Is my oil low?

Hekate1 · 10-30-2020, 10:23 PM

Got my oil changed about 500 miles ago. I always go to the same dealership and they have never done me wrong. I was checking my oil tonight after a good thorough cleaning of my entire car. I wiped the dipstick and got this same result on 3 checks. It looks like there’s a blank spot in the center of the crosshatching. I was careful not to move it around too much to displace the oil. Before u start ripping on me I’m a 58 year old woman. In my teens and 20’s I changed my own oil but these new cars r just too hard for me to get under. I love my car and take really good care of her so if u feel the need to criticize please keep this in mind. Also it looks like I’m holding it vertically but that’s just my pic angle.
Thanks!

avalonandl · 10-30-2020, 10:46 PM

No, its in the middle of the crosshatch. When you get to the bottom of the hatchmarks you are a quart low.

You have a v8, it has 10 qt. system and will run fine with 9 quarts but then you should add a qt. Do NOT over fill.

donaldp · 10-30-2020, 10:49 PM

These are the worst dipsticks ever designed. Can't read them properly ever. The problem is worsened by the fact that the dipstick does not go straight down from the holder into the oil pan It takes a sort of figure "S" to reach the bottom. When the stick is removed to check the oil, you get this result, possibly oil is rubbing off the stick as it makes the S turns on the exit of the holder.

To your question, I think it looks fine. Check it again in 500 miles. Keep in mind our cars hold over 10 quarts of oil so if you are low at all, it's a small percentage of the total capacity.

Altered Carbon · 10-30-2020, 10:50 PM

No.

Hekate1 · 10-30-2020, 10:58 PM

Thank u! I’ll keep an eye on it. I guess I’m always afraid the dealership has hired someone that doesn’t realize it takes 10 qts and they‘ll short it. Surely not....

3.8TransAM · 10-30-2020, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by donaldp

These are the worst dipsticks ever designed. Can't read them properly ever. The problem is worsened by the fact that the dipstick does not go straight down from the holder into the oil pan It takes a sort of figure "S" to reach the bottom. When the stick is removed to check the oil, you get this result, possibly oil is rubbing off the stick as it makes the S turns on the exit of the holder.

To your question, I think it looks fine. Check it again in 500 miles. Keep in mind our cars hold over 10 quarts of oil so if you are low at all, it's a small percentage of the total capacity.

Nah, lots of cars with just as bad or worse design for engine and/or trans fluid. Just get used to checking it 2-3 times to make sure your not nuts and go.

95 imp · 10-30-2020, 11:48 PM

It should be 1/2 to 3/4 cold and 3/4 to full hot. Check it on your wrist like a baby bottle to see if it is warm, or pull the oil temp up on the DIC if you have that.

The oil will expand as it gets hot and, like others said, it's better to be a little low than over filled.

metros11 · 10-30-2020, 11:58 PM

Your oil level is fine.

58 year old woman driving a 1LE, hell yeah!

Hekate1 · 10-31-2020, 12:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by metros11

Your oil level is fine.

58 year old woman driving a 1LE, hell yeah!

Thanks. I refuse to stop having fun!

UnknownJinX · 10-31-2020, 12:39 AM

Looks fine.

The LT1 actually holds a lot of oil. I was surprised when I learned that 6.4 HEMI and Hellcat 6.2 only hold 6 quarts.

CHASLT1 · 10-31-2020, 06:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by donaldp

These are the worst dipsticks ever designed. Can't read them properly ever. The problem is worsened by the fact that the dipstick does not go straight down from the holder into the oil pan It takes a sort of figure "S" to reach the bottom. When the stick is removed to check the oil, you get this result, possibly oil is rubbing off the stick as it makes the S turns on the exit of the holder.

To your question, I think it looks fine. Check it again in 500 miles. Keep in mind our cars hold over 10 quarts of oil so if you are low at all, it's a small percentage of the total capacity.

I agree. They suck and is the same that was on my 2019 C7. Oil looks fine for the OP. After market stick would be nice if they even have one.

LT4Greg · 10-31-2020, 10:53 AM

You are good to go! I would though check the oil level when the car has been sitting overnight as you would get a more accurate reading with the oil cold. Keep putting the miles in Hekate!��

JSH · 10-31-2020, 12:12 PM

I just made the mistake of adding 1/2 Qt. when the oil was in the middle of the hatched area but I didn't realize the engine was NOT stone cold, like after sitting overnight in my garage cold. So, it's now a fraction of an inch (~1/8") above the top of the hatched area.

Venomcustom · 10-31-2020, 12:41 PM

Oil is fine. Congrats on being a bad ass!!

