MajorCommonEngine

Holden Statesman: Oil consumption (5.7 LS1 V8, early WH Statesman)

Oil consumption (5.7 LS1 V8, early WH Statesman) is a common engine fault on the Holden Statesman on the 1999–2003 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 13 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: 1999–2003
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 faults13 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 V8 in early WH Statesman models is known to use oil; Holden treated up to 2.5 litres per 10,000 km as acceptable, and the piston and ring design was later changed. Oil use comes from the pistons and rings rather than the valve seals, so check the oil level before buying and ask whether the engine has been rebuilt. A blue haze from the exhaust under load, oily spark plugs or an oil level well below the full mark after a short run all point to an engine using more than it should.

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 oil consumption (5.7 ls1 v8, early wh statesman) serious on a Holden Statesman?

We rate it major and common on the Holden Statesman. The 5.7 LS1 V8 in early WH Statesman models is known to use oil; Holden treated up to 2.5 litres per 10,000 km as acceptable, and the piston and ring design was later changed. Oil use comes from the pistons and rings rather than the valve seals, so check the oil level before buying and ask whether the engine has been rebuilt. A blue haze from the exhaust under load, oily spark plugs or an oil level well below the full mark after a short run all point to an engine using more than it should.

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 1999–2003 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.