Red Bearded Goat

Do you have a resume to go with your legal advise? It sounds like a lawyer looking for work, what color does that class action suit come in. After the letters fly, hiring representation follows and in the real world that costs money.

I read it as a simple letter advising owners to check their oil every fill up same as the owners manual already states with clarification that a specific driving condition "could" create excess oil consumption. The owners manual already advises GTO operators not to use the engine for braking as in down shifting to slow down. I believe you have over read the letter's intent.

As an engineer, I read it as reaffirmation to their position already in print as written in the owners manual and now they are provide a reason why (aggressive driving defined by 3000 RPM to redline) down shifting shouldn't be done. I could write a boring brief on the basic engine combustion cycle science with respect to the pressure, volume, time relationship expressed in RPM as found in the torque and HP curves for the 6.0 engine, and interpret what happens at 3000 rpm and above, but it will cause drowsiness. So I'll leave the Mr. Wizard explanation alone and provide a practical reason why. Crankcase pressures can differ between acceleration at a specific RPM and braking at the same RPM. Its caused by the pumping effect of the underside of the pistons. I believe they may have found in test bed trials the crankcase pressure variation causes the engine to consume oil when used as a brake. Under acceleration there is a free flow of exhaust and intake air flow is high, relieving under piston pressure in the crankcase via the PVC valve properly. Under deceleration, the opposite effect occurs with respect to exhaust flow and intake air, they decrease while under piston pressure is near constant or slightly increased for the same RPM and is the counter effect causing the engine to slow along with friction and cylinder compression. The under piston pumping rate being the same while the intake flow rate is decreased would cause the sump pressure to increase because some of the relieving effect is lost due to the decreased intake flow and force some sump oil to be pumped out the PVC and into the intake. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZ nap time's over.

Lastly, each state has their own consumer protection laws so your code you quote may not hold water in all 50 states or for that matter in any outside of your own. The letter wasn't sent certified, return receipt as notice of contract change (it was sent by Customer & Relationship Services, not legal), by sending a reply to GM as you advise you will put GM on notice of receipt of their letter, and loose plausible deniability that the letter was actually received should a dispute arise that would need to go to arbitration.

Red Beard

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Enjoy rug burn, support lap dancing!

 

Gotagoat

Mine doesn't use oil and although I drive very conservatively, I check it frequently. I assumed (the mommy of all screwups) the letter was a heads up so I read it and tossed it. As I used to have a Porsche that I drove very aggressively and ruined two engines, I'm riding with Red Beard's explanation and line of thought.

BlackSheep

I got my letter on Saturday and have already started looking at BMW's. I went looking on Saturday after the mail came. I am going to drop this thing before it gives me problems and they refuse to cover it under warranty. I figure that I should not have any problems with a new M3. If I get rid of this, I will never buy another GM vehicle again. That is all that I have owned in over 20 years of driving. I just can't believe that GM would do this to the consumers that bought the GTOs. They know that there is a problem and do not want to spend the money to fix it. So, they had an attorney draft up this letter and send it out to all of us so they will have a way out of not honoring the warranty. They figured that it was cheaper to do that. I do love this car, but do not want the problems. You should not spend $32,000 + and have to worry about things every time you jump into it.

Another bit of info. Just saw it on the news. GM was passed in sales by Toyota. Toyota is now #1 in the Auto market.

Red Bearded Goat

Yo blacksheep that looks like a very nice ride so take a chill pill or something. Its only a letter telling you to check your oil, same as the owners manual does. Nothing new, hear?

FYI, I worked in Germany in 98 for 6 months. Before you plop down 40 to 50k on the beamer after getting reamed on the trade in of the GTO, think of this,,,, their work force get loaded while on the job. Oh yea, Germans love their beer and bring it to work as a matter of routine. The art of engineering is bombed,, and you don't want to look into the maintaince requirements or service costs of the BMW, or electrical issues, oil leaks, transmission problems, bla, bla, bla. Try a Lexus, d'oh, that's a Toyota.

