[KLG]

The wet-sump LT1 engine oil capacity, as GM states, is 10 quarts. The oil pan on my 2016 is the same as other stock LT1s. All wet-sump LT1 engines should have the same oil capacity of 10 quarts. Granted there may be a stack-up of manufacturing tolerances, but not enough to significantly change the crankcase capacity.

So why might different owners get different oil level readings after putting in 10 quarts of oil? Two possible reasons:
• Is the vehicle setting level (side to side, front to rear)?
• Has enough time been given to allow the oil to drain back into crank case?

Besides these reasons, what other reasons would cause these various readings? My thinking is that some of the oil level reading variances might be due to manufacturing variances in the dip-stick and dip-stick tube.
Also how far the dip-stick tube was installed at the factory. Too far out, you read low, too far in, you read high.

On my vehicles, for the first oil change, I install the specified volume of oil. I then run/drive the car to warm it up. Then I stop and let it set for 5 minutes, then I check the oil level. Where ever the oil level is on the dip-stick, that becomes the full level for my vehicle from that point forward. For my Camaro, it is in the middle of the hash marks.

I do not recommend adding oil to bring it up the full mark on the dip-stick. Now, if you chose to do that, you’re probably not going to cause any harm as long as you don’t add enough oil to get the level too close to the crankshaft to cause air entrainment in the oil. But adding more oil isn’t necessary.

So, in my opinion, regardless of what the level is on the dip stick, put in 10 quarts and you are good to go. Just note where 10 quarts puts the level on the dipstick, that is your engine’s full mark.

--KLG--