Upgraded engine oil cooler: increased oil capacity?

[TheBrightSide]

I wonder if the typical ~8 quarts for a regular engine oil change, would typically increase; if say, maybe a 25-row oil cooler was installed (ex: Mishimoto engine oil cooler kit)?

I have a few different 10-11 Camaro SS’ that I’ve been working on, that have the older OEM GM engine oil dipstick, P/N 12634547. Looks like the dipstick has been revised/superceded to a newer oil dipstick, P/N 12665298.

I’ve been having trouble measuring the engine oil, even after the car/engine have been sitting for hours. I swear I even added almost 9 quarts of oil to one L99 (with no leaks), and the old dipstick keeps reading inadequately (ex: smudged or inconsistent). I’ve since replaced to the newer oil dipsticks and it looks like I’m still having issues checking exactly what the engine oil capacity should be at…

[econ]

Yes, oil capacity will increase but you still check oil the same, with the same dipstick, since the amount of oil available in the sump in unchanged. The added oil is outside of the pan and this does not affect the checking of the oil.

The lines going to and from the cooler plus the cooler itself add oil.

[TheBrightSide]

Originally Posted by econ

Yes, oil capacity will increase but you still check oil the same, with the same dipstick, since the amount of oil available in the sump in unchanged. The added oil is outside of the pan and this does not affect the checking of the oil.

The lines going to and from the cooler plus the cooler itself add oil.

Yeah, not sure what’s going on, but I’ve been trying to check the oil dipstick for 3 days now, and the reading keeps getting smudged. And if it does reach full or show the level maybe a bit above max, only one side of the oil dipstick has the oil on it.

[econ]

Originally Posted by TheBrightSide

Yeah, not sure what’s going on, but I’ve been trying to check the oil dipstick for 3 days now, and the reading keeps getting smudged. And if it does reach full or show the level maybe a bit above max, only one side of the oil dipstick has the oil on it.

Not sure how your cooler is set up. Does it sandwich between the oil filter and block? Most do...If this is the case then draining the pan will not drain the cooler and lines.

So, drain the oil pan. Measure how many quarts came out (just in case things get strange and you need to know). Leave the filter. Add 8 quarts of oil fresh oil. You should now be able to get a full reading on your dipstick.

[Tommi]

Originally Posted by TheBrightSide

Yeah, not sure what’s going on, but I’ve been trying to check the oil dipstick for 3 days now, and the reading keeps getting smudged. And if it does reach full or show the level maybe a bit above max, only one side of the oil dipstick has the oil on it.

If the stick has oil only on one side, the oil came from the dipistick tube. etc. The dipstick was never inside the oil up to that level.

[RoySGrant]

Ok, thanks.

[TheBrightSide]

Originally Posted by Tommi

If the stick has oil only on one side, the oil came from the dipistick tube. etc. The dipstick was never inside the oil up to that level.

From what I know, others have a hit and miss time with reading their dipsticks on some of the LS engines. However, mine was perfectly fine before, so I’m really not sure what happened… Unless I’m under-filled, I “overfilled” to about ~9-9.25 qts after I ripped out the old oil cooler system and installed my upgraded system.