I bought this truck 3 months ago and already have had it in the shop 5 times for sensors, u-joints and the biggest pain in the ass the oil consumption. I took it in after burning through 2 quarts within a month and all in city driving and the dealer stated that they would have to do a oil consumption test. I asked them what would happen during this test and they stated that the would need to document 3 incidents and then send the results to GM and wait for an answer how to fix it. So 3 weeks later the light came on again and I took it in and the dealer told me that it was only 1/4 quart down and that it was normal for the engine. I told them I didn't agree with that and said there was no way that the light would come on after a 1/4 quart and they tried telling me that it was sensitive. So 3 weeks later again the light is on again. I can't believe it's normal to add oil every three weeks to a 40+ thousand dollar vehicle. I want to get in a class action suit against gm so if anyone's doing it add me in.

I traded in a 2004 Ford Expedition because I thought it was time to upgrade for my wife and spent over 40k to get her a new luxury suv. The expedition never had a single problem over 70 thousand miles and this damn suburban has had nothing but problems from the get go. I have had the air condition sensor replaced, TPS sensor replaced, disconnected the wiper heater, replaced the rear u-joint, had it in the shop 7 times for a squeak from the front thats still not resolved and now the biggest problem the oil consumption. I bought this car and took it home and found the oil light on and it being down 2 quarts. I took it in and they said it was not normal and they (dealership) needed to do a oil consumption test. I asked them how that works and they said that they have to document 3 incidents and then they send it off to GM for a answer how to fix it. So 3 weeks after leaving the oil light came on so I took it back again and they said it was only a 1/4 quart low which is normal for the vehicle in which I called them out on it stating that I thought that was bs because the light would not come on after a 1/4 quart low and they said they would have to keep an eye on it and that it might be a sensor out. Unreal!!! That was 3 weeks ago and the light is on again so again I will have to take it in and listen to the same bs. I own 6 Chevy trucks and could not be more disappointed. If anyone is doing a class action please let me know so I can get on board.

I have owned Tahoes and Suburbans before and never had an oil light come on but shortly after purchasing my current suburban add oil light appears. The car was a quart low and continued to need oil every 2000 to 2500 miles. I continued to go to the dealership questioning this since I never had this on my previous vehicles and they just blew me off. Now, 40,000 miles later and many added quarts of oil the light is coming on between 1000 to 1500 miles. Chevy has now recognized there is a problem but they do not have the fix available yet. Basically I have bought a defective car and Chevrolet will not replace it. They just want to patch it . I would love to get rid of this car but now I can not morally sell it to someone else knowing it has this problem. Chevrolet should buy back these cars since it is a fault in their design

The oil consumption on my Suburban is getting to be a pain. It is my first Chevy and I wish I never got it. The truck went is 4 quarts low in 1500 miles. It burn more oil than the $500 dollar car I had in high school. I'm not going back to a case of oil in the back of the car. Never again.

Update from Sep 6, 2010: I have been going to the dealer for the oil consumption test. I have found that the dealer has been over filling the oil and not reporting the correct oil consumption. On the first test it had no oil use ( over filled). When I asked how much oil did you put in. Answer 5 qrt. Reply, that's funny I thought it took 6 to fill. It would be funny if it wasn't true. Then 1.5 on the second for 1800 miles. The tech changed the 1.5 to 1qrt. (test #2) and report 3/4 of a qrt on that test #3. Which was closer to a qrt. Next oil change I asked to see the stick and again it was over filled by about 3/4 of a qrt. How much did they put in no answer. I am now dealing with a customer care rep at GM. I'm done with the dealer. I will let you know what happens. What in the hell is the protocol for this test GM? Go Government Motors. It's all about getting the car under 1 qrt per 2000 miles. I get it, it's a math problem.

I HAVE BEEN READING ALL THE COMPLAINTS OF OIL USE ON THE SUBURBANS. I HAVE OWNED TWO OLDER ONES WITH NO OIL CONSUMPTION PROBLEMS AT ALL. IN FACT I USED MY 92 AS A WORK TRUCK AND OVERLOADED IT ON A REGULAR BASIS AND STILL USED NO OIL. I WAS WONDERING HOW FAR G.M WILL GO TO DENY THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE NEVER OWNED ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT USED OIL THIS WAY. HAS ANYONE BROUGHT UP THE IDEA OF A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT, MAYBE THIS WOULD FORCE G.M TO RECOGNIZE THIS PROBLEM. P.S MY BROTHER OWNS A 2000 GMC YUKON XL WHICH ALSO USES A 5.3 WITH 125000 MILES IT USES NO OIL AT ALL. THIS IS TOTAL CRAP.

I bought this suburban private party and 2 weeks after I bought it, the low oil light is going off. I think, oh crap! I bought a white elephant. I check around with some friends and family, all chevy heads, and they put me onto a chevy garage who'll look at it and they can probably fix it. They get it and check the emissions and find #2 and #6 spark plugs oily. They checked pcv valve in valve cover gasket, which you have to remove it to replace it. They say that usually it is the PCV valve but since the spark plugs were oily, they suspected something else. They fixed a couple of 5.3 all aluminum blocks ( mines all aluminum) by having chevy replace them under warrantee.

