MajorCommonEngine

Holden Statesman: LS1 5.7L V8 Valve Stem Seal Oil Consumption

LS1 5.7L V8 Valve Stem Seal Oil Consumption is a common engine fault on the Holden Statesman on the 2000–2006 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $800 to $2,000 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 11 documented faults on the Holden Statesman.

Vehicle: Holden Statesman
Engine: 5.7L / 4.2L / 5.0L / 5.3L / 6.0L / 6.2L / 6.6L / 7.0L
Years: 2000–2006
Fuel: petrol
System: Engine

This page covers the Holden Statesman 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 Statesman faults11 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 LS1 5.7L V8 fitted to WH, WK, and WL Statesman suffers from hardening valve stem seals with age. Hardened seals fail to contain oil at the valve stem, allowing oil to be drawn into the combustion chamber, particularly on overrun. Oil consumption is progressive and can exceed 1L per 1000km on high-mileage examples. Replacement requires the engine to be in-situ with valve springs compressed individually.

What you would notice

Blue-grey smoke from exhaust on overrun after sustained highway driving
Blue smoke on cold start that clears after warm-up
Oil consumption above 500ml per 1000km
Fouled spark plugs with oil deposits on inspection
Oil smell from exhaust at operating temperature

How to check it

Where to look. Engine cylinder heads, valve stem seals on all 16 valves across two banks

Cold-start the engine and watch exhaust for blue smoke. After a highway run, lift off throttle and watch for puffing from exhaust. Check oil level and ask owner about consumption between services. Remove one or two spark plugs and inspect for oily black fouling on the tip.

What it costs to put right

$800 to $2,000 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

“What is oil consumption between oil changes?”
“Any blue smoke from exhaust, especially on start-up or overrun?”
“Has the engine had a valve stem seal replacement?”

Now check the Holden Statesman 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 published sources — owner forums, technical service bulletins, recall notices and workshop write-ups — held in our fault database. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them, and it is a starting point for an inspection rather than a manufacturer statement.

Holden Statesman buyer questions

Is ls1 5.7l v8 valve stem seal oil consumption serious on a Holden Statesman?

We rate it major and common on the Holden Statesman. The LS1 5.7L V8 fitted to WH, WK, and WL Statesman suffers from hardening valve stem seals with age. Hardened seals fail to contain oil at the valve stem, allowing oil to be drawn into the combustion chamber, particularly on overrun. Oil consumption is progressive and can exceed 1L per 1000km on high-mileage examples. Replacement requires the engine to be in-situ with valve springs compressed individually.

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

$800 to $2,000 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 Statesman years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2000–2006 Holden Statesman. 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.