Why the high oil capacity? - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

yotaman96 · 10-29-2008, 01:16 PM

Does anyone know why it takes 8.9 qts of oil for the LS3 on this car? Seems like a lot to me. I guess you wouldn't have to worry as much about the pump scavenging when you're in hard turns. That's going to be an expensive oil change especially if using synthetic.

headpunter · 10-29-2008, 01:25 PM

high performance engines get lots of oil....allows more time to cool the oil while not in engine and makes the oil last longer because it is under stress for shorter amounts of time.

dieseldave24v · 10-29-2008, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by headpunter

high performance engines get lots of oil....allows more time to cool the oil while not in engine and makes the oil last longer because it is under stress for shorter amounts of time.

Headpunter is correct. It actually only takes a few ounces of oil to lubricate the entire engine. Everything beyond that is strictly for cooling. Those few onces of oil would boil and turn to crud in seconds if it stayed in the friction points the whole time.

Scott@Bjorn3D · 10-29-2008, 02:34 PM

Plus you got the engine oil cooler on both the SS engines. More oil is needed to fill the cooler.

*radz28* · 10-29-2008, 03:10 PM

I think it's easy to forget that oil, just like has been mentioned, probably adds to cooling moreso than lubricity. I've read from sites that test oils and oil additives that engines could actually run for several minutes with no oil in the pan and it's the heat that isn't removed by the flowing oil that kills the engine. I guess they go hand-in-hand, but that would be my guess. I'm thinking they are going to promote this car to be more track-friendly than in the past and since piston squirters probably aren't cheap to have, larger capacity is the better alternative. I don't think even the LSA holds as much oil, but it does have a cooler and squirters.

One thing is for sure: It's not going to be a $35 oil change anymore...

Fast1 · 10-29-2008, 03:15 PM

For this kind of motor, it sounds perfect.

Hesh · 10-29-2008, 03:41 PM

Nope no cheap oil changes. Since they will want you to use Mobil 1 as the prefered oil. Dont know if its true about voiding warranty if anything else is used. I personally like Castrol syntec but hey they are both synthetic. Royal Purple would be a good choice as well.

Nexus6 · 10-29-2008, 10:36 PM

im using Amsoil

zebra · 10-30-2008, 12:03 AM

is it alright to break-in these new engines on synthetic? i read that older engines would screw up the rings unless you used conventional.

SS4EVER · 10-30-2008, 12:08 AM

Man and I thought my SS Supercharged drank oil by using almost 7 quarts of synthetic oil... The Camaro SS is going to cost alot of coin for an oil change...

headpunter · 10-30-2008, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zebra

is it alright to break-in these new engines on synthetic? i read that older engines would screw up the rings unless you used conventional.

they wil be broken in before you get them.....and they come with synthetic so that is a moot point

Supermans · 10-30-2008, 12:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by headpunter

they wil be broken in before you get them.....and they come with synthetic so that is a moot point

So they will be broken in at the factory before we get them? Even the automatic SS?

Shifty 6 · 10-30-2008, 07:25 AM

What would be so special about the auto, that they would treat it differently from the manual?

TomServo · 10-30-2008, 07:37 AM

Even with the oil cooler on my Z51 LS2 vette I saw oil temps reach 300 degrees on a cool day after 3 hard laps ar Road America, non Z51 vette's were getting OIL TEMP warnings (on the vette that's 315 degrees then the ECU goes to reduced power).

I did learn from my instructor to up shift into 5th on the long front straight which instantly lowered my oil temps to the 28X range for a full lap.

But I'd hate to think what kind of oil temps I would have reached if I had a couple of less quarts, and I even added the EXTRA quart like the Owner's Manual recommends when tracking.

10-29-2008, 01:16 PM	#1
yotaman96 Drives: 2017 Camaro SS1LE 2000 Trans Am WS6 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Portland, TN Posts: 2,955 View My Garage	Why the high oil capacity? Does anyone know why it takes 8.9 qts of oil for the LS3 on this car? Seems like a lot to me. I guess you wouldn't have to worry as much about the pump scavenging when you're in hard turns. That's going to be an expensive oil change especially if using synthetic. __________________ 2017 Krypton Green SS 1LE Magnacharged 2000 Trans Am WS6 manual trans 2002 Trans Am 2015 Ram Crew Cab Cummins

