This does seem to be the fix for the 1500 oil burning, as far as the 2500...thats a different story :cautious:
 
I am a service advisor at a Ford dealership and my oil light came on also. I had about 33000 on it at the time. I had one of my techs check it out and it was just about a half a quart low on oil (maybe due to a low level of oil added during my last oil change). Probably not anything to worry about. Ford says for their vehicles that during break in, the vehicle may burn up to a quart of oil every 1000 miles :eek: (we don't see it much though). Your dealer will change you PCV valve out within 1000 miles of the specified mileage (60000 or 100000 generally). That means if the scheduled mileage is 100000, the vehicle has to be withing 99500 and 100500 to have it replaced free of charge. For our vehicles it usually costs around $30-$40 to change out the PCV when the customer is paying for it. Most people can do it themselves though. Not sure if any of this applies to our trucks, but hopefully it helps.
 
The PCV valve is an easy do it yourself item. I am at work now, so I don't have the Av here to look at. As I recall the PVC valve is on the back part of the drivers side valve cover on the engine. Simply pull it out of the valve cover, then pull out the PCV valve off of the rubber hose that it is attached to. Just reverse this when installing it, making sure that it is properly seated back in the valve cover. When you pull out the PCV valve, you can tell whether it is an old one or a new one. The hole in the updated PCV is very small.
 
If your AV has only 24K miles, they will change the PCV out for free. If not, it costs only $4.03 w/tax. It is part # 12572717. Earlier this week I took my truck into the dealership for the same oil consumption problem. I was there less than 10 min while they changed the PCV and had me back on the road.

Good luck!

Zach
 
Thanks for the info - you guys are the best. I don't suppose there are any warranty issues if I replace the PCV valve myself, right?
 
midlifecrisis said:
Thanks for the info - you guys are the best. I don't suppose there are any warranty issues if I replace the PCV valve myself, right?
Click to expand...

Nope!
 
One other note of interest: As I was working under the hood that night, I could not get my stupid under hood light to work. :E: There is nothing wrong with the bulb - something with the connection or the switch that turns it on and off. So you 03 and 04 owners aren't missing anything with the deletion of this light!
 
If you have someone else do your oil changes, you should always check the level when you pick up the vehicle.

Have you made a long run at highway speeds lately? My last ride didn't use a drop of oil, unless I did a alot of sustained higway driving, then it used a quart / thousand miles. Then again it wasn't a GM.

Doug
 
Since your AV NEVER burned oil, I would lay a bet down that the tech at the dealership did not fill it all the way. Sounds like he forgot a quart (or TWO!!!!)

Maybe the bulb in the under hood light is loose or burned out. I have a hard time finding my light under there.

Don't rub it in that it was deleted in '03 :8:
 
not to burst anyone's bubble... i had an '02 that was burning oil as well, and i attempted the PCV change as well. when removed the old PCV valve the numbers on the it matched the numbers on the new one. :E: why was mine burning oil if i had the new one already? never found out why. i just started addig Lucas Oil Stabilizer to help with burnoff. it helped quite a bit. don't get me wrong, the oil comsumption was still present, but it was not nearly as much between changes. this made me feel a little more secure. i just ended up trading the thing. that obviously was not something i wanted to deal with in the long run when she out of warranty.
 
Oil burning in the GM vehicles is a very frustrating discussion---most donnot burn any, while others do it continually.

The Av 2500 with the 8.1 L engine is a prime example.

We used 5w30 dino initially no burning for first 6000 miles!

Switched to 5w30 Synthetic--burned 1 qt in 300 miles

Tried 10w30 Syn--burned 1 qt per 1000 miles

Am on an oil watch with GM using 10w30 Dino--they would not use a Synthetic oil.

Why would this change after the breakin period when it burned no oil--not uncommon with GM engines apparently!

WE now have 16000 miles on the engine--am thinking that 15w 40 Synthetic would be the answer at temps above 20 F?

This discussion will go on as long as engines are made??

EXPECT ANYTHING AND CHECK THE ENGINE OIL AT EACH GAS FILL!!

Clare
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top