'Engine Oil Low' with 25% Oil Life Remaining

telecom78 · 10-30-2023, 03:58 PM

I have a manual 2017 LT v6 (bought brand new from the dealer) and I'm getting an 'Engine Oil Low' indicator popping up randomly the last few days - even though it's showing 25% Oil Life Remaining.

I checked the dipstick and the oil was all the way at the very bottom of the dipstick... so I put in 1 Litre / 0.22 gallons of Pennzoil synthetic high mileage (I have 140,000 km / 86,992 mi on it) and now the oil level is normal. This is actually the second time this has happened now.

Anyone know what could be causing this?

I normally drive it easy in Touring mode - with only occasional brief periods of aggressive higher RPM shifting in Sport mode. Majority of the time I shift at no higher than 3,000 rpm.

ctrlz · 10-30-2023, 04:05 PM

Oil at bottom of dipstick... does that mean below the low level line? If so, then you need more than 1 qt.
Obviously you need to start monitoring oil consumption. If you were burning that much oil, I suspect you would notice the blue smoke and you might even get a check engine light from fouling the O2 sensor.
I suspect a leak. I would put some cardboard under the car overnight and see if you pick up any drips.
Also, check out some other threads here which show the dipstick and how much oil you need to add. I usually fill to the top line and then it's easy to see if I am losing oil because if it drops below that line then it's leaving the engine somehow.

CalgaryZL1 · 10-30-2023, 04:05 PM

My GMC will drop a litre in about that % range using the computers oil change counter, it has about 145,000 km. I will say my catch can collects some of it

telecom78 · 10-30-2023, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ctrlz

Oil at bottom of dipstick... does that mean below the low level line? If so, then you need more than 1 qt.
Obviously you need to start monitoring oil consumption. If you were burning that much oil, I suspect you would notice the blue smoke and you might even get a check engine light from fouling the O2 sensor.
I suspect a leak. I would put some cardboard under the car overnight and see if you pick up any drips.
Also, check out some other threads here which show the dipstick and how much oil you need to add. I usually fill to the top line and then it's easy to see if I am losing oil because if it drops below that line then it's leaving the engine somehow.

Yes... as in I could barely see ANY oil on the dipstick at all! After I added 1 litre (0.88 quarts) it was to the top line... so definitely enough. I then drove it for 10 mins, and parked it for 3 hours before checking the dipstick again while nice and cold, and the dipstick was still measuring oil up to the top line. I have also never had the 'check engine' light come on for an O2 sensor.

I have so far done all of my oil changes at the GM dealership. I am wondering if they are using subpar quality oil (i.e. non synthetic etc.) as a sneaky cost-cutting measure. Dealerships are constantly trying to find ways to scam people it seems.

scott_0 · 10-30-2023, 04:24 PM

oil life and oil level are two totally separate things. your oil life could be 98% and still be 2qts low, you need to figure out why it's losing or consuming oil...

2SS Capt · 10-30-2023, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by telecom78

so I put in 1 Litre / 0.22 gallons

1 Liter = 0.264 US Gallons...

Quote:

Originally Posted by telecom78

I added 1 litre (0.88 quarts)

1 Liter = 1.056 US Quarts...

Gen6cyl · 10-30-2023, 04:40 PM

See if you have oil in the air intake tube. If I go over half way on the high- low mark the oil go to my intake till level gets below half quart low. You should change oil at %25 imo because the lgx only pulls vacuum from the air intake tube.

m6-lt1 · 10-30-2023, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scott_0

oil life and oil level are two totally separate things. your oil life could be 98% and still be 2qts low, you need to figure out why it's losing or consuming oil...

This. Oil level low has absolutely NOTHING to do with oil LIFE.

Gunkk · 10-31-2023, 04:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by telecom78

This is actually the second time this has happened now.

Twice?

Check your oil bi-weekly. Change it at 50% on the OLM.

Quote:

Anyone know what could be causing this?

