More Than 8 Quarts?

[willhe64]

My dealer told me that the oil capactiy on an LS3 was 8.4 quarts.

[GaBoy25]

Originally Posted by willhe64

My dealer told me that the oil capactiy on an LS3 was 8.4 quarts.

Drained to the max though.

[zfuzz]

Mine took 8 quarts and it is a hair below the full mark. When I crank it and let it run for a few minutes, shut it off and let it set for about a minute the level is a hair above the low mark.

Is this the proper procedure and levels? I know there will be varying opinions here, I guess I just want to make my running level is not to low.

[Stephen12ZL1]

check it when the engine is cold...once you start it, the oil pump moves oil to the top of the engine and will show less oil on the stick when it is indeed at the correct level.

[Russell James]

Originally Posted by willhe64

My dealer told me that the oil capactiy on an LS3 was 8.4 quarts.

That is from the service manual for a complete engine rebuild where the lifters, oil cooler, lines.... would all be empty. For just an oil change service the spec is 8.

7.5 is actually just fine, as there will be less aeration from crank whip. I've had several well known LS speed shops tell me to run 7.5 qts of 10w30 to avoid aerated oil and ticky lifters. Which is common if using 8 qts of 5w30 (especially when using 5w30 M1, which I've stopped using).

[Ciscokid]

Dealer did my oil change on Friday and it took 11 QTS to get it back to the correct level.

Might want to double check your oil levels

[BIGBLKZL1]

Mine took 8 gallons. I think the manual just has a misprint...

[Vroom]

8 gallons, eh? that'd be one hell of a misprint

[Tyler H]

See number 13 and 14...... Enough said!

[zl1bro]

Originally Posted by Russell James

That is from the service manual for a complete engine rebuild where the lifters, oil cooler, lines.... would all be empty. For just an oil change service the spec is 8.

7.5 is actually just fine, as there will be less aeration from crank whip. I've had several well known LS speed shops tell me to run 7.5 qts of 10w30 to avoid aerated oil and ticky lifters. Which is common if using 8 qts of 5w30 (especially when using 5w30 M1, which I've stopped using).

What oil are you and everyone else using? About to do my first oil change and still not sure what oil I'm going to use...

[Russell James]

Originally Posted by zl1bro

What oil are you and everyone else using? About to do my first oil change and still not sure what oil I'm going to use...

I'm now using Amsoil 10w30, and a bit less than 8 qts. PF48 filter. I use about 7 1/2 to 7 3/4 qts, leaving it a hair down from the full top notch.
8 qts would be fine, but that puts mine right at top full, and many speed shops recommend lowering it a bit for hard driving to avoid the crank whipping air into the oil. I had a problem with a '10 SS doing that. If I ran 5w30 at 8 qts, the lifters were noisy. 10w30 at 7 1/2, and it was a bit less ticky.


In the past I had used Mobil 1. Seen too many bad things about it lately. A lot of the mass marketed oils have reduced their anti wear additives lately. My '12 runs great on Amsoil.

[zfuzz]

Originally Posted by Russell James

I use about 7 1/2 to 7 3/4 qts, leaving it a hair down from the full top notch.

So this level is being checked when its cold / sat overnight ?

[Norm Peterson]

If you're doing your own oil changes, you shouldn't put yourself under a time crunch to get it done. Run your engine up to temperature, drain it down to a slow drip and replace the drain plug. Unless you've got a big enough pan to catch the drain and the filter passages and anything that might also get dripped upon, removing and replacing the filter as a separate operation is likely to be easier and less messy. Put a little oil in the new filter before installing it. Fill with the nominal capacity (8 qts here), run the engine again until warmed up, shut it off and wait a while before checking the level. Add to the top of the "acceptable range" as marked on the stick. Re-checking a day later can't hurt.


If you do a lot of hard cornering, don't even think of leaving the oil level down in the middle of the "acceptable" range on the stick.

Don't use any "worry about additional aeration" as an excuse to short-fill. Ever.

Most times, I wouldn't even worry about being 0.2 to 0.3 quart overfilled, as this helps protect the engine during extended hard cornering such as at autocross, road course track days, or just canyon running. But don't overdo this.


Norm

[BIGBLKZL1]

Too bad the measurement end of the dip stick in the ZL1 is not the same as the one pictured in the Camaro manual...seems like they would put them both in.