Dip Stick Question - Where's the "FULL" Mark"
10-20-2014, 05:04 PM
#1
Heel & Toe
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Dip Stick Question - Where's the "FULL" Mark"
Hi Guys & Gals,
After reading the owners manual regarding checking your oil level in a stock LS1 engine all it says is if the oil level is below the cross hatched area on the dip stick you'll need to add one or more quarts of oil. It doesn't say or show where the full mark is. Anyone know for sure where the "FULL" point is on the dip stick?
After reading the owners manual regarding checking your oil level in a stock LS1 engine all it says is if the oil level is below the cross hatched area on the dip stick you'll need to add one or more quarts of oil. It doesn't say or show where the full mark is. Anyone know for sure where the "FULL" point is on the dip stick?
10-20-2014, 05:13 PM
#2
Hi Guys & Gals,
After reading the owners manual regarding checking your oil level in a stock LS1 engine all it says is if the oil level is below the cross hatched area on the dip stick you'll need to add one or more quarts of oil. It doesn't say or show where the full mark is. Anyone know for sure where the "FULL" point is on the dip stick?
After reading the owners manual regarding checking your oil level in a stock LS1 engine all it says is if the oil level is below the cross hatched area on the dip stick you'll need to add one or more quarts of oil. It doesn't say or show where the full mark is. Anyone know for sure where the "FULL" point is on the dip stick?
I just aim for in between the two holes...
Wow...now THAT could be taken the wrong way, couldn't it?!?!
I meant the two holes on the dipstick...
10-20-2014, 05:20 PM
#3
Race Director
Hi Guys & Gals,
After reading the owners manual regarding checking your oil level in a stock LS1 engine all it says is if the oil level is below the cross hatched area on the dip stick you'll need to add one or more quarts of oil. It doesn't say or show where the full mark is. Anyone know for sure where the "FULL" point is on the dip stick?
After reading the owners manual regarding checking your oil level in a stock LS1 engine all it says is if the oil level is below the cross hatched area on the dip stick you'll need to add one or more quarts of oil. It doesn't say or show where the full mark is. Anyone know for sure where the "FULL" point is on the dip stick?
10-20-2014, 05:48 PM
#5
Race Director
Remember to check the oil a couple of minutes after the engine has been run. You will get an inaccurate reading if checking when the engine is cold, per the owner's manual instructions.
10-20-2014, 07:16 PM
#6
Drifting
The stock LS1 takes 6-1/2 quarts to fill. The space between the bottom and top of the of the cross-hatch section equals one quart.
Remember to check the oil a couple of minutes after the engine has been run. You will get an inaccurate reading if checking when the engine is cold, per the owner's manual instructions.
Remember to check the oil a couple of minutes after the engine has been run. You will get an inaccurate reading if checking when the engine is cold, per the owner's manual instructions.
If you track your car, or experience 'G' force on curves, oil will slosh over to one side. This is true in any vehicle. But, in Corvette, due to it's capabilities in cornering, it is even more so, important. Since Corvette was built to race, having oil 'full' is essential, in this regard. There were other features built into the LS1, for this as well. This car was built to race, and nearly full, is not good enough.
Don
10-20-2014, 08:27 PM
#7
The stock LS1 takes 6-1/2 quarts to fill. The space between the bottom and top of the of the cross-hatch section equals one quart.
Remember to check the oil a couple of minutes after the engine has been run. You will get an inaccurate reading if checking when the engine is cold, per the owner's manual instructions.
Remember to check the oil a couple of minutes after the engine has been run. You will get an inaccurate reading if checking when the engine is cold, per the owner's manual instructions.
And I can't visualize how a cold reading on a dipstick could ever give a false high reading -on any vehicle- batwing oil pan or not. Not arguing though-because I realize that the owners manual says that a cold level reading can be false. It must be that the dipstick on these C5s are calibrated for warm oil and not cold oil like most vehicles.
I measure how much oil is drained during an oil change-and replace the old oil with the same amount of new oil. And always get a low reading in the mid hatch marks --if I add just 6 and one half quarts. Strange!
Last edited by phoneman91; 10-20-2014 at 08:38 PM.
10-20-2014, 10:43 PM
#8
Burning Brakes
I also read that the cold and the warm levels will be different. But I see no difference between the two temperature readings . And my 01 LS1 is at the top of the cross hatch at 7 quarts.
And I can't visualize how a cold reading on a dipstick could ever give a false high reading -on any vehicle- batwing oil pan or not. Not arguing though-because I realize that the owners manual says that a cold level reading can be false. It must be that the dipstick on these C5s are calibrated for warm oil and not cold oil like most vehicles.
I measure how much oil is drained during an oil change-and replace the old oil with the same amount of new oil. And always get a low reading in the mid hatch marks --if I add just 6 and one half quarts. Strange!
And I can't visualize how a cold reading on a dipstick could ever give a false high reading -on any vehicle- batwing oil pan or not. Not arguing though-because I realize that the owners manual says that a cold level reading can be false. It must be that the dipstick on these C5s are calibrated for warm oil and not cold oil like most vehicles.
I measure how much oil is drained during an oil change-and replace the old oil with the same amount of new oil. And always get a low reading in the mid hatch marks --if I add just 6 and one half quarts. Strange!
10-20-2014, 11:26 PM
#9
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That is where the oil registers on mine when I put in 6.5 quarts.
10-21-2014, 09:19 AM
#10
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QUOTE Corvette_Ed; The stock LS1 takes 6-1/2 quarts to fill. The space between the bottom and top of the of the cross-hatch section equals one quart.
Remember to check the oil a couple of minutes after the engine has been run. You will get an inaccurate reading if checking when the engine is cold, per the owner's manual instructions.[/QUOTE]
I kind of figured the top of the cross hatched area would be the full mark. As I changed the oil in my 04 for the first time I paid particular attention to the oil level on the dip stick as I added the 5th quart and beyond. I noticed after adding the 