Low Oil Level Indicator... Which Year? - Page 2 - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

farm rat · 07-11-2018, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PDXSSCE

Honestly, I have it all done with each oil change.

In all reality, unless you get a lemon, if you are religious about getting your oil changed every 3000 miles then you SHOULD never have a problem and the check your oil versus the light is a mute point.

If the tech tells you, you were 2 quarts low then I would worry. If you are 1/2 to 1 low it probably isn't anything to worry about.

PDXSSCE · 07-11-2018, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by farm rat

In all reality, unless you get a lemon, if you are religious about getting your oil changed every 3000 miles then you SHOULD never have a problem and the check your oil versus the light is a mute point.

If the tech tells you, you were 2 quarts low then I would worry. If you are 1/2 to 1 low it probably isn't anything to worry about.

I'm religious about getting oil changes done, but it's every 5K miles.

farm rat · 07-11-2018, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PDXSSCE

I'm religious about getting oil changes done, but it's every 5K miles.

I prefer 3000 on this car, but that's up to you. Based on my current consumption I would be at a quart or a little less low in 5000 miles so it is still safe.

DSX_Camaro · 07-11-2018, 05:29 PM

If you wait until the low engine oil indicator comes on, you are more than a full quart low. I believe it comes on at 4.5 or 4 quarts. You are deep into potential damage territory at that point.

The engines use oil based on how they were broken in. I broke my first engine in kinda softly, it used a little oil, not much, but later in its life it got worse. When I money shifted it and got my second engine, I broke it in quite hard (or correctly, based on who you ask), and it uses less than a quarter of a quart every 5k-7500 miles. I take 6 out, I put 6 in. First engine was at 625xx when it, erm, died, current is over 40k.

I don't know if there's any real way you could see how the car you're looking at is doing unless you physically check the oil before you test drive it and you know when its last oil change was done. Alternatively, don't worry about it and just understand you'll need to check it every / every other week or so until you know the engine's oil usage.

CamiLFX · 10-02-2018, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DonM

Funny you should say that, I DO carry an extra quart of oil with me, ever since the 'low oil' flashed at me once. My car, at 80,000 miles tends to go through a quart at 5,000 miles/oil change cycle.

I’m on the same boat. Freaked me the f*** out because I wasn’t ready for it. I check my oil every few days now and always keep an extra quart nearby.

737mechanic · 10-07-2018, 04:20 PM

I am 51 years old and have never had a low oil level ind and have never checked my oil every week even on cars that I have had that burned oil. I might check the oil once every 3 months unless I am suspecting it of burning or leaking oil.

With that said, I have a 2013 camaro and was wondering what this oil level indicator looks like?

DSX_Camaro · 10-07-2018, 06:18 PM

Pops up on your PID. Says Oil Level Low.

spyderbuddy · 10-07-2018, 08:31 PM

We were always told to check the oil, and The Water (Antifreeze)
the gas will check itself. I have close to 96,000 Miles on my 2010 LLT Camaro.

Change oil between 3 - 4 k miles and the car will take care of you
in the LLT/LFX V6 Engines I would not put my luck in a light, These Engines are totally different than the old Pushrod engines we had 20 years ago.

These engines are a new design, Variable Valve Timing, Direct injection, That uses the oil to change how the cams are timed. So now the oil is doing more than just lubrication, It is also being used as a Hydraulic to change cam position.

737mechanic · 10-20-2018, 06:49 PM

Oil has always had 4 jobs, Lubrication, suspend contaminants, cooling, and acting as a shock absorber between bearing surfaces. The older non-fuel injected, non-computer controlled cars would tend to start burning oil much sooner than modern cars that have computers controlling injectors for a more precise metering job. With that said the oil acting as hydraulics for the cam phasers is less damaging to the oil than it acting as a shock absorber between the bearing surfaces. These cars also use synthetic oil which doesn't break down near as fast as conventional oil so as long as you have a car that doesn't burn oil checking the oil every week, in my opinion, is probably overkill even though it may be a good practice. I personally will go weeks without even opening the hood.

