Maximum safe oil capacity in Corvette?
Thread Starter
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 7,234
Likes: 1
From: Mississauga, Ontario
Maximum safe oil capacity in Corvette? I'm curious as to what the absolute maximum safe capacity is for the LS1 in the Corvettes? I know a lot of f-body owners put in 7 quarts of oil when they are autocrossing, even with the specified 5.5 quart capacity, and GM engineers have told us that this amount is still safe.
But with the Corvette having a different oil pan, I'm wondering if it's possible to overill them too, or is their 6.5 quart capacity the absolute highest you can run?
What's the most amount of oil any of you C5 owners run?
But with the Corvette having a different oil pan, I'm wondering if it's possible to overill them too, or is their 6.5 quart capacity the absolute highest you can run?
What's the most amount of oil any of you C5 owners run?
6600 rpm clutch dump of death Administrator
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 4,983
Likes: 13
From: Texas
Re: Maximum safe oil capacity in Corvette? GM specifies 6.5 quarts to my knowledge, although I will have to go back and check the owners manual. One of the arguments you get is whether a Vette hold 6.5 or 7 qts. The answer is, it depends.
When you drain the oil on level ground you get 6.5 quarts out. After it is done draining, if you jack the rear of the car up, and additional .5 quarts will drain out.
If you do this, you will need 7 quarts to top it off.
When you drain the oil on level ground you get 6.5 quarts out. After it is done draining, if you jack the rear of the car up, and additional .5 quarts will drain out.
If you do this, you will need 7 quarts to top it off.
Re: Maximum safe oil capacity in Corvette? I just put 6.5 quarts in when I change the oil but it always shows a little low on the dipstick. Seems to be common with Corvettes though. I do remember reading something in the owners manuel about GM recommending over filling the oil when track racing the car and then draining it back out for street use. I don't remember how much they said to over fill it and I don't have the car with me today.
Thread Starter
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 7,234
Likes: 1
From: Mississauga, Ontario
Re: Maximum safe oil capacity in Corvette? </font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by J-Rod:
<strong>
When you drain the oil on level ground you get 6.5 quarts out. After it is done draining, if you jack the rear of the car up, and additional .5 quarts will drain out.
</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">This is very interesting, I never knew that! I wonder if you can get an extra 1/2 quart out of the f-body by doing this too, or is it more due to the design of the C5 oil pan?
<strong>
When you drain the oil on level ground you get 6.5 quarts out. After it is done draining, if you jack the rear of the car up, and additional .5 quarts will drain out.
</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">This is very interesting, I never knew that! I wonder if you can get an extra 1/2 quart out of the f-body by doing this too, or is it more due to the design of the C5 oil pan?
TECH Junkie
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 3,604
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles
Re: Maximum safe oil capacity in Corvette? I think it's just the design of the C5 oil pan. The drain plug is on the very front of it and the pan has a lot of floor space to it so I could see half a quart just sitting on it in a thin layer rather than draining.
Thread Starter
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 7,234
Likes: 1
From: Mississauga, Ontario
Re: Maximum safe oil capacity in Corvette? </font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by jmX:
<strong> I think it's just the design of the C5 oil pan. The drain plug is on the very front of it and the pan has a lot of floor space to it so I could see half a quart just sitting on it in a thin layer rather than draining. </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">If that's where the extra dirty oil is getting trapped every oil change, then the better thing to do instead of jacking up the car, would be to simply take one fresh quart of oil and pour it in the engine with the plug still off. That should flush out anything stuck in the pan. I sometimes do this with my own oil changes actually.
I just can't see how most people would be able to jack up the rear of their C5 high enough, especially if the front is still on the ramps.
<strong> I think it's just the design of the C5 oil pan. The drain plug is on the very front of it and the pan has a lot of floor space to it so I could see half a quart just sitting on it in a thin layer rather than draining. </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">If that's where the extra dirty oil is getting trapped every oil change, then the better thing to do instead of jacking up the car, would be to simply take one fresh quart of oil and pour it in the engine with the plug still off. That should flush out anything stuck in the pan. I sometimes do this with my own oil changes actually.
I just can't see how most people would be able to jack up the rear of their C5 high enough, especially if the front is still on the ramps.
Re: Maximum safe oil capacity in Corvette? </font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Patman:
<strong>the better thing to do instead of jacking up the car, would be to simply take one fresh quart of oil and pour it in the engine with the plug still off. That should flush out anything stuck in the pan. </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Good idea. <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_cheers.gif" />
Paul
<strong>the better thing to do instead of jacking up the car, would be to simply take one fresh quart of oil and pour it in the engine with the plug still off. That should flush out anything stuck in the pan. </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Good idea. <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_cheers.gif" />
Paul