10-29-2008, 01:25 PM	#2
headpunter Not That sad..considering Drives: Man Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: the part of washington the capital forgot about. Posts: 3,747 View My Garage	high performance engines get lots of oil....allows more time to cool the oil while not in engine and makes the oil last longer because it is under stress for shorter amounts of time. __________________ Stop Whinging

10-29-2008, 03:10 PM	#5
radz28 Petro-sexual Drives: Ultra-Grin Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Crazy Coast Posts: 15,186 View My Garage	I think it's easy to forget that oil, just like has been mentioned, probably adds to cooling moreso than lubricity. I've read from sites that test oils and oil additives that engines could actually run for several minutes with no oil in the pan and it's the heat that isn't removed by the flowing oil that kills the engine. I guess they go hand-in-hand, but that would be my guess. I'm thinking they are going to promote this car to be more track-friendly than in the past and since piston squirters probably aren't cheap to have, larger capacity is the better alternative. I don't think even the LSA holds as much oil, but it does have a cooler and squirters. One thing is for sure: It's not going to be a $35 oil change anymore... __________________ '20 ZL1 Black "Fury" A10, PDR, Exposed CF Extractor Magnuson Magnum DI TVS2650R // RFBG // Soler 103 // TooHighPSI Port Injection // THPSI Billet Lid // FF // Katech Drop-In // PLM Heat Exchanger // ZLE Cradle bushings // BMR Chassis-Suspension Stuff // aFe Bars // Diode Dynamics LEDs // ACS Composites Guards // CF Dash // Aeroforce // tint // other stuffs

10-30-2008, 12:03 AM	#9
zebra just can't seem to leave Drives: your mom wild!! Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: cold & windy Posts: 10,625 View My Garage	is it alright to break-in these new engines on synthetic? i read that older engines would screw up the rings unless you used conventional. __________________ Eve ('00 FRC): hot-air intake Rowan ('09 H3): 5spd mom-mobile Penny ('99 Sierra): 5.3 / HD 5spd... gone but not forgotten Samson ('18 HD): compounded 408

10-30-2008, 12:08 AM	#10
SS4EVER Camaro Convert... Drives: 2006 Cobalt SS Supercharged Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Metro Detroit, Mi Posts: 595 View My Garage	Man and I thought my SS Supercharged drank oil by using almost 7 quarts of synthetic oil... The Camaro SS is going to cost alot of coin for an oil change... __________________ 4 life! Currently Driving: 2006 Cobalt SS Supercharged

10-29-2008, 02:34 PM	#4
Scott@Bjorn3D Drives: Kami, 2013 2SS LS3 Luvin Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Eufaula, Alabama Posts: 6,427	Plus you got the engine oil cooler on both the SS engines. More oil is needed to fill the cooler.

10-29-2008, 03:15 PM	#6
Fast1 Drives: 2010 Summit White SS Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Salt Lake City Posts: 167	For this kind of motor, it sounds perfect.

10-29-2008, 03:41 PM	#7
Hesh Drives: 2010 IOM Camaro Vin 34334 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Arlington, TX Posts: 566	Nope no cheap oil changes. Since they will want you to use Mobil 1 as the prefered oil. Dont know if its true about voiding warranty if anything else is used. I personally like Castrol syntec but hey they are both synthetic. Royal Purple would be a good choice as well.

10-29-2008, 10:36 PM	#8
Nexus6 More human than human Drives: 2010 IOM 2SS/RS Join Date: May 2008 Location: The mouth of hell Posts: 1,887 View My Garage	im using Amsoil

10-30-2008, 07:25 AM	#13
Shifty 6 Drives: 2010 GTI Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Morton, IL Posts: 679	What would be so special about the auto, that they would treat it differently from the manual?

10-30-2008, 07:37 AM	#14
TomServo Drives: 2007 Z06 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Swansea IL Posts: 727	Even with the oil cooler on my Z51 LS2 vette I saw oil temps reach 300 degrees on a cool day after 3 hard laps ar Road America, non Z51 vette's were getting OIL TEMP warnings (on the vette that's 315 degrees then the ECU goes to reduced power). I did learn from my instructor to up shift into 5th on the long front straight which instantly lowered my oil temps to the 28X range for a full lap. But I'd hate to think what kind of oil temps I would have reached if I had a couple of less quarts, and I even added the EXTRA quart like the Owner's Manual recommends when tracking.

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