07-11-2018, 05:29 PM	#18
DSX_Camaro Drives: 2013 SW 2LT/RS LFX/AY6 Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 1,741	If you wait until the low engine oil indicator comes on, you are more than a full quart low. I believe it comes on at 4.5 or 4 quarts. You are deep into potential damage territory at that point. The engines use oil based on how they were broken in. I broke my first engine in kinda softly, it used a little oil, not much, but later in its life it got worse. When I money shifted it and got my second engine, I broke it in quite hard (or correctly, based on who you ask), and it uses less than a quarter of a quart every 5k-7500 miles. I take 6 out, I put 6 in. First engine was at 625xx when it, erm, died, current is over 40k. I don't know if there's any real way you could see how the car you're looking at is doing unless you physically check the oil before you test drive it and you know when its last oil change was done. Alternatively, don't worry about it and just understand you'll need to check it every / every other week or so until you know the engine's oil usage. __________________ K&N CAI, 1LE Strut Tower Brace, Elite Engineering Catch Can and Clean Side Separator, Apex Scoop w/ Washer Relocation Kit, CTS Front Calipers and Rotors, JacFab Ported Intake Manifold, JacFab Intake Manifold Spacer, 80mm Overkill Throttle Body, SS Brake Lines, Ideal Garage Master Cylinder, Monster Twin Disc Clutch, NPP Retrofit w/ Magnaflow Resonated X, ARH Catless Downpipes, JRE Built 3.45 Diff, 1LE Axles, 1LE Hubs, Overkill Tuned, BMR Anti Wheel-hop Kit Stage I, ACS TL1 Hood Insert, ZL1 Spoiler

10-07-2018, 06:18 PM	#21
DSX_Camaro Drives: 2013 SW 2LT/RS LFX/AY6 Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 1,741	Pops up on your PID. Says Oil Level Low. __________________ K&N CAI, 1LE Strut Tower Brace, Elite Engineering Catch Can and Clean Side Separator, Apex Scoop w/ Washer Relocation Kit, CTS Front Calipers and Rotors, JacFab Ported Intake Manifold, JacFab Intake Manifold Spacer, 80mm Overkill Throttle Body, SS Brake Lines, Ideal Garage Master Cylinder, Monster Twin Disc Clutch, NPP Retrofit w/ Magnaflow Resonated X, ARH Catless Downpipes, JRE Built 3.45 Diff, 1LE Axles, 1LE Hubs, Overkill Tuned, BMR Anti Wheel-hop Kit Stage I, ACS TL1 Hood Insert, ZL1 Spoiler

10-07-2018, 08:31 PM	#22
spyderbuddy Drives: 2010 RS Inferno Orange Metallic Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Albany, Ga. Posts: 3,398 View My Garage	We were always told to check the oil, and The Water (Antifreeze) the gas will check itself. I have close to 96,000 Miles on my 2010 LLT Camaro. Change oil between 3 - 4 k miles and the car will take care of you in the LLT/LFX V6 Engines I would not put my luck in a light, These Engines are totally different than the old Pushrod engines we had 20 years ago. These engines are a new design, Variable Valve Timing, Direct injection, That uses the oil to change how the cams are timed. So now the oil is doing more than just lubrication, It is also being used as a Hydraulic to change cam position. __________________ PCP Hideaway Headlight Covers, BBK Headers & High Flow Cats, ZL1 Add-ons Wicker Bill, TL1/ZL1 Hood Insert, Gen5 DIY Frameless Mirror, ABL Dash Lighting an My link Navigation, Blacked out Rear Bowtie, all Sylvania led Turn Signals, Ceramic Window Tint By Nicks, MBRP Exhaust tips, GEN5 DIY Virginia Legal DRL Harness, Painted Brake Calipers, Vittesse Throttle Controller, Heritage Grill, Diode Dynamics Led Lighting, Manual Shifter Boot, Paddle Shifters, CNC Throttle Body, Trifecta Tune, RX Catch Can & Breather, Trunk Black out and Side Grills, Chevorlet door Sills.

10-07-2018, 04:20 PM	#20
737mechanic Drives: 2013 Camaro Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: Dallas Posts: 23	I am 51 years old and have never had a low oil level ind and have never checked my oil every week even on cars that I have had that burned oil. I might check the oil once every 3 months unless I am suspecting it of burning or leaking oil. With that said, I have a 2013 camaro and was wondering what this oil level indicator looks like?

10-20-2018, 06:49 PM	#23
737mechanic Drives: 2013 Camaro Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: Dallas Posts: 23	Oil has always had 4 jobs, Lubrication, suspend contaminants, cooling, and acting as a shock absorber between bearing surfaces. The older non-fuel injected, non-computer controlled cars would tend to start burning oil much sooner than modern cars that have computers controlling injectors for a more precise metering job. With that said the oil acting as hydraulics for the cam phasers is less damaging to the oil than it acting as a shock absorber between the bearing surfaces. These cars also use synthetic oil which doesn't break down near as fast as conventional oil so as long as you have a car that doesn't burn oil checking the oil every week, in my opinion, is probably overkill even though it may be a good practice. I personally will go weeks without even opening the hood.