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Pics Of My Smoking Av

A bit of an update on mine
I had had no problems until about 2 months ago. At that time the oil level light came on. Sure enough very low on oil. Key point here was this was the longest between changes, about 2500 miles and the first time there was a large amount of highway driving.
I went to the service department and got the royal run around and the old oil test number becasue they could see nothing wrong. The service desk guy really blew me off (others at the dealership did not)
THen I found this thread on the site and gathered up a bunch of details and fired it at them. That put most of the BS to an end ;D God, I love this site.
So the decision was to run it to the next oil change. I watch the level and for the next 2500 KM the oil level did not move (1.6 km to the mile) Then I went on a round trip of 750 km (375 one day, 375 three days later)
In the word of Gomer Pile, Surprise, Surprise!! Oil stick down two notches, which just proved what we were trying to tell them. Needed to be extended highway speed driving.
So A new PVC valve was put in. They had to steal one off one of the ones on the lot (told them it had to be from a black one >:D they believed me for a minute) which tells me any made recently have the new valve in them already.
The tech who worked on the truck commented about how different the two parts were.

So, I leave for a similar trip soon, will post the results.
 
I had this problem and know a (if not the) solution. (I did not have time to read the entire thread, so I am posting my experience even though it may be a repeat.

My Av used about 1.75 quarts of oil in 2000 miles when I took it in to my dealer. The found no leaks and no PIs or bulletins for the Avalanche. They topped off the oil and decided to continue testing the next oil change in about 1000 miles.

I took it back in and it had used .5 quarts since last visit. This time, they search for bulletins under Chevy CK pickup and found the PCV bulletin. This is a very new bulletin and the replacement PCV had to be sent directly from Detroit. It is a fixed orafice PCV. I have had no smoke and no oil use since.

Kevin
 
One more thing...

jackalanche wrote:
The oil consumption - PCV valve TSB is #01-06-01-029 DEC 01 Engine - Higher Than Expected Oil Consumption"

This is the bulletin they found to correct my oil problem. 01-06-01-029A.


Kevalanche
 
Easy BBA, better to find out about the problems before they become worse or you end up injured because of something you didn't know about
 
Chill out BBA i have not seem a bad word about the Avalanche on this board. Your are right it is the best usv on the road today. It is not much fun when you take some of your friends out to see your Avalanche and you start it up and a BIG cloud of Smoke comes out of the Dual exhust. My Av is in the shop right now 5 days so far this time. And you dont want to know what they gave me a a loner.
 
I noticed the smoke for the first time this weekend. I was towing a 21' ski boat for about 2 hrs at 70 mph. I launched the boat as normal, when I returned about 4 hours later, tons of smoke. I think I have about 13500 miles and this is the first time I have noticed the problem. I drive 30 miles each way to and from work, I will be checking again after the drive today.
 
went by 2 dealers. One talked about the PCV valve and
so fort.

The dealership where I brought the truck still claim
have never heard of this problem. No TSB so no
problem must exist.

They did read the link to this post and said that the
owners are probably cause to many of these problems.
These websites just start something that has
nothing to do with a problem on the truck another
words you guys are just dreaming this up !!!!!!!

Since the 5.3 is not that big of engine it works harder
(you are pushing it too much) so comsumes more oil.
A quart in 2000 is totally within GM limits. The guy
is so full of it was getting funny. If mine gets worse
will go to the other dealer and will have some
choice words for GM on this "EMPLOYEE" and firm.
 
After one week in the shop i think that they finally have it fixed. they sealed the baffles in the valve covers and put in the new pcv valve. NO smoke so far :love:
 
WHVT01, I would not wait. I'd tuine the guy up right now. Get a GM satisifaction survey. Not sure how detailed they are reviewed, but I can tell you negative reports impact the selection of cars they get.

kiteOregon. I don't think your next tests will tell you much. My experience was that it needed to be more than 30 miles to have the problem show it's head. If I just drove around town for 3000 miles things would look fine. It took more extended highway driving.

