Has anyone heard of (or experienced) this issue w/ trucks newer than 2014 pertaining to people that don't drive it much?: I have had a '24 half ton for 12 months & have been having a problem. I have 3,420 miles on it. I drive it 9 miles daily (round trip) to work & that's about it. ~6 times in the past year I have driven it to a nearby town about 15-30 minutes away, otherwise it's just to/from work. I live a couple miles from town & only have 2 stop lights on my 4 1/2 mile commute. It rarely gets much above 50 MPH for > than a minute. I 1st noticed the issue a few months ago when the check engine light came on & it said something about rich fuel. The engine light went off on it's own later that day, but the MPG got progressively worse the past several months, causing frustration that some friends blamed on it being winter, unbroken in & a lightly driven vehicle. Sunday I went to start it & the warning light was flashing & it went into reduced power mode. I didn't drive it & I called the dealer Monday & they had it towed to the shop. Monday I got an Onstar email saying the battery was concerningly low. I checked the battery & sure enough it was way low. Other than that, the sole apparent issue (other than the bad gas mileage, which is a result of the issues mentioned in this paragraph) has been gas getting into the cylinders (based on what I figured out Tuesday from the dealer). The dealer pulled the dipstick & could smell gas (& the level was high). Thus the dealer changed the oil Tuesday (after having done so only 400 miles ago). The dealer was able to get the trouble codes to go away but says the problem is 100% due to my driving style/usage. They said every 3rd day I need to start putting miles on it. Basically I learned Tuesday that I bought a truck that I can't use unless I drastically change my ways. Is it me or the truck or..? I offered to trade it in for 1 of their other makes but they said I will have this issue w/ any truck newer than '14 (when direct injection started being put in all trucks). Granted we all know short trips aren't good for vehicles, I had never heard of this issue w/ direct injection causing excess gas in the oil of vehicles. Thoughts? I'm aware it's winter (cold), but there must be some folks out there that drive like I do. Thanks

I’m guessing it’s messing with an o2 sensor by idling around.

I don't let it idle more than about the time it takes me to put on my hat/gloves & remove the windshield cover.

I should have mentioned that at least once/week I drive it to my neighbors house, less than 1/2 mile away.

The thing is your not driving hard to heat the o2 sensor up to keep it clean, or there’s an exhaust leak so there’s too much oxygen in the exhaust and it’s adding gas to compensate.

Hmmm.. I hadn't thought of that.

You need to take that truck out and let it get up to operating temperature and maintain highway speeds for a half hour or so, with all the sensors and everything on them now you can't drive them the way you are, you are destroying your truck by babying it. As the old timers around here used to say you have to blow the soot out of them every now and then, what they meant was every now and then you need to stomp that accelerator when you start and get up to highway speed as fast as possible to clean out the particulate in the engine and exhaust. I seriously doubt that most days your truck ever gets to operating temperature before you shut it down.

With your battery low

You're not running it long enough for the alternator to charge the battery.

More starts than miles.

I'm thinking you are onto something K9.


2 nights ago I started plugging in the block heater w/ a timer set to come on ~4 1/2 hrs before I head to work.

Also, I put cardboard on the grill Tuesday night (but then Wed my co-worker said my truck has automated louvers so I should remove the cardboard winter grille front).


I'm trying to get this figured out before I do long term damage.


Those of you that plan on upgrading to a truck 2014 or newer for you or a family member (or as a 2nd vehicle) that don't drive much might want to follow this thread & learn so you don't run into this issue that is bogging me down.

3 miles each way you need a bicycle. 20 minutes easy. drive the truck when you need to go somewhere.

Direct injection sucks. The fuel doesn't wash the intake valves like an older engine. That causes lots of carbon build up. Newer trucks suck unless you can afford to trade em in every 3 or 4 years.

What brand and engine?

Rev it up to about 4500 rpm for 3 minutes before you shut it off. Let it idle down then shut it off. If it has auto start on it turn it off each time you use it.

I'd burn or syphon the stale fuel out.
A trap line comes to mind.
If no help, burn that novel you typed and see
a different dealer. Tell them it's not right and that's all.
If they say blah blah tell them you want it gone.
You did not pay all this to drive a turd.

Dang puter sensored bleep bleeps lol.
Stale fuel.

Doesn’t it have a warranty? Running a vehicle with gas in the oil is like running honing oil.

Buy a hybrid and sell your truck. You would do better with an old beater even. 3,500 miles a year the truck is like mouse trapping with double longsprings.

Fifth of whiskey and a blacktop middle of the no where road. Drive it like you stole it and seat the rings.

Exactly!

Drive it like you stole it was never an induced state of mind for me..

Silverado 1500 2.7L Turbo.

I asked the dealer about trading it in for a different model GM too, and they said direct injection as it relates to my driving style is the issue, nothing to do w/ the model or engine type they said. Note: this dealer sells new Rams, Ford & Chevrolet. Large, established reputable dealership. That said, I'm not saying any dealer is perfect. I would be open to having another dealer look at it if the Check Engine light returns. I'm trying to change my driving style to avoid future problems.

Yes, I was able to get the warranty to cover it.

Actually, it has a Lifetime engine warranty.