Absent any other detail, I would suspect fouled oil control rings. Couple ways to deal with it, but most/all start with pulling the plugs and soaking the cylinders in polyetheramine for a couple days, followed by an oil change, a tank of 93 and an Italian Tune-up (on an otherwise well-running car with no other issues).

If you're not going to change your own oil yourself, then at least check the dipstick BEFORE you drive off the shop lot. Trust, but verify. The other benefit of doing your own oil changes is sending samples to blackstone-labs for analysis. You can gain some insight into how your engine is running and oil condition vs. your driving habits. This information may or may not help guide you to improve your situation.

Finally, if you're not using top-tier gas, switch. Loyalty programs like Shell's Fuel Rewards (plus stacked discounts from Tmobile, etc.) often make the cost same or cheaper than the low-bid dime-store garbage. That and/or higher octane may help with cylinder carbon control.

Good luck

Classic Muscle · 10-31-2023, 07:06 AM

How many miles since your last oil change? Consuming a quart / liter over several thousand miles isn't abnormal for some engines, especially after getting up there in miles. Might need to check oil level every other fill up or as needed, and add some when you get about 1/2 way down on the dipstick markings.

ctrlz · 10-31-2023, 09:28 AM

Below links to photo of our dipstick. if "barely touching bottom," I would fill with 1.5 qt to get it to the top line. Take a photo of the dipstick with the oil level. Then do the same every 2-3 days to track loss.
https://www.camaro6.com/forums/showp...00&postcount=1
My comment about the O2 sensor throwing a code meant that I doubt you are burning a lot of oil. The rate of loss you describe would result in blue smoke plus odor, which I think you would notice. That much oil being burned off can foul sensors and damage catalytic converters. I think you have an old school leak.

Mark R · 10-31-2023, 01:12 PM

At 87,000 miles, your car could have developed any number of leaks and other issues. The computer caught the oil low situation - not you.

Have you looked under the hood? Under the car? Leaks are often easy to spot, unless the engine is covered in grime. You should probably go to the dealer about this.

Number 3 · 10-31-2023, 02:04 PM

For reference, my VW Atlas Low Oil warning light came on at 6,500 miles, down 1 quart. Coincidentally the day before my scheduled oil change. When I had the first oil change done at 10,000 miles, it was down a quart also.

Back in the day, I had a C6 CTF that was going through a quart every 600 miles or so. They swapped the engine in that car to take the original apart for inspection. I was told many years ago that for warranty to be performed, you had to be burning oil (assumes no leaks) at a quart every 1,000 miles. Not sure if that's true anymore as I'm not sure the car/truck would pass an emissions test.

Need4Camaro · 10-31-2023, 02:27 PM

I think my 3.6L burned off about a quart of oil between changes, nothing more than that. How long are you going between changes?

10-30-2023, 03:58 PM	#1
telecom78 Drives: 2017 2LT RS on 20's, manual Join Date: May 2016 Location: Toronto Posts: 5	'Engine Oil Low' with 25% Oil Life Remaining I have a manual 2017 LT v6 (bought brand new from the dealer) and I'm getting an 'Engine Oil Low' indicator popping up randomly the last few days - even though it's showing 25% Oil Life Remaining. I checked the dipstick and the oil was all the way at the very bottom of the dipstick... so I put in 1 Litre / 0.22 gallons of Pennzoil synthetic high mileage (I have 140,000 km / 86,992 mi on it) and now the oil level is normal. This is actually the second time this has happened now. Anyone know what could be causing this? I normally drive it easy in Touring mode - with only occasional brief periods of aggressive higher RPM shifting in Sport mode. Majority of the time I shift at no higher than 3,000 rpm.

