Class Action Lawsuit Claims GM 5.3L V8 Engines Burn Oil
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A recent class action lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court in Ohio claims General Motors‘ 5.3-liter LC9 V8 engine burns high amounts of oil and has other design flaws that could lead to engine damage.
The suit alleges the 5.3L V8 engines found in a number of 2010-2014 model year GM vehicles have flawed piston rings that don’t maintain tension well enough to keep oil in the crankcase. Additionally, the PCV system may vacuum engine oil out from the valvetrain and expel it into the intake, where the oil is then taken in and burned in the combustion chambers.
The active fuel management compounds the oil burn problem, as well. The system uses an oil pressure relief valve that sprays oil directly onto the piston skirts, but this oil spray can allegedly overload the piston rings, leaking past the rings and burning off, or accumulating on the surface of the combustion chamber and causing carbon buildup. Furthermore, the plaintiff says the oil monitoring system will not inform the driver about the low oil levels, so some owners may not be aware when the engine runs low on oil.
These issues can lead to spark plug fouling, ring wear, lifted collapse, bent pushrods, camshaft wear, valve wear, rod bearing wear, rod breakage and other major failures in the engine, the class action suit claims.
According to Car Complaints, GM told dealerships to carbonize the rings and combustion chambers of affected vehicles, but it did not remedy the problem. GM also apparently knew about potential problems with the engine as far back as 2007, based on consumer complaints and Technical Service Bulletins it issued. The TSBs indicate the problems are caused by PCV issues, piston rings and the active fuel management system.
GM redesigned its 5.3-liter V8 engine after the 2014 model year, using redesigned piston rings and adding a shield to deflect oil away from the piston skirts. The newer versions of the engine also feature an oil level sensor and new valve covers. Vehicles involved in this class action were all built between 2010 and 2014. They include:
- 2010-2013 GMC Canyon
- 2010-2013 GMC Savana
- 2010-2013 GMC Sierra
- 2010-2014 GMC Yukon
- 2010-2014 GMC Yukon XL
- 2010-2014 Chevrolet Avalanche
- 2010-2012 Chevrolet Colorado
- 2010-2013 Chevrolet Express
- 2010-2013 Chevrolet Silverado
- 2010-2014 Chevrolet Suburban
- 2010-2014 Chevrolet Tahoe
The plaintiff in the lawsuit is looking to represent current and former owners or lessees of affected vehicles in the United States that have experienced similar problems. The case is Szep v. General Motors LLC (Case No. 1:19-cv-02858) and was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.
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Source: Car Complaints
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“ Some owners may not be aware when the engine runs low on oil“
Sounds like the dipstick is not checking the dipstick.
When GM goes bankrupt the next time, remember it was do the fact that in order to get customer support you had to sue !
In my opinion.
GM after all has ZERO customer support !!
I’m curious.
What in the terms of this case is excessive oil use.
I see complaints on oil use where some are less than 1000 mile and some complains one quart in 6000 miles.
The main issue is the PCV system as it will suck up some oil. GM has install a new box on most engine that works as a catch system that puts the oil back into the oil valley and engine not the intake. Wit DI it has created carbon issues on some intake valves on some engines. If driven hard it is not as much an issue but if just putting around town it can build up.
Running low on oil should not be an issue if you check it as recommended since this engine runs on 6 quarts of oil.
On the other hand carbon could be an issue.
All engines use a bit of oil. This is how valve guide are lubricated. But depending on the engine adding a quart may at may not be normal.
In the old days most engine leaked a qt about every 1500 miles in most engines.
I own a 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 Crew Cab. I just rece6had to replace the oil pump due to the pressure relief valve sticking in the open position thus causing very minimal oil pressure. Maybe had two to three psi on oil pressure and alarms going off on instrument panel. Started the repairs by removing oil pan to get to the o-ring on the pick up tube. That didn’t fix, changed Sending Unit relay and still no deal. So hardest last and it ended up saving me probably close to $3000 in parts and labor costs. If I would qualify to be involved in this suit let me know.
GM and their continual issues. You would think that a company that is so obsessed with selling trucks and SUV’s would at least make some attempt to improve quality since this is soon all they will have. Yet here we are with oil burning 2.4’s, 5.3’s, 8 speed automatics with shift quality issues, troublesome 9 speed automatics, recalls, vibrating Silverado’s and Sierra’s and the list goes on and on.
Oil consumption should have been an issue solved. 60+ years ago. Any engine burning excessive oil in 2019 is POORLY designed.
If GM is too stupid to get a v8 right after putting the first push rod v8 in a everyday car like the 55 Chevy they deserve to go broke and not be BAILED OUT AGAIN
I have a 2013 Avalanche with a 5.3 engine. Between oil changes the engine will burn a little over one quart of oil. I use a full synthetic oil and change oil when the computer says to change oil. I have three other GM vehicles with different engines that do not burn any oil. In todays engines with tolerances that the engines are built to there should be no oil burn. So for an engine to burn this much oil over approximately 6000 miles means something is wrong. It is no big issue adding the oil but the concern is what happens over say 250,000 miles. I now have 100,000 miles on the engine and there has been no change in the oil usage since the day I got the vehicle. If it continues this way for another 150,000 miles it will just be a nuisance but my concern is that it could lead to a major repair.
i would not listen to the oil minder 6 months 6000 miles
Literally sounds like people don’t know how to change their oil before or at three thousand miles or don’t know how to look at their oil pressure gauge lol and it takes 10 seconds to check the dip stick before it gets to low. And if your burning to much oil because it’s going past the rings it just sounds like you need some new Pistons
I bought my 2001 Tahoe with the 5.3L engine new and have personally changed the oil religiously every 5000 miles. I use only Quaker State 10W-30 MOTOR oil – no synthetic here, and from day one, I pour 6 quarts in and only get 5 back. Some might say that the extra quart is in the filter, but I pierce the bottom of the filter prior to removal to aid in drainage, so the filter is empty when it comes off. On the rare occasion that I miss my 5000 mile mark, the message center has come on between 5500 – 6000 miles to let me know the oil level is low. Checking the dipstick reveals it’s 1 quart low. I now have +408,000 miles on this truck and the original engine is still running as strong as ever. I don’t know about the newer engines, but the older 5.3L V8’s are bullet proof.
