Check your oil level!!! - Page 2

HyperBlueX2 · 07-19-2017, 08:36 AM

Isn't there a waiting period to check the oil? Not right after motor shutdown? Allow time for oil drainback? If you checked your oil after immediate shutdown, you may have over filled it..........

I always check in the morning..... or after 30 minutes.....

Mine also read that low and only had to add 1.5 quarts......

LT4 650 · 11-23-2022, 12:30 PM

i really hate to sound like an amateur but on the Gen 6 ZL1 is it best to check the oil when the car is cold (sat over night) like the manual says???

I have never had a car in which you checked the oil with a totally cold engine.

Anyway I did and there was only oil on the very bottom of the dipstick (checked a couple of times)...non on the hashmarks.
So I am assuming I am low on oil??? I would add a quart at a time and keep checking if this is the proper way to check the oil in a ZL1?

NOTE: I have had zero low oil warnings and my oil pressure has been very normal...and I am 60% life per the car info

20Bluezl1 · 11-23-2022, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LT4 650

i really hate to sound like an amateur but on the Gen 6 ZL1 is it best to check the oil when the car is cold (sat over night) like the manual says???

I have never had a car in which you checked the oil with a totally cold engine.

Anyway I did and there was only oil on the very bottom of the dipstick (checked a couple of times)...non on the hashmarks.
So I am assuming I am low on oil??? I would add a quart at a time and keep checking if this is the proper way to check the oil in a ZL1?

NOTE: I have had zero low oil warnings and my oil pressure has been very normal...and I am 60% life per the car info

Yes follow the manual to check the oil I usually check the oil in the garage before turning it on . My ZL1 loves to eat oil so I got in a habit to check it every time.

SATINSTEEL1LE · 11-23-2022, 03:58 PM

Changed mine at 1500 and 4000. Never needed a drop. Some do, some dont. And I have a maggie 2650 too.

Also depends on how you broke them in. If you followed the manual and drove it nice for 1500 miles, its going to be a drinker for sure. If you ripped it hard from zero, then you likely have nicely seated rings and wont need a catch can.

Tyrolblue67 · 11-23-2022, 04:40 PM

I check after car has been sitting level at least a 1/2 hour.
I notice that it will show at the top hash mark.
I then pull the dipstick out and let it sit another 10-15 minutes.
Then it will show exactly in the middle point of the hash marks.
Kind of strange.
I seems like some oil in the dipstick tube needs to drain to get an accurate reading.
That's my experience.
Tyrolblue67

LT4Greg · 11-23-2022, 04:48 PM

I check mine regularly and it doesn’t use much oil at all as compared to the 2016 2SS I had.

Newcastle · 11-23-2022, 05:51 PM

I will red line before 500 miles as from everything I have read if you dont set the rings by then its too late.

AZ_1LE · 11-23-2022, 08:15 PM

I changed mine in April of 2021 and just had to add a quart about two weeks ago. It's been about 3k miles.

taylorforschool@gmail.com · 11-24-2022, 07:58 AM

I had never really heard that about the rings. I’ll be checking mine a little more frequently out of curiosity but I’ve had one change in July during my 3000 miles of ownership. Every time I’ve checked it I believe it was at least half way or full on the dipstick. I just checked it completely cold and it shows a full oil level.

Gunkk · 11-24-2022, 09:04 AM

Crate engine break-in guide gives some hints about seating the rings. You want a few moderate throttle hits to 4000 rpm in the first couple hundred miles (>30 less than 250 if possible), then a few WOT hits to 4000 in the same time frame. This scrapes the asperities off the piston walls and rings before they harden. If they harden before they get scraped off, you can have ring-to-piston-wall clearance issues down the road. The "no track time" until 1500 miles thing in the manual is for the differential, and should be obeyed. If the car has been test driven at the dealer, it's probably covered!

If you buy a car new, you start at step 6. Steps 1-5 we done at the factory. Skip the oil change in step 10 and do it at 500 miles. You'll get a lot of metal in the oil, and that's good. Send a sample to blackstone for a baseline, tell 'em it's the first change.

Newcastle · 11-24-2022, 09:24 AM

Thanks for posting this. Most think this is B.S. unless they see it. I have a copy of this in my gallery and suggest others do the same.

Revalot · 11-24-2022, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stephen12ZL1

Between the hash marks is not 3.5qts...more like 1-1/2 qts.

Pretty close. From hash mark to hash mark is 1 quart, been doing this since high school mechanics and I'm 52 years old, at least let the car sit for 30 minutes. 3 and a half quarts the dip stick would be bone dry. Check it after a day of sitting, if you way over fill it, it's going to smoke like a train

Revalot · 11-24-2022, 10:09 AM

Let it sit overnight then check.