Also, if your driving a GTO and don't have a care in the world, your driving way too slow... the only thing I worry about in my GTO is the po po with a laser gun!

Red Beard.

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Enjoy rug burn, support lap dancing!

Red Bearded Goat

Gotagoat,
I just don't understand the histeria a stupid letter has generated.

2 engines in the Porsche, och! I have a couple friends that own Porsche's, a 911 and an old 912. I've driven both. The 911 is fast and fun in the turns, but each has probally spent more garage time then road time because of a mulitude of problems.

I could be wrong, but for go fast I believe the GTO is a better choice,,,, but the Porsche can handle the turns and that's what I like to do most. I'm not comfortable with my GTO yet (factory 18's) to take it to the edge of control on a set of S's.

Red Beard.

__________________
Enjoy rug burn, support lap dancing!

exwrx

UCC is UNIFORM CODE, applicable to all 50 state. Even GM can't escape legislation....though they often try. When they do, such as when they refuse to do Service/warranty work, or send out such letters, it's called Duress by Proficiency, which if severe enough ... constitutes Fraud. Fraud is theft by means of misrepresentation, or the legal acquisition or property in an illegal manner.

In lay man terms...."You are being robbed", the only difference here being that they sent you letter telling you that they're doing it.

Imagine me writing a letter with the opposite meaning, stating something along the lines of my impeccable driving habits, TLC of my GTO, care and service above and beyond the call of duty...etc.... and that GM therefore has to extend my warranty! Where would that go? Do you think GM would for even a fraction of a second take me serious? So why would you let them get away with taking from you something so precious as your car?

You're not taking this letter serious enough. It's my duty to worry and let you know what the legal implications of such documents are.

For the record, I'm not an attorney....yet!

exwrx

P.S.: Denying that it didn't come in the mail, isn't going to hold up. You might as well say that your dog ate it. They only have to make a reasonable effort. Same thing with service of suits or other legal actions. If I can't find you, I can serve you regardless by simply nailing it to your door, win my case and the only thing lost will be your right to a day in court. You have a fighting chance objecting. I won't be offended if you don't take my advice, just remember that I'll be there saying "I told you!" when GM won't fix your car.

I love how they state "aggressive". Just a ploy at the subliminal, picturing the reckless driver with a wanton heart and disregard for society. They couldn't say spirited or enthusiastic, as that would've sent the wrong message to the judge/jury. We are the evil drivers who broke their wonderful machine.

KC.MO.GTO

I'm so sick of gm and the oil problems that they have. I traded my gmc 2500hd four door pickup truck for my gto because it consumed two quarts of oil every 3000 miles and three quarts when used to tow a trailer. I dont care what any of you say this oil consumption Bull is for the birds and your fooling yourself if you think its normal. I have an oldsmobile with 250,000 miles on it and it does not consume any oil and I beat the crap out of it all the time. My point is if they used to build cars that did not consume oil why is it normal for gm cars to consume oil now. My gto does not appear to consume oil yet but I'm so turned off by the letter that I will never buy another gm product again. Oh ya all the fords and mopars Ive owned never consumed oil.

Gotagoat

I'm still with you, Red Beard. The letter is simply telling us to keep an eye on the oil level, which prudence would dictate anyway. If you're running it hard, check the oil level every fueling. GM isn't going to be able to refuse to work on your engine unless the damage is related to insufficient lubrication.
Yeah, the Porsche 911 was a blast but it spent alot of time in the shop and the bills were steep. However, I enjoy the GTO much more than I did the 911. As you mentioned, you can't toss it around like a Porsche but I still get my thrills in the mountains. And the grunt and sound of the LS2 is way better.
Incidently, I recently sold a BMW 528i which didn't use any oil until you started horsing it. Run it hard in the mountains and it would use a half quart in a tank of gas. Drive it like your mommy around town and it wouldn't use a drop between oil changes.

GTO 1

10W-30 oil would greatly improve this issue over 5W-30.