How do I get on board with them to file a suit, I just recently had to rebuild my engine because of this
Intersested. High oil use and repeated plug fouling due to bad rings (#7 cyl)
How do I enter this claim? 2013 Silverado, high oil use, repeated fouling of plug(#1 cylinder)
My ’13 Silverado does up to 7500 miles between oil changes, going by the OLM. The OLM does not check oil level, you have to do that yourself. Generally uses 1 quart in the OCI. When travelling and driving hard, may, but not always, uses about 8 ounces per 500 miles. I can see people having a low oil problem if they never check the oil.
My 2014 silverado burns approx 1 to 1.5 qts of oil in 4000 mi.
I have to add oil periodically.
Yes the same answers I get from the dealer , my oil consumption is just short of what the service bulletins show.NICE JOB GM
Of Course GM engines burn oil. Been that way since 1955 and the original SBC. Rather have a Chevy than a Ford. “Chevy” “Can Hear Every Valve Yacking” “Ford” “Found On Road Dead”. Your choice. Rather hear valves tack then be on the road dead.
Chevrolet = Shove it or leave it.
GMC = Garage Mechanic’s Companion.
Ford = Fix or repair daily.
2008 GMC Sierra uses 4 qt out of 6 EVERY 5000 MILES no leaks no smoke
My 2007 Silverado burns about 1.5 qts every 2500 miles. I check my oil often for this reason, and watch my gauge. Why is this Lawsuit limited too 2010 and above if they knew in 2007? Also have a recall on a Airbag, they they still havent fixed.
GM knew there was a problem in 2005 when I was taking my 2004 Silverado into the dealership for using and burning oil. GM claimed at the time that the motor had a cylinder with all the rings were aligned causing the oil problem and it would fix itself during the time of documentation the dealership closed and the records were lost. I still own the truck.
2009 Silverado 5.3litre never added oil between oil changes always at or above add when I change it and up to 16000km between changes always used full synthetic now has 185000km and never had a hiccup.
How does one join this lawsuit? I have oil burning like crazy. I add roughly 4 quarts full synthetic between oil changes. It’s only time before this truck dies.
Hi i got 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 5.3 comeing home it with in limp mode temperature pig out water in oil take intake hose off going air box full of oil running out sound like something bent in head spark plug back out one time only got 71000 mile it could been bulit in 2014 thank you randy Wells
I have a 2014 silverado with the famous 5.3l with fuel management.
And it uses oil 3/4 at in 3000 mi.
Just under GM specs now at 96000 mi.
All the dealer does is NOTHING BUT DOCUMENT
This is why I always run an oil catch can,duh.At each oil change I open the catch can container and it is always full,which is a 3oz. capacity.3 ounces might not seem like a lot but in the intake manifold and combustion chamber it’s a ton.The only thing allowed in a combustion chamber is air,fuel,and spark.The addition of oil increases the internal temperature and causes carbon build up on valves,etc.With ANY GDI engines this happens,some are worse than others,like the Hemi engines which typically expel 6 ounces per change interval.The valves are no longer being cleaned by fuel with particular regards to the back of the valves, meaning that all those cleaning agents that fuel makers claim are mostly irrelevant in GDI engines.Some vehicles are coming out with port and GDI,which is an admission to the GDI side effects.The 2019 Corvette ZR1 and Mustang Shelby GT500 have both.This will set off law suits against all GDI engine manufacturers, regardless of brand.
catch can recommended seafoam makes a do-it-yourself preventative valve cleaner or see your dealers service dept.
Explain why I have a collapsed lifter, potentially bad piston rings and had a bad oil pressure sensor? I checked my oil twice a week on average and changed my oil every 3,000 to 4,000 miles. I get that the oil pressure sensor will always go bad, but what makes that okay? You cannot prevent that. Just like the problem with the cylinders used during AFM misfiring due to (usually) a collapsed lifter. This is something you should not have to monitor. I got a misfire on 4, stabilitrak light and traction control light. Changed my oil pressure sense and checked the spark for 4. All issues caused by AFM and its issues. This weekend I am going ro try and free up the lifter and hopefully it works; otherwise, I will be changing it.
So, place blame on GM. Especially, since they knew it was an issue all along. They tried to fix the issues regarding this in new trucks without disclosing there ever being an issue. Seems like a cover up. But, yeah. The thousands of people complaining about the same issues must not have been checking their oil.
see youtube on how to free up lifter if it frees up you must disable AFM changing lifters requires pulling heads
I have a 2018. 5.3 Sierra. Dam thing burns a quart every 2000 miles. Tully GMC tells me this is within the allowable range. BS. Oh ya So I asked the tech what my oil pressure should be Hie answer. Any were between 0 and 80. ☹️ Such BS