Triaxle

iTrader: (1)

My car takes almost 7 quarts before it reads full on the dipstick. I don't know why I know it is supposed to be 5.5, and I cant figure it out either. The oil pan and dipstick are stock as far as I can tell. What could be going on? Could the dipstick have gotten bent somewhere along the line? The car has headers on it so someone has been in there at some point.

babbage1109

iTrader: (11)

....did you run your engine and let it warm up before you dumped all this oil in it?

Darkman

iTrader: (2)

A lot of folks have a hard time getting the dipstick tube back to its original position when doing a header install. The dipstick tube may not be flush on the block like it is supposed to be.

babbage1109

iTrader: (11)

^^Even so there is a bolt that mounts the dipstik to the block. And it can only go one way.

Darkman

iTrader: (2)

Doesn't this form of error cut the other way?

Snake_Skinner

iTrader: (12)

^ I would say the same about the dipstick tube, would I be wrong?

Darkman

iTrader: (2)

I think you would be wrong, but that is based on my particular reference, which is my own LS6.

Specifically, when I did my head swap, I had some some trouble getting the dipstick tube back in all the way. I could have bolted it down using a thick washer as a spacer, but had I done so it would left the tube effectively longer than stock (and since the dipstick length remained unchanged) it would have taken more oil to achieve the "full" mark. Ultimately, I was able to installl the tube in its orignal position.

Snake_Skinner

iTrader: (12)

Oh ya your right I was doing some backwards *** thinking, my bad.

Paul Bell

iTrader: (9)

It would help us help you if we knew what kind of car & it's year. Do you have an oil cooler?

My 1999 T/A takes exactly six quarts from full drain (including a filter change) to the top of the full mark on the dip.

Triaxle

iTrader: (1)

Its an 01 Camaro SS. I don't have an oil cooler

Paul Bell

iTrader: (9)

Cool. Yeah, seven quarts is kinda high. I would suggest you find a buddy with the same car and uh, compare dipsticks. (!)

I'll bet yours is shorter (!) and if so, from a different car.

LS1121

iTrader: (17)

Mine takes 5 quarts to fill. Wouldn't 2 quarts over be putting you engine on the block....yes pun intended.

Paul Bell

iTrader: (9)

Until you straighten this out, I suggest you only put in six quarts regardless of what the dipstick says.

5.5 quarts should be the "correct" level. A half quart over is OK but 1.5 quarts over is certainly too much.

As stated, my car takes 6 quarts to be perfectly at the "full" mark.

427LS7HCI

I ALWAYS use 7qts. All the horror stories I read of guys spinning rod bearings on LS1/LS6 blocks is probably because they're only using 5.5-6qts of oil.

LS1121

iTrader: (17)

I guess the New oil has an anti-foaming agent in it i don't know about. It must be 007.

Paul Bell

iTrader: (9)

Yeah that. If the oil level is too high, you'll get foaming, air in the oil which is a pretty poor lubricant and difficult to pump.

It's pretty foolish to knowingly put in too much oil such as 7 quarts vs. the proper fill level of 5.5 quarts as it will surely be too high and get whipped up by the crank.

babbage1109

iTrader: (11)

That just sounds wrong to knowingly put 7 quarts in a 5.7 liter engine. HELL JUST FILL IT UP UNTIL THE OIL COMES OUT THE VALVE COVER. THAT CAN'T HURT ANYTHING

brianw401

iTrader: (4)

LOL! But don't forget, 5.7 liter corvette engines have a larger oil pan. My Z06 requires 6.5qt. to be full if you count the filter. However, my dipstick also reads low. 7qt. is the full mark on mine. Weird .

babbage1109

iTrader: (11)

My t/a takes 5.5 after everything is said and done.

BlackScreaminMachine

iTrader: (17)

I knew a former Ford tech that filled an engine completely with oil and then wondered why the block locked up and broke.

Go with the factory recommended fill. You can over fill and just like not having enough to cut windage, its not a wise thing either way.

Although in Automatics, have more and a deeper pan is helpful.