Holden Rodeo: High oil consumption and sludge-driven engine wear (3.5 V6 6VE1)
High oil consumption and sludge-driven engine wear (3.5 V6 6VE1) is a common engine fault on the Holden Rodeo on the 2003–2006 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $4,000 to $8,000 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 12 documented faults on the Holden Rodeo.
- Vehicle
- Holden Rodeo
- Engine
- 6VE1
- Years
- 2003–2006
- Fuel
- petrol
- System
- Engine
What you are looking at
No photograph available
What goes wrong
The 3.5-litre 6VE1 petrol V6 in the RA Rodeo is documented in Australia for burning oil between services. AustralianCar.Reviews records reports of high oil consumption and deteriorating oil quality wearing out the piston rings and bearings to the point of engine failure, and warns that tar in neglected oil can gum up the oil pressure switch so the warning light cannot be relied on. The engine shares its oil-control design with the smaller 6VD1 3.2, which had documented oil-ring drain blockage on the earlier TF Rodeo. An example run low on oil or serviced on long intervals can be close to worn out with nothing showing on the dash.
What you would notice
- Oil level noticeably lower at every check
- Blue-grey smoke from the exhaust on start-up or under hard acceleration
- Ticking or light rattle from the engine when hot
- Oil pressure light that never flickers even when the engine is clearly tired
How to check it
Where to look. Engine internals — piston oil rings and bearings; oil pressure switch on the block
Pull the dipstick: check the level and the state of the oil — black, tarry oil on a freshly advertised truck is the neglect flag.
Unscrew the oil filler cap and look underneath it for baked-on sludge.
Watch the exhaust on cold start and again under hard acceleration on the test drive for blue-grey smoke.
Ask for service invoices and look for oil top-ups between services or shortening change intervals.
If a workshop inspection is possible: an oil pressure check with a mechanical gauge shows the true pressure (the factory switch can be contaminated and lie), and a compression test will show how much ring life is left.
What it costs to put right
$4,000 to $8,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.
Ask the seller
- “How much oil does it use between services?”
- “How often has the oil been changed, and are there invoices?”
- “Has the engine ever been rebuilt or replaced?”
Now check the Holden Rodeo 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.
Where this comes from
- AustralianCar.Reviews — Recalls & faults: Holden RA Rodeo utility (2003-08), '3.5L V6: oil consumption'
- Australia 4WD forum (Rodeo, Colorado and DMAX Technical) — 'RA 2003 V6 6VE1 engine using oil' thread
- Australia 4WD forum — 'Rodeo 3.5 V6 engine oil consumption' thread
Holden Rodeo buyer questions
Is high oil consumption and sludge-driven engine wear (3.5 v6 6ve1) serious on a Holden Rodeo?
We rate it major and common on the Holden Rodeo. The 3.5-litre 6VE1 petrol V6 in the RA Rodeo is documented in Australia for burning oil between services. AustralianCar.Reviews records reports of high oil consumption and deteriorating oil quality wearing out the piston rings and bearings to the point of engine failure, and warns that tar in neglected oil can gum up the oil pressure switch so the warning light cannot be relied on. The engine shares its oil-control design with the smaller 6VD1 3.2, which had documented oil-ring drain blockage on the earlier TF Rodeo. An example run low on oil or serviced on long intervals can be close to worn out with nothing showing on the dash.
How much does it cost to fix on a Holden Rodeo?
$4,000 to $8,000 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 Rodeo years are affected?
Our research records this fault on the 2003–2006 Holden Rodeo. 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?
Pull the dipstick: check the level and the state of the oil — black, tarry oil on a freshly advertised truck is the neglect flag. Unscrew the oil filler cap and look underneath it for baked-on sludge. Watch the exhaust on cold start and again under hard acceleration on the test drive for blue-grey smoke. Ask for service invoices and look for oil top-ups between services or shortening change intervals. If a workshop inspection is possible: an oil pressure check with a mechanical gauge shows the true pressure (the factory switch can be contaminated and lie), and a compression test will show how much ring life is left. Look here: Engine internals — piston oil rings and bearings; oil pressure switch on the block