RedVenom48

Was doing a general Google search for 6L80 track performance issues when an article from Driveline popped up. Titled "5 REASONS THE C5 CHEVROLET CORVETTE IS THE ULTIMATE BUDGET TRACK CAR"

https://www.drivingline.com/articles...get-track-car/

I read it, but reason #2 states the following: "All versions of Chevrolet's C5 Corvette are motivated by an LS engine, with the 5.7L LS1 pulling duty everywhere but the Z06, which was outfitted with an LS6 (also displacing 5.7 liters). These pushrod V8s are exceptionally reliable and capable of withstanding a pounding, and don't suffer from the same oiling issues that would plague the LS3 in the later C6-generation cars."

Now, I admit that my focus has been on my GT500 endeavors since the mid 2000s. But I was never under the impression that the LS3 had any issues to speak of. In fact, I have read in many places that the LS3 is regarded as one of the best Small block V8's ever made. Are there any oiling issues with the LS3 as the piece above suggests? If so, is it something that the aftermarket can correct?

StorminMatt

I am interested, too. Especially since the oiling system in the LS3 is virtually identical to the earlier motors.

Fang

C5 did not use the LS3.

Also, that website is a Nitto Tire corporate promo/content aggregator listicle thing, and linking to it by someone on their first post is... hinky?

StorminMatt

The article didn’t say that. It was saying that the C5 is more reliable than newer Vettes because it DOESN’T use the LS3, and that the LS3 is unreliable due to oiling issues.

Fang

And Nitto Tire's in-house content creators know this because?

Oil pan design changed between C5 & C6, and by all accounts the C6 pan is an improvement.

RedVenom48

They were referencing the LS3 oiling issues plaguing the C6 Corvettes, therefore making the LS1/LS6 of the C5's the superior choice. I was a little taken aback by that statement. Im interested in a C6 LS3 A6, and that "article" was the first I had ever seen or heard of the LS3 having any issues with oiling. Im going to go out on a limb and say that the statement is BS?

wretched73

The C6 base model came with a wet sump LS3. The pickup is either at the middle or front of the pan so on hard acceleration the oil pump could run dry

C6 GS, Z06 and ZR1 came with a dry sump system and they have no oiling issues

RedVenom48

Is that what those pickup tube support braces are for? To prevent air from getting sucked in past the pickup tube oring if the tube distorts under accel or lateral accel?

JimMueller

iTrader: (9)

It's been documented for almost 10 years by those who track their LS3s. Long thread at the Corvette Forum.

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...the-track.html

RedVenom48

Well Im a few pages in and its a hell of an eye opening read. The gist so far is that on HPDE and road courses with high G turns, the wet oil sump runs dry as the oil from the heads cant make it back down to the sump fast enough. Apparently the Z06's are in the same boat even with a dry sump.

Im a very new guy to the world of LS's, but wouldnt a deeper and larger oil pan with appropriate pickup tube and a high volume oil pump alleviate a majority of these issues? I doubt Id ever road course a future C6, but I definitely see myself driving spiritedly on some back highway roads. And of course drag racing it too.

NAVYBLUE210

Long, High G Force Cornering on a Track with Race Tires are the issue in Base & "dry-sump" C6s.
The Bat-Wing design of the C5s are much better oil pan/pick-up design.

RonSSNova

iTrader: (3)

LS3 pan. Pickup is in that middle compartment. There is a connecting hole to the rear compartment.

The C5’s all used what is called a “batwing” pan.




Pickup is in the same location.
Its a better pan. But it’s goofy! And only really fits the C5 chassis.

I put an LS3 in my C5 and used the LS3 pan. More header clearance, easier to drop the engine in etc.

Immediately noticed that the oil pressure drops on a hard launch at the drag strip. I’ll need to remedy this.

Asked over on the C6 forum if any of them noticed this. Pretty much silence....

Ron

lazerlemonta

I bought the improved racing crank scraper and baffle for this reason.

joyridin'

iTrader: (1)

The "fix" that I read was just add an extra quart of oil to the engine. That seems to cure the problem, although under certain circumstances, that doesn't seem like a good fix. Needless to say, that is what I do and haven't noticed any issues.

I wonder what would happen if you chopped out that wall section and extended the pick-up tube to the center of the rear large cavity?

Jimbo1367

Wouldn’t a trap door setup (maybe with a cover too) help aid this with a added qt. Of oil? Iwouldthing a hi vol pump would cause the track problems to worsen. ????

RedVenom48

After seeing the pics *RonSSNova* posted of the oil pans, a pickup tube extended to the rear sump is exactly what I was thinking. Add in a deeper Moroso sump with more capacity and i cant see why that wouldn't resolve a large portion of issues.

Maybe it's been tried already, but that would be on my list of things to upgrade.

Edited for credit

RonSSNova

iTrader: (3)

The batwing pan holds 6.5 qts. The C6 pan 5.5 qts. At the full line.
First solid passes pressure dropped from 60 to the 20’s at launch in the data logs.
I added 1.5 qts. Better, but still dropped to the mid 40’s. Different track and poorer launch. So it needs fixed.

Looked into the Improved Racing setup. Big bucks. Can’t really imagine installing that on the car. 😊 Vettes are a bitch to remove the pan from.

Agree with moving the pickup back. Was thinking a simple baffle over the back section might work too. But best setup on the engine stand!

Cant go to a real deep sump type pan on a Vette. It will drag on the ground.

Fortunately, I’ve only made 4 passes on the 6.2.

I put the Moroso 8 qt pan on my Nova. Nice pan. Way faster car.

So if not dealing with a C5/6 Vette, I’d choose a different pan.

NAVYBLUE210

Just for accuracy and attribution RonSSNova posted the comparison pics.

RonSSNova

iTrader: (3)

The guy is a real butthead. Trust me.
😊

RedVenom48

Good catch! Edited with many thanks.

Sorry Ron, the joy's of scrolling and posting on the phone haha