04-28-2024, 08:54 PM | #1 |
Drives: ZL1, S2000 Join Date: Mar 2023
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 68
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Oil burn/level question for long term owners
Hey there,
I bought my ZL1 back in 2023 with 0 miles. I followed the track prep guide so I change the engine oil at: 500 miles then, at 1,500 miles. My car now has 4,200 miles and I noticed that the oil level is down to half on the dipstick, meaning half a quart is gone. I'd like to think rings will still wear in but I know this happens within the first few hundred miles , but I'm hopeful. I do plan on changing the oil about every 3k miles or less depending on how much I track the car. So, if it only goes down 1/2 quart in 3,000 miles, then I'm OK with it, I guess. If consumption gets worse, then we got issues. For those long term owners that have a lot more miles than I do, what is your oil level like in between oil change intervals? Last edited by 2023ZL1RapidBlue; 04-29-2024 at 05:17 AM. |
04-29-2024, 05:37 AM | #2 |
Drives: '21 ZLE A10 Join Date: May 2012
Location: Mechanicsville, VA
Posts: 6,815
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on track my car will use about a 1/3 of a quart per track day. Oil will volatilize when oil temps rise and you will lose volume that way and possibly through ring sealing issues. Everyone here will have varying amounts of oil loss between change intervals. Monitor and consult the dealer if it becomes extreme.
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04-29-2024, 07:51 AM | #3 | |
Thank you Al Oppenheiser!
Drives: Red Hot A10 ZL1 Convertible Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Sarasota, FL
Posts: 5,043
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04-29-2024, 08:00 AM | #4 |
Snackbar Tuning
Drives: 2023 SGM ZL1 Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Florida
Posts: 1,282
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I've never owned an LS or LT motor that didn't burn about 1/4 - 1/2 quart of oil every 5000 miles or so, regardless of the break in procedure. If you drive the car hard it's going to burn a little bit of oil no matter what. My 2023 hasn't shown any concerning trends but I only have 3000 miles on it. On its second oil change (1st-600mi, 2nd-2400mi) it was about 1/4 quart low. So far after another 1000 miles it hasn't used any discernable amount of oil.
Additionally if you're checking the oil right after you turn the car off, the level won't be accurate because of all of the oil that is up top in the engine. Check the oil when hot and give it 15-20 minutes after you shut it off before you check it. Anyhow, 1/4 of a quart every 2000-3000 miles isn't alarming at all and would be considered normal. My C7 Z06 with 30K on the clock burns 1/2 quart every 4000 miles. Zero issues. I drive that car real hard.
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04-29-2024, 08:22 AM | #5 |
Drives: 2019 ZL1 Camaro Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Motor City
Posts: 208
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Hi,
I have a 2019 non 1LE. This is how I get consistent/accurate oil level readings. Make sure the car is on a level surface. I always take measurements in the same spot in my garage. I always do it after the car sits parked for at least an hour. I always pull the dipstick completely out of the tube. I wipe the dipstick dry and let it sit out of the car for at least 10 minutes. This lets any residual oil in the dipstick tube drain back into the pan. I found if you don't do this, the residual oil left in the tube that will give inaccurate oil level readings. I do my own oil changes. When I drain the out the old oil, I let it drip for at least an hour to make sure it's completely drained. I fill in 9.5 quarts and slowly add in the last 1/2 quart after driving it for a couple miles. Taking readings using the above process. My car has always taken the complete 10 quarts. Doing the above procedure, the dipstick always shows oil at halfway on the hashmark area of the dipstick. This according to my 2019 owners manual indicates that it's full. Just thought I'd share. Tyrolblue67 |
04-29-2024, 08:38 AM | #6 | |
Drives: ZL1, S2000 Join Date: Mar 2023
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 68
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As a new LT owner, I appreciate your first opening sentence. I had no idea that LT/LS burned oil. Good to know. Also, the comparison with your C7 puts me at ease. Everyone else, thanks foe your input, seems we're all on the same page with burning oil numbers. |
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04-29-2024, 11:23 AM | #7 |
Petro-sexual
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I don't drive my car often, but when I do, it's pretty hard. My oil always times-out (I use the oil life monitor), rather than from mileage or anything. After almost 5-years of ownership, I have less than 4K-miles on the car, so with that qualification, it's easy to see why I always time-out. He doesn't burn much oil, that can be verified on the dipstick, but my catchcan catches about 1-2 tablespoons every oil change (which usually runs from about 9-11 months on E85).
I, too, have experienced oil burning on LS-engines. It could be as much as a half-quart every 1500 miles in my '02 Z28. I DID notice it seemed to consume more after I installed a 4000-stall Yank TC in him. All of these engines burn some oil.
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04-29-2024, 11:32 AM | #8 |
Drives: 2021 ZL1 1LE with PDR Join Date: Oct 2022
Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 271
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The LT4 has a history of using a good amt of oil. Obviously influenced by your driving habits. If you're doing pulls and hard RPM driving, you will use oil. One quart every 2K miles is considered normal. You are under the GM spec for oil consumption.
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04-29-2024, 07:37 PM | #9 | |
Drives: ZL1, S2000 Join Date: Mar 2023
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 68
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04-29-2024, 09:48 PM | #10 | |
aka BeastZL1
Drives: 2019 Camaro ZL1 1LE, 2004 Cobra Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: NC
Posts: 1,126
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Anywhere in the hashed area is normal, but I would run it at the top of the hashes for track duty after the appropriate wait times to check.
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04-30-2024, 06:59 AM | #11 |
Drives: 23 ZL1 A10 Rapid Blue Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: MO
Posts: 2,082
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just casual observation on my part but less oil use with my LT4 than the previous LT1. 17K and 18 months I'm not sure I've added any oil between changes and I WOT the car nearly every day and hit 100+.
I know my LT1 would puff at the tailpipes on startup, and it had a very minor leak at the oil pan that wasn't hard to fix. |
05-01-2024, 10:03 AM | #12 | |
Drives: 2023 Camaro ZL1 Join Date: Jan 2023
Location: NC
Posts: 341
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