Newbie LSA Question

[MontanaFlyFisher]

I bought a '13 ZL1 with only 7k miles on it about a month ago. The car is stock besides a CAI intake. I drove the car for a while the other day after changing the oil & then shut it off to verify oil level again and there was a very small amount of smoke coming out of the dipstick retainer when I removed the dipstick. If I just turn the car on and let it idle with the dipstick out it does not smoke but was able to repeat the light amount of smoke after a normal driving session. There are no signs of oil consumption or any issues. I know the previous owner & this car was only used as a show car & was babied like no other car I've ever seen. Coming from the N/A world this was very alarming to me, is this expected with a supercharged engine or should I be concerned? Thanks in advance.

[ZMEnow]

Originally Posted by MontanaFlyFisher

I bought a '13 ZL1 with only 7k miles on it about a month ago. The car is stock besides a CAI intake. I drove the car for a while the other day after changing the oil & then shut it off to verify oil level again and there was a very small amount of smoke coming out of the dipstick retainer when I removed the dipstick. If I just turn the car on and let it idle with the dipstick out it does not smoke but was able to repeat the light amount of smoke after a normal driving session. There are no signs of oil consumption or any issues. I know the previous owner & this car was only used as a show car & was babied like no other car I've ever seen. Coming from the N/A world this was very alarming to me, is this expected with a supercharged engine or should I be concerned? Thanks in advance.

Maybe to babied, you don’t run them seals will get hard and rings may corrode. If it’s just when you cut it off it could be just burning off moisture. Make sure you get it hot then check. If it’s still doing it it’s blow by, that could be valve seals or piston ring, double check it’s not coming out the exhaust when you go wide open and especially when you lift..

[MontanaFlyFisher]

Thank you for the reply. That was my thought as well. It does not do it at idle, only when I shut it off. I haven’t had anybody follow me close, but looking in the mirrors I don’t see any sign of smoke during WOT or decel. Maybe one of these days I’ll throw a compression checker on it. Valve seals are easy, piston rings not so much. The smoke is so minimal, you can’t even see it unless you really look close so it isn’t serious yet if there is an issue.

[Bigtime53]

I don't know for sure if it makes to much difference or not but what oil did you put in it? Did the previous owner use a different oil than what you just put in it? GM recommended Mobil 1 and that is what I have put in mine and it just rolled over 7 thousand miles also. I have not checked my car like you have but I am going to the next time I drive it and look just for piece of mind now that you have said this. Maybe take your car for a good run on some twisty roads or drive it hard for some miles might correct the problem your seeing. If you do that come back and let us know one way or the other. Thanks

[bsn]

Personally, I think your worrying about a non-issue, sounds like it's just normal oil vapor-that's why so many people install catch cans on LS motors.

[MontanaFlyFisher]

Originally Posted by Bigtime53

I don't know for sure if it makes to much difference or not but what oil did you put in it? Did the previous owner use a different oil than what you just put in it? GM recommended Mobil 1 and that is what I have put in mine and it just rolled over 7 thousand miles also. I have not checked my car like you have but I am going to the next time I drive it and look just for piece of mind now that you have said this. Maybe take your car for a good run on some twisty roads or drive it hard for some miles might correct the problem your seeing. If you do that come back and let us know one way or the other. Thanks

The PO always had the dealer do the servicing. I’ll have to double check the receipts, but I think I remember seeing they used Pennzoil. I used Valvoline Advanced Full Synthetic 5W-30 (Dexos approved). Only thing I didn’t love about the service history is that the dealer told him he was fine to only have the oil changed every two years as he only put 3,000 miles on the car in the last 7 years. Guy drove it like a 97 year old grandma anyway so I chose to look past it and buy the car anyway.

[MontanaFlyFisher]

Originally Posted by bsn

Personally, I think your worrying about a non-issue, sounds like it's just normal oil vapor-that's why so many people install catch cans on LS motors.

That’s what I was hoping to hear. I’m just a little OCD about most things. I’ll just keep an eye out for abnormal oil consumption.

[Little Walter]

Originally Posted by bsn

Personally, I think your worrying about a non-issue, sounds like it's just normal oil vapor-that's why so many people install catch cans on LS motors.

+1

[Risingson05]

It’s your flux capacitor getting ready to fire off warp speed

[ZMEnow]

Originally Posted by Risingson05

It’s your flux capacitor getting ready to fire off warp speed

S&%$, didn't even think of that..

[MontanaFlyFisher]

Originally Posted by Risingson05

It’s your flux capacitor getting ready to fire off warp speed

Great! Now I have something else to worry about.

[Bigtime53]

Originally Posted by Risingson05

It’s your flux capacitor getting ready to fire off warp speed

Thats funny!!!!