MajorCommonEngine

Holden Monaro: Oil consumption and cold-start piston rattle (5.7 LS1 V8)

Oil consumption and cold-start piston rattle (5.7 LS1 V8) is a common engine fault on the Holden Monaro on the 2001–2004 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $300 to $9,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 6 documented faults on the Holden Monaro.

Vehicle: Holden Monaro
Engine: 5.7L / 4.2L / 5.0L / 5.3L / 6.0L / 6.2L / 6.6L / 7.0L
Years: 2001–2004
Fuel: petrol
System: Engine

This page covers the Holden Monaro as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Holden Monaro faults6 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph for this fault yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of something else.

What goes wrong

The 5.7 LS1 Gen III V8 in the 2001 to 2004 Monaro CV8 is a known issue for high oil consumption and a light metallic piston rattle when cold. Holden said about one in five engines were affected and rebuilt problem engines under warranty with Teflon-coated pistons and tighter piston to bore clearance, but some owners report the problem returning and some engines were rebuilt more than once. Ask for warranty or rebuild records. No recall applies.

What you would notice

Light metallic rattle from the engine when cold that fades as it warms
Oil level dropping between services, up to several litres
Blue smoke on hard acceleration

How to check it

Where to look. Engine pistons and rings

Start the engine stone cold and listen for a light metallic rattle that fades as the engine warms.
Check the dipstick with the car on level ground, because the shallow sump can give a misleading reading on a slope.
Ask how much oil is added between services and whether the engine was rebuilt under Holden warranty with new pistons.
If a workshop inspection is possible: have a compression or leak-down test done and oil pressure checked from cold.

What it costs to put right

$300 to $9,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“Has the engine been rebuilt or had new pistons under Holden warranty?”
“How much oil does it use between services?”
“Does it rattle on cold starts?”

Now check the Holden Monaro you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in the sources below. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them.

Holden Monaro buyer questions

Is oil consumption and cold-start piston rattle (5.7 ls1 v8) serious on a Holden Monaro?

We rate it major and common on the Holden Monaro. The 5.7 LS1 Gen III V8 in the 2001 to 2004 Monaro CV8 is a known issue for high oil consumption and a light metallic piston rattle when cold. Holden said about one in five engines were affected and rebuilt problem engines under warranty with Teflon-coated pistons and tighter piston to bore clearance, but some owners report the problem returning and some engines were rebuilt more than once. Ask for warranty or rebuild records. No recall applies.

How much does it cost to fix on a Holden Monaro?

$300 to $9,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Holden Monaro years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2001–2004 Holden Monaro. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.

How do I check for it before I buy?

Start the engine stone cold and listen for a light metallic rattle that fades as the engine warms. Check the dipstick with the car on level ground, because the shallow sump can give a misleading reading on a slope. Ask how much oil is added between services and whether the engine was rebuilt under Holden warranty with new pistons. If a workshop inspection is possible: have a compression or leak-down test done and oil pressure checked from cold. Look here: Engine pistons and rings