10-30-2023, 04:40 PM	#7
Gen6cyl Drives: Chevy Camaro 2021 ,rs, v6, manual Join Date: Feb 2022 Location: Georgia Posts: 873	See if you have oil in the air intake tube. If I go over half way on the high- low mark the oil go to my intake till level gets below half quart low. You should change oil at %25 imo because the lgx only pulls vacuum from the air intake tube. __________________ B6 dampers, x pipe, mbrp axel back

10-31-2023, 09:28 AM	#11
ctrlz Drives: 2017 2SS, 50th pkg, M6, MRC, NPP Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Ocean City, NJ Posts: 3,216	Below links to photo of our dipstick. if "barely touching bottom," I would fill with 1.5 qt to get it to the top line. Take a photo of the dipstick with the oil level. Then do the same every 2-3 days to track loss. https://www.camaro6.com/forums/showp...00&postcount=1 My comment about the O2 sensor throwing a code meant that I doubt you are burning a lot of oil. The rate of loss you describe would result in blue smoke plus odor, which I think you would notice. That much oil being burned off can foul sensors and damage catalytic converters. I think you have an old school leak. Last edited by ctrlz; 10-31-2023 at 01:49 PM.

10-31-2023, 02:04 PM	#13
Number 3 Hail to the King baby! Drives: '19 XT4 2.0T & '22 VW Atlas 2.0T Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Illinois Posts: 12,184 View My Garage	For reference, my VW Atlas Low Oil warning light came on at 6,500 miles, down 1 quart. Coincidentally the day before my scheduled oil change. When I had the first oil change done at 10,000 miles, it was down a quart also. Back in the day, I had a C6 CTF that was going through a quart every 600 miles or so. They swapped the engine in that car to take the original apart for inspection. I was told many years ago that for warranty to be performed, you had to be burning oil (assumes no leaks) at a quart every 1,000 miles. Not sure if that's true anymore as I'm not sure the car/truck would pass an emissions test. __________________ "Speed, it seems to me, provides the one genuinely modern pleasure." - Aldous Huxley Last edited by Number 3; 10-31-2023 at 02:47 PM.

10-30-2023, 04:05 PM	#2
ctrlz Drives: 2017 2SS, 50th pkg, M6, MRC, NPP Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Ocean City, NJ Posts: 3,216	Oil at bottom of dipstick... does that mean below the low level line? If so, then you need more than 1 qt. Obviously you need to start monitoring oil consumption. If you were burning that much oil, I suspect you would notice the blue smoke and you might even get a check engine light from fouling the O2 sensor. I suspect a leak. I would put some cardboard under the car overnight and see if you pick up any drips. Also, check out some other threads here which show the dipstick and how much oil you need to add. I usually fill to the top line and then it's easy to see if I am losing oil because if it drops below that line then it's leaving the engine somehow.

10-30-2023, 04:05 PM	#3
CalgaryZL1 Drives: 2020 Chevy Camaro ZL1 Join Date: Apr 2023 Location: Calgary Canada Posts: 1,581	My GMC will drop a litre in about that % range using the computers oil change counter, it has about 145,000 km. I will say my catch can collects some of it

10-30-2023, 04:24 PM	#5
scott_0 Drives: 2018 Hyper Blue Metallic SS 1le Join Date: Oct 2023 Location: Oxford, Pa Posts: 50	oil life and oil level are two totally separate things. your oil life could be 98% and still be 2qts low, you need to figure out why it's losing or consuming oil...

10-31-2023, 07:06 AM	#10
Classic Muscle Drives: 22 SS 1LE Join Date: Apr 2022 Location: MD Posts: 34	How many miles since your last oil change? Consuming a quart / liter over several thousand miles isn't abnormal for some engines, especially after getting up there in miles. Might need to check oil level every other fill up or as needed, and add some when you get about 1/2 way down on the dipstick markings.

10-31-2023, 01:12 PM	#12
Mark R Drives: 2018 ZL-1 Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Albuquerque Posts: 952	At 87,000 miles, your car could have developed any number of leaks and other issues. The computer caught the oil low situation - not you. Have you looked under the hood? Under the car? Leaks are often easy to spot, unless the engine is covered in grime. You should probably go to the dealer about this.

10-31-2023, 02:27 PM	#14
Need4Camaro Drives: '17 Camaro 2SS & '99 Camaro Z28 Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 1,843	I think my 3.6L burned off about a quart of oil between changes, nothing more than that. How long are you going between changes?

User Name		Remember Me?
Password