Why does my Buick LaCrosse 2.4 keep running low on oil?

Short answer: The 2.4-liter four-cylinder in the 2010–2013 LaCrosse (including eAssist) is known for burning oil. GM's bulletin 13-06-01-003H tells dealers to run an oil consumption test and, if the engine uses more than a quart every 2,000 miles, replace the pistons and rings. GM also says to clean out the PCV system, including a tiny orifice in the intake that clogs. Owners say cleaning that orifice made a big difference on some cars.

Symptom: The oil level is low before the next change, the low-oil light or oil-life monitor nags, a longer rattle at cold start when the oil is low, blue smoke, or a spark plug fouled with oil.

What to check first

1. Check the oil every fill-up on level ground, engine off for a few minutes. GM's bulletin says the dipstick notches aren't evenly spaced, and the stick can read empty when you're about 1.25 quarts low.
2. Write down how much you add and when. The dealer needs a consumption rate for the bulletin.
3. Ask the dealer for the oil consumption test under bulletin 13-06-01-003H. Coverage depends on your car's warranty status.
4. Have the PCV orifice and hoses cleaned. It's part of GM's bulletin and the cheapest thing to try.
5. Pull a spark plug if the engine misfires. An oily plug confirms oil burning.

Likely causes

1. Piston rings that let oil past (GM bulletin 13-06-01-003H). GM's fix is new pistons and rings once a test shows more than a quart every 2,000 miles.
2. Clogged PCV orifice or hoses. The crankcase vent clogs with sludge or ice and pushes oil into the intake. GM says to clean the orifice with a 1/16-inch drill bit.
3. External oil leaks. GM's bulletin says to rule out leaks first.

What it usually costs

Owners in these threads didn't post dealer prices for the piston-and-ring job. Cleaning the PCV orifice costs little more than your time. A quart of oil every 1,000–1,500 miles adds up, but the bigger risk is running the engine low.

Is it safe to keep driving?

Yes, as long as you keep the oil full. Running it low is what damages the timing chain and the engine, and the dipstick can hide how low it is. Check it often. Verify with a mechanic.

DIY or shop?

DIY for oil checks and PCV cleaning if you're comfortable. Dealer for the oil consumption test and piston-and-ring repair.

Recalls, bulletins and complaints in plain words

• No recall covers oil consumption on the 2010–2013 LaCrosse 2.4L in NHTSA's recall data.
• GM bulletin 13-06-01-003H (Feb 2016; 2010–2013 LaCrosse and other GM 2.4L models): for excessive oil consumption, dealers run an oil consumption test. If the engine uses more than 1 quart every 2,000 miles, they replace the pistons and rings and service the PCV system. Ask about coverage for your VIN.
• NHTSA complaints: 200 keyword-matched complaints for Buick LaCrosse 2010–2013 (of 693 unique complaints queried, NHTSA complaints API by model year, queried 2026-10-20; keywords: oil consumption, burn(s, ing, ed)? oil, low oil, oil light, oil level, quart, piston, ring, timing chain).

What owners report

• In Topping off the oil by ear on Buick Forums, a 2013 LaCrosse eAssist owner at about 115,000 miles was adding a quart every 1,000–1,500 miles and had found one oil-fouled spark plug at about 90,000. He noticed the brief cold-start rattle lasted longer when the oil was low. A member said the 2.4's dipstick is very sensitive to slopes, so they check it on flat ground after 5 minutes. They also said drilling out the PCV orifice through the intake brought their oil use to almost nothing for 2,500 miles, with some risk of cracking the manifold.
• In Oil consumption on Buick Forums, the thread started with a 3.8 V6 LaCrosse, but a 2.4 eAssist LaCrosse owner said theirs uses two or three quarts between oil changes. Another member said the 2.4's worn piston rings are a different problem from the 3.8 and that GM issued special coverage replacing pistons on some 2011–2017 models.

My take

My advice as a former lube tech: on these 2.4s I always checked the oil before I touched the drain plug. More than once the car came in 2 quarts low with a full oil-life reading. Check it yourself every fill-up.

Vehicle focus: 2010–2013 Buick LaCrosse with the 2.4L four-cylinder, including eAssist (the same bulletin covers the Regal, Verano, Equinox and Terrain with the 2.4L).

Safety / mechanic note

Running the engine low on oil can damage it and cause a breakdown. Verify with a mechanic.