There is a bulletin not a recall about bad valves having pitting and bad valve springs. They will replace the heads, but you have to get a dealership willing to do it for you. The problem that I have is that I bought private party, and they don't want to work as nicely with me as one who purchased it through them. I have a couple of more attempts locally to get a dealer to fix, or else I put up the money myself or dump it.

This is my second suburban . I had a 1998 that my wife and I loved and we finally traded it off with almost 200,000 miles on it. That 5.7 cast iron block still never used more than a quart every oil change. I guess I got spoiled !! I think this 5.3 all aluminum is a big pile of crap and what is worse, chevrolet dealers don't want to pick up the obvious warranty issue!! I hope somebody out there knows a good chevy dealer who hasn't got a problem fixing chevy's junk! anyone want to buy a suburban? doesn't use very much oil, bought a quart every 900 miles! never need to change the filter! the oil stays new cause you're constantly adding to it! I did want to add one note, the dealership that wouldn't fix the heads, who had it scheduled it ,but the owner pulled the plug, said to keep track of the mileage and chart every time you add oil and keep calling customer care. I am doing that now and dilligently looking for a good dealer.

Oil consumption issue ranges anywhere from 1 quart in 500 miles to 1 quart in 2000 miles. The 1 quart in 500 miles occurred at highway speeds with a full load of people and luggage in summer temps. When the light in my head came on, the one that says I need to talk to the service department not the one on the dash that says check engine oil, I had just added a quart midway into a 500 mile trip to Minneapolis. On the 500 mile return trip I had to add another quart. Went to the local dealer and got the same magical "oil consumption test" and "replace left rocker cover gasket" as everyone else. Local dealer was one of those closed by Chevrolet so now I have to drive 50 miles roundtrip for my "magical oil consumption test." Every 1000 to 1500 miles per quart is the rule right now so I do have to say I have not seen the 500 mile per quart since the rocker cover fix.

This is my third Suburban and with only 65,000 miles I consider it hardly broke in compared to the others. My 1994 was traded at 165,000 miles and the 2002 was traded at 145,000. Never added a quart of oil between oil changes to either one of those vehicles. My driving habits have not changed so what gives. This has been going on for over a year and is really killing my brand/model loyalty. I’m about ready to take my chances with Toyota because I think I can turn off the key to stop my runaway vehicle or if that fails I can always call the cops to stop it for me.

Same oil consumption problems. Check engine light came on last month, they performed fuel injector rail service flush. Told them about the oil consumption, they told me it is nothing to worry about. Guys at Valvoline told me they see other Suburbans with the same issue & acted like it is no big deal, so I didn't do anything about it until now with the check engine light problem. Had car home from getting serviced at Chevrolet dealership for about a week and a half & the check engine light came back on. Today it started shaking & acting like it is going to quit at stop lights. Now it is back at the dealership for service. This is my fourth Tahoe/Suburban & have never had this problem before.

This is my fifth suburban. I have never had to add oil between changes. Now at approximately 1200 miles I will be down 1 qrt. of oil. They have replaced a valve cover on the left side of the engine. This engine has about 42,000 miles on it now. The dealer has been excellent and has covered everything from oil to a rental car. It seems to use more oil at high speed then just driving around town. I think if they would get some press like Toyota is getting maybe Government Motors (GM) would get the message. The problem is it is not a safety issue.

I took my vehicle to the local dealer and the first time the told me that the oil filter was not on tight enough, so they changed the oil and charged me for another oil change. The next time this happened they said that they check everything again and they didn't see a problem. A week later the add engine oil light came on again and they said that they overlooked that there was a bulliten on the oil sensor. 2 weeks went by and the light came on again they added dye to see what was burning the oil, then it came on again and they changed the heads. Now I am past the warranty by 500 miles and the add engine oil light is on again. The dealer wasted my time and now what do I do just keep adding oil. This is crap!

TWO QUARTS OF OIL LOSS IN 2000 MILES IS NOT ACCEPTABLE, ASK THE EPA! I have a 2007 Suburban LTZ. I have documentation that confirms that the excessive oil consumption problem has been present in this vehicle since it rolled off the showroom floor. After I bought the truck, I too discovered that it was using oil and proceeded to the dealer for the infamous oil consumption test that the truck failed. I later discovered that GM has known about this oil consumption issue since at least April 2007 (Tech Service Bulletin 07-06-01-007). I contacted the warranty department in August of 2009 and was not given any resolve at all other than "we are still researching the issue for a fix". If we continue to "wait" for a fix they (GM) can just keep stringing us all on until the warranty is over. The BS explanation that the dealers have been selling to many of us about Oil consumption being acceptable would make a heck of a case with the EPA given our recent efforts to green-up and save the environment. I can certainly help with any automotive technical issues (35 yrs of self taught auto repair experience) we just need someone with the appropriate knowledge of how to institute and/or follow through on a class action. New truck, new motor, doesnt matter, just fix it!

Just as many have already posted... I took my truck back to the dealer (2nd for this issue, previously replaced the oil level sensor.) this time they put dye in the engine. Now, 1500 miles later... oil level sensor comes on and I am 2 quarts low. This is very annoying. I am taking it back next week... I called the GM customer service line... not alot of help but at least I did report the problem to someone besides the dealership and they put a "flag" on my VIN number. No sure what that means... if anything.