An update on mine. I got a bit of a runaround from the delear at first, but unlike whvt01's encounter, when I put the details together from this site they took things in a much better approach.
On the first try (pre web details) they did the old oil dye test :6: I drove around town, nothig. I took one trip which was 350k (about 200 miles) each way spread over two days. At the end of this the oil stick level was down two notches. THat was all I needed. Back I went. There was a little push back but not much. THey talked to GM who said to put new pc valve in. They had to borrow one from a truck on the lot. This is important*** Any trucks made in 02 likely already have the smaller pv value in them. All the ones on the lot did.

Since then I've made the same trip with no change in oil level. Right now I am typing from hotel room 1/2 through another trip. There will be a third trip in about 2 weeks. So after that I will post an update.
By the way, the dealer is interested in the results as well so they can save their other customer agrivation. ;D
 
one year and 27.000 miles later, up pops the neiborhood smoke out problem. In the back of my mind this topic comes back to the surface.

While in for an oil change at the dealer, i bring up the smoker issue, he says we have to do an oil consumtion test first. I say thats bs and want my truck to stop smoking. He says my way or the highway. Well he was cool about it, though his hands were tied.

$2.88 over in parts I bought a new pcv valve an put it in myself. She hasn't smoked since. BTW I had the old style to be replased in the tsb. The TSB he found was for the trucks with 5.3's and at the bottom of the page it listed the AV, trucks, and EXT's go figure
 
Mine used to smoke :rolleyes: Had the dealer put in a PVC valve. I would say it stopped smoking 99%. But that 1% happens from time to time :cautious:. You know there's always a crowd around when it does happen. And you can't dupicate it when you bring it to the dealer :p
 
New style fixed oriface PVC Valve (type CV2001-C)
part # 12572717


replaces spring and plunger style PVC valve (type 948-C)

1999-2002 chev+gmc c/k models
2002 Cad Escalade

4.8 L, 5.3L or 6.0L

Document ID # 892712 >:D
 
Think my Av has fallen prey to this as well. I have seen it smoke twice. Once after backing it into the garage after a 20 minute drive home. the other, after it had been started and driven about a mile. In my passenger mirror, I could see it puffing away. Just like it does in the winter when the engine is still cold. As soon as I accelerated, it went away.

Further proof: the tailpipe is sooty black inside and around the last 1/2" of pipe.

Looks like I have to officially visit the dealership now. I'll have them check the radio as well (loosing time thread).

Jamie ?:mad:
 
Been hesitant to post. Changed the PVC and so far
no smoke (knock on wood). Can see how it would
be hard for something to go into the pin hole.

Now the tail pipe opening is still sooty so don't know if
still burning but maybe not a much ?????
 
I do not have my AV yet, but it will be coming soon. I am currently in a 01 TA with 10,500 miles on it and a cracked cylinder block. The dealer and GM refused to replace it stating that I was racing the vehicle when the block cracked. I went to BBB arbitration and everything. I am now having to pay to fix myself and filing suit with the attorney general.
With that in mind I now have a wealth of experience in dealings like this. Not to mention 20+ years of wrenching on vehicles. The bottom line on this smoking problem is that no, it is not common on a new engine or at all and if the dealer that you go to does not have a technician trained to understand this and repair this properly the first time then take it to another dealer because this dealer has obviously hired pea brained idiots to take care of their customers. This is a definate reflection on the management of that dealership.
Ive also read alot of posts regarding GM buybacks on the AV. Congrads to those who get their money back.
My personal opinion on GM products is that they are good products and that most MFG's are going to have some problems, but it seems that over the last 10 years and the 5 GM vehicles that I have owned, that the service and product that GM has delivered has been less than adequate than before. I remember when GM was top notch in every aspect. Its just not that way anymore, and very troubling to find a good reputable dealer. When you have trouble with a particular dealer like I had, GM will just grin and say "thanks for buying our product...sucker" I received absolutely no help from GM.
Why am I buying a AV then you might ask? Because Ive had even worse dealings with Ford, Dodge and Toyota hasnt come out with anything impressive (truck wise) in a while.
I hope I dont have to post any engine related problems once I get my AV and I hoep to talk to everyone later once I start adding on to my AV.

