Thinking of getting a 05 GMC 2500HD but this oil burning problem with the 8.1 is bothering me. It will be my daily driver which is 12 miles one way to work. Will be towing the fiver about 2-3 times a year and that's it.

Guess I would like to know what years do this and do you think maybe the 05's are fixed of this problem.

I'm ready to pull the trigger on something (or F250 V10) and I dont like hearing about a new truck burning oil and the dealer say it's normal.

It sounds like I had a oddball 8.1. Mine is a 01' the only time it used oil was the first 3000miles after the cam swap. After that it never used oil again. I did noticed that it looked like oil was seeping past gaskets into the intake ports.

It sounds like I had a oddball 8.1. Mine is a 01' the only time it used oil was the first 3000miles after the cam swap. After that it never used oil again. I did noticed that it looked like oil was seeping past gaskets into the intake ports. Not quite tierod, the 01 8.1 I had didn't use oil either (or not much to speak of) Maybe 1/4 quart in 3000 miles.....

hi there, i had a 03 sub 2500 with the 8.1 and it drank 2 quarts every 3000. gm replaced the the intake bolts for the problem, but had no effect. just traded it in for a 05 dmax dually. good luck.

I've got an 04 with the 8.1, 3800 miles and not a drop used by the truck. I changed the oil at 700 miles to Mobil 1 5W30 and then again at 3000 miles....not using a big of oil but the most between changes was 2300 miles....but it hadn't gone down on the dipstick at all. My service manager told me it was an issue on older models but that they hadn't seen any '04 or '05 models that burn/use oil.

I have a burb with the 8.1 and it burns maybe a quart every 5,000 miles, it has burt 2 in that time. I noticed that if the engine is worked hard.... it kinda 'sets' the motor and burns far less oil. However, the fellas I speak with that 'tootle' in their trucks ....... theirs burn far more oil. Donno why that is?

My 03 sub and I usually pulled 13000#'s 45% of the time.

We used to have a 2001 that burnt one quart between oil changes on one occasion, but only that one time. Not sure why. That was one bad @$$ truck, tons of power. We traded it in last christmas and the dealership called us after we got 2 ft of snow telling us how strong it was and how the owner of the dealership took it out and played in a cornfield with it. They said that it was the strongest truck they had on the lot. Just had wheels 285 bfg mud terrain t/a km tires on it, no power adders at all.

I've only got 1,023 miles on my 05 and it's not using any oil.

DEWFPO

........ money says, look after 15 or 20 and see what happens.

Wifey has an 02 yukon xl..... The thing burns a quart every 3,000 miles.....

Took it to the dealer, did the manifold bolt TSB, did the oil usage test, etc...... Dealer stands behind what GM says....it's normal...

Also have the knock on start-up......

Other than that no problems.....

I would not trade the power for a quart of oil every few months....

What do you pull with that thing?

If I run 5-30 in my '01 8.1 it will use about a qt. in 3000 miles. If I run 10-30 it uses about a 1/4 qt. in 3000 miles. If I run 15-40 it doesn't use any. IMO GM is reccomending 5-30 strictly in hopes of a MPG increase. The biggest problem with a dino 5-30 is that it shears out of grade too quickly and ends up being about a 5-20. I've read numerous oil analysis reports confirming this. The 10-30 is far more shear stable and a 15-40 like Delo 400 is a very stout motor oil,with good cleaning properties.

We're driving a big HD truck with a big engine.We need more than a 5w-30 to keep them happy.

41k miles uses 1 qt. per 2500 miles. Lower oil viscosities are pretty much for CAFE ratings(corporate avg. fuel economy) as 5w-30 is easier to move than 10w-30. Look at a new F#@$ gasser... 5w-20!!! I use 10w-30 valvoline because it's free for me.

I use 10w-40 valvoline.

Ran Mobil I in a 8.1 that I traded off last yr for diesel.. No problems with the unit whatsoever. It would use 1 qt on cross country runs traveling 75 mph. Guess total distance was in neighborhood of 2600 miles per trip.

Cross country runs.... Loaded or empty?

Use about 1 qrt. of Mobil 1 5W30 every 4000 miles.

I got a DMAX that is burning about 2 qts of oil every 3-4k, dealer isnt being very helpful. But im going to get to the bottom of this because i know its a fluke.

Had a '00 2500 4x4 2500 6.0 4L80E 3.73. Traded for a '03 2500HD 4x4 8.1 Allison 3.73. No contest. The Big Block is one fast truck! I ran 10w30 Valvoline for 63,000+ miles. Usually used a qt in about 2500 mi and I always changed it at 3000. Gas door wore out... Bought a '05 Dmax. Miss the acceleration off the line but on the big end there ain't no stoppin' the diesel!):h

My 8.1 burns about about 4 qts between oil changes, had the intake manifold bolts replaced, dont know what else to do, guess ill buy gas and oil...

But, i still love the truck!!!!!!!!

It is for sale though, anybody intrested?.. looking for a duramax......

Mine used 1 qt every 2000 miles. My loggin name says it all

Burner... you have a diesel or gasser?... either way get away from the 10w-40.... GM doesn't like it. Used to be in diesels(6.2,6.5) 10-40 would gum up rings some kind of bad, don't know about newer engines. 15-40 is the ticket in a diesel IMHO.

Ockgator.... I have both. Do you know what the Marine 8.1 runs for oil?

My 02 burns about 1 qt every 3k. If I'm towing, it gets worse. Use Castrol 5w30. Switching to Mobil1 10w30 next oil change. GM did an "oil consumption survey", and it burned 1 1/2 qts over 3k, when I was towing alot for desert season. They said it was normal. They chose not to deal with my sqeaky idler pulley, until the west coast regional service manager got a nice little voicemail.