10-30-2020, 10:23 PM	#1
Hekate1 Drives: 2020 2SS 1LE Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Central Texas Posts: 227	Is my oil low? Got my oil changed about 500 miles ago. I always go to the same dealership and they have never done me wrong. I was checking my oil tonight after a good thorough cleaning of my entire car. I wiped the dipstick and got this same result on 3 checks. It looks like there’s a blank spot in the center of the crosshatching. I was careful not to move it around too much to displace the oil. Before u start ripping on me I’m a 58 year old woman. In my teens and 20’s I changed my own oil but these new cars r just too hard for me to get under. I love my car and take really good care of her so if u feel the need to criticize please keep this in mind. Also it looks like I’m holding it vertically but that’s just my pic angle. Thanks! Attached Images

10-30-2020, 10:46 PM	#2
avalonandl Drives: 2019 ZL-1 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Troy, MI & Naples, FL Posts: 2,019	No, its in the middle of the crosshatch. When you get to the bottom of the hatchmarks you are a quart low. You have a v8, it has 10 qt. system and will run fine with 9 quarts but then you should add a qt. Do NOT over fill. __________________ 2019 ZL-1 Acquired 4/23/21 at 6300 miles. Riverside Blue, A10, PDR. Traded in 2017 2SS with 6M and 32k miles. Continental Extreme Contact Sports. Now has 10,000 miles... 2012 Yukon XL Denali w/ 6.2 AWD

10-30-2020, 11:48 PM	#7
95 imp Dumb Ass Deluxe Drives: A Tricked Out Mountain Bike Join Date: Jun 2019 Location: Arizona Posts: 1,959	It should be 1/2 to 3/4 cold and 3/4 to full hot. Check it on your wrist like a baby bottle to see if it is warm, or pull the oil temp up on the DIC if you have that. The oil will expand as it gets hot and, like others said, it's better to be a little low than over filled. __________________

10-31-2020, 12:39 AM	#10
UnknownJinX Drives: 19 Chevrolet Camaro 2SS 1LE Shock Join Date: Apr 2020 Location: BC, Canada Posts: 1,947	Looks fine. The LT1 actually holds a lot of oil. I was surprised when I learned that 6.4 HEMI and Hellcat 6.2 only hold 6 quarts. __________________ Current: 2019 Chevrolet Camaro 2SS 1LE M6 Shock GM Performance Intake and that's it, because driver mods before car mods Past: 2009 Mazda RX-8 GT M6 Velocity Red Mica (Sold) 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z51 2LT M7 Velocity Yellow Tintcoat (Flood totaled)

10-31-2020, 10:53 AM	#12
LT4Greg Drives: 2017 Camaro ZL1 Coupe Join Date: May 2016 Location: Georgia Posts: 5,813	You are good to go! I would though check the oil level when the car has been sitting overnight as you would get a more accurate reading with the oil cold. Keep putting the miles in Hekate!�� __________________ 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.

10-30-2020, 10:49 PM	#3
donaldp Drives: 2017 Red Hot ZL1 M6 Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: San Diego Posts: 321	These are the worst dipsticks ever designed. Can't read them properly ever. The problem is worsened by the fact that the dipstick does not go straight down from the holder into the oil pan It takes a sort of figure "S" to reach the bottom. When the stick is removed to check the oil, you get this result, possibly oil is rubbing off the stick as it makes the S turns on the exit of the holder. To your question, I think it looks fine. Check it again in 500 miles. Keep in mind our cars hold over 10 quarts of oil so if you are low at all, it's a small percentage of the total capacity.

10-30-2020, 10:50 PM	#4
Altered Carbon Ghost Spawn Drives: Camaro Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: East Coast Posts: 538	No.

10-30-2020, 10:58 PM	#5
Hekate1 Drives: 2020 2SS 1LE Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Central Texas Posts: 227	Thank u! I’ll keep an eye on it. I guess I’m always afraid the dealership has hired someone that doesn’t realize it takes 10 qts and they‘ll short it. Surely not....

10-30-2020, 11:58 PM	#8
metros11 Drives: 2018 SS 1LE Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: North Jersey Posts: 776	Your oil level is fine. 58 year old woman driving a 1LE, hell yeah!

10-31-2020, 12:12 PM	#13
JSH Drives: '20 ZLE Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: Mile High Posts: 3,558	I just made the mistake of adding 1/2 Qt. when the oil was in the middle of the hatched area but I didn't realize the engine was NOT stone cold, like after sitting overnight in my garage cold. So, it's now a fraction of an inch (~1/8") above the top of the hatched area. __________________ '20 ZL1 1LE A10, OEM short block, LME heads/valve train, E2650. 100+ octanes, no eth, no meth, no N2O. 2/23 - 1031/1004 wheel. 4/23 - 1.41/9.61/145 at DA 7000 ft. (only made five passes). 2/24 - LME 390, E2650, FBO, 100 oct.; 1116hp/ 1063tq; 109 oct. dyno next.

10-31-2020, 12:41 PM	#14
Venomcustom Hard to want. Drives: 2020 red hot 1SS 1LE Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: Nashville Tennessee Posts: 527	Oil is fine. Congrats on being a bad ass!!

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