Brent
 
Anyone have the TSB numbers for the smoking issue? Just got my AV a week ago and it has smoked a couple of times now so I want to get as much information as I can. Going to the dealer this week. They said they have not heard about the smoking AV's.

TIA
 
I would like to thank everyone for the information in this thread. I have an AV with 18K miles on it and it WAS burning ~2 quarts every 2K miles. Thanks to the PCV valve it dosn't smoke anymore.

I have attached a excerpt of an Eaton company newsletter that addresses the actual problem. Some engineer probably got a big raise for the PCV Valve redesign! Imagine a recall on the valves!
 

Attachments

  • AVValves.pdf
    6.5 KB · Views: 9
I agree, this forum is great. I bought my AV about 3 weeks ago now and had the smoking problem.

After reading through the list I armed myself with photos of it smoking and called the dealer. Believe it or not he said he heard of it and it was the PCV value. Just had it changed and so far so good. He told me to let him know if it smoked anymore becuase he was to report on this as they want to make sure they are eliminating the problem.

He loved the pictures and asked if he could keep them. I said know problem (I can print as many as I want on my computer).

Thanks to all those who posted on the smoking issue!
 
2000+ miles since the PVC change, ?oil still on full and
no smoke. ?Getting ready for a long run, this will be a
test.

The selling dealership in San Antonio Texas Gunn
Chevrolet was of no help what so ever. ?Kimmel
acted like he was doing something constructive
but was a joke.

Ended up at Smith Chevrolet which acknowledged
the problem and told me they had the valve in stock.

:D: ?Gunn Chevy


Just got back from a long trip another 1500/2000 miles.
Oil is down to the half. No smoke. Ran the truck
at 75 most of time. Even a couple of sprints up to
the fuel shut off. So feel the PVC has helped.
 
My Av is at the dealer as we speak. I had the PCV valve replaced last week and the smoking got much worse. This is the third time I've taken it in for this. This is also the third time I've taken it in for pinging. They supposedly replaced the knock sensors last week and that got worse as well. Hopefully the third time will be the charm.
 
:eek: I saw the pics of your truck and for a moment I thought someone had repainted mine. Aside from the different truck color, the smoke is identical. My service advisor 'says' he is unaware of any problem similar to OURS. Yup, we did the oil consumption test every 1000 miles for 3,000. We determined it USED just over one quart of oil. They stated that wasn't too unusual to justify any further testing and still had no suggestions for the smoking at start-up. "Maybe the valves and/or rings are still getting seated". Well, 22,000 miles later it's still smoke'n at 60% of start ups and is still 'using' oil.
 
Ask your service advisor where he buys his dope and arrest him on the spot. ?Then, go to the service department manager and issue him a citation for hiring a dumbass. My dealer got one look at the smoke cloud and said, "That ain't right." Got any contacts at the Air Resources Board?

Tell them you want the PCV valve baffle sealed beneath the valve cover and a new style PCV valve installed. ?Search this thread for the TSB numbers.

My Av hasn't farted out a smoke cloud or used a lick of oil since.

Good luck.
 
Hey Blue,

Search this BB for info on smoking and print them out. Next take a picture of your smoking. With that in hand...
go back to the dealer and read them your rights!

It could be the valve seals, the PVC, or in my case the valve lifters, or one of two other possibilities. If they still don't respond, either find another dealer or contact Chevy directly.
No new engine is designed to smoke! No new engine is designed to use a quart of oil in 1000 miles!

Best of luck!
jst4f

Blue_Enforcer said:
:eek: I saw the pics of your truck and for a moment I thought someone had repainted mine. ?Aside from the different truck color, the smoke is identical. ?My service advisor 'says' he is unaware of any problem similar to OURS. ?Yup, we did the oil consumption test every 1000 miles for 3,000. ?We determined it USED just over one quart of oil. ?They stated that wasn't too unusual to justify any further testing and still had no suggestions for the smoking at start-up. ?"Maybe the valves and/or rings are still getting seated". ?Well, 22,000 miles later it's still smoke'n at 60% of start ups and is still 'using' oil.
 
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