2013 GMC Sierra 1500: Excessive oil consumption
Common wear/failure (not a recall)
Symptoms
Owners of the 2013 Sierra 1500 report: excessive oil consumption. CarComplaints.com lists 2 owner complaints, average mileage 61,000 miles.
NHTSA has 11 owner complaints for the 2013 Sierra 1500 in this area. Examples:
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11687166 (filed 09/14/2025): “On 9-12-25 i was pulling a utility trailer when i went to back it in the driveway my 2013 gmc 1500 5.3 stalled . i restarted it only to have a lifter claddering !!!! i checked the oil it was good ! oil pressure was good not over heating . it is just the lifter…”
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11549542 (filed 10/12/2023): “The contact owns a 2013 gmc sierra. the contact stated that on several occasions while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost power. the check engine warning light was illuminated. the vehicle veered to the side of the road and was restarted. the vehicle …”
Likely causes
Sources do not establish a single root cause; diagnosis is needed. Owner-reported fixes are listed below.
Fix, in plain English
Most common owner-reported solutions on CarComplaints.com: replace lifter and cam (1 reports). Check for open recalls and extended warranty coverage with a dealer before paying out of pocket.
DIY difficulty: Pro
Internal engine work (lifters, oil consumption, fuel dilution diagnosis) requires engine teardown or dealer software/tests. (Our assessment.)
Cost
CarComplaints.com owners report a typical repair cost of about $4,000 (owner-reported average, not a quote).
Typical parts (search links, no affiliate codes)
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