LT4Greg · 11-24-2022, 04:27 PM

Yes I definitely agree with that!��

07-19-2017, 08:36 AM	#15
HyperBlueX2 Drives: '22 Silverado 2500HD Duramax LTZ Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Millington, MI Posts: 4,775 View My Garage	Isn't there a waiting period to check the oil? Not right after motor shutdown? Allow time for oil drainback? If you checked your oil after immediate shutdown, you may have over filled it.......... I always check in the morning..... or after 30 minutes..... Mine also read that low and only had to add 1.5 quarts...... __________________

11-23-2022, 12:30 PM	#16
LT4 650 Drives: 2018 ZL1 1LE M6 Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: AZ Posts: 175 View My Garage	i really hate to sound like an amateur but on the Gen 6 ZL1 is it best to check the oil when the car is cold (sat over night) like the manual says??? I have never had a car in which you checked the oil with a totally cold engine. Anyway I did and there was only oil on the very bottom of the dipstick (checked a couple of times)...non on the hashmarks. So I am assuming I am low on oil??? I would add a quart at a time and keep checking if this is the proper way to check the oil in a ZL1? NOTE: I have had zero low oil warnings and my oil pressure has been very normal...and I am 60% life per the car info __________________ 2018 ZLE - M6, Nightfall Gray GM previously owned: 2014 SS M6 2014 ZL1 M6 2019 ZL1 M6 2016 Z06 M6

11-23-2022, 04:48 PM	#20
LT4Greg Drives: 2017 Camaro ZL1 Coupe Join Date: May 2016 Location: Georgia Posts: 5,813	I check mine regularly and it doesn’t use much oil at all as compared to the 2016 2SS I had. __________________ ZL1 Coupe, PDR, Exposed carbon fiber hood insert, My Link with Nav, M6 6 speed and Silver Ice Metallic. Mods done: ceramic window tint, GM Accessories Camaro floor mats and Roto-Fab CAI.

11-23-2022, 08:15 PM	#22
AZ_1LE Drives: 2019 ZL1 1LE Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 648	I changed mine in April of 2021 and just had to add a quart about two weeks ago. It's been about 3k miles. __________________ Old: 2017 SS 1LE Old: 2017 ZL1 Current: 2019 ZL1 1LE

11-24-2022, 07:58 AM	#23
taylorforschool@gmail.com PKG4U Drives: 2018 ZL1 Join Date: May 2021 Location: Huntsville AL Posts: 631 View My Garage	I had never really heard that about the rings. I’ll be checking mine a little more frequently out of curiosity but I’ve had one change in July during my 3000 miles of ownership. Every time I’ve checked it I believe it was at least half way or full on the dipstick. I just checked it completely cold and it shows a full oil level. __________________ 2020 Camaro LT1. Bought 10/2020 \| GM PERF. CAI \| GM Muffler Delete (Performance Exhaust 4” tips). \| SOLD 1/2022\| 2018 ZL1 Summit White \| Bought 1/2022 \| PDR, Recaros, Carbon Dash, WeaponX Hx System, Apex SM-10 in ZLE fitment w/PS4S Mods after Warranty “Imma keep it stock”

11-23-2022, 03:58 PM	#18
SATINSTEEL1LE Account Suspended Drives: 21 ZL1 Join Date: Feb 2022 Location: South East Posts: 662	Changed mine at 1500 and 4000. Never needed a drop. Some do, some dont. And I have a maggie 2650 too. Also depends on how you broke them in. If you followed the manual and drove it nice for 1500 miles, its going to be a drinker for sure. If you ripped it hard from zero, then you likely have nicely seated rings and wont need a catch can.

11-23-2022, 04:40 PM	#19
Tyrolblue67 Drives: 2019 ZL1 Camaro Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Motor City Posts: 196	I check after car has been sitting level at least a 1/2 hour. I notice that it will show at the top hash mark. I then pull the dipstick out and let it sit another 10-15 minutes. Then it will show exactly in the middle point of the hash marks. Kind of strange. I seems like some oil in the dipstick tube needs to drain to get an accurate reading. That's my experience. Tyrolblue67

11-23-2022, 05:51 PM	#21
Newcastle Drives: 2022 2 SS 1LE on order ....now a 23 Join Date: Jan 2022 Location: North TX Posts: 285	I will red line before 500 miles as from everything I have read if you dont set the rings by then its too late.

11-24-2022, 09:04 AM	#24
Gunkk Thank you Al Oppenheiser! Drives: Red Hot A10 ZL1 Convertible Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Sarasota, FL Posts: 4,978 View My Garage	Crate engine break-in guide gives some hints about seating the rings. You want a few moderate throttle hits to 4000 rpm in the first couple hundred miles (>30 less than 250 if possible), then a few WOT hits to 4000 in the same time frame. This scrapes the asperities off the piston walls and rings before they harden. If they harden before they get scraped off, you can have ring-to-piston-wall clearance issues down the road. The "no track time" until 1500 miles thing in the manual is for the differential, and should be obeyed. If the car has been test driven at the dealer, it's probably covered! If you buy a car new, you start at step 6. Steps 1-5 we done at the factory. Skip the oil change in step 10 and do it at 500 miles. You'll get a lot of metal in the oil, and that's good. Send a sample to blackstone for a baseline, tell 'em it's the first change. Attached Images

11-24-2022, 09:24 AM	#25
Newcastle Drives: 2022 2 SS 1LE on order ....now a 23 Join Date: Jan 2022 Location: North TX Posts: 285	Thanks for posting this. Most think this is B.S. unless they see it. I have a copy of this in my gallery and suggest others do the same.

11-24-2022, 10:09 AM	#27
Revalot Drives: ZL1/1LE parts added Join Date: May 2018 Location: Somewhere around Texas pines tress and smooth asphalt Posts: 609	Let it sit overnight then check.

11-24-2022, 04:27 PM	#28
LT4Greg Drives: 2017 Camaro ZL1 Coupe Join Date: May 2016 Location: Georgia Posts: 5,813	Yes I definitely agree with that!�� __________________ ZL1 Coupe, PDR, Exposed carbon fiber hood insert, My Link with Nav, M6 6 speed and Silver Ice Metallic. Mods done: ceramic window tint, GM Accessories Camaro floor mats and Roto-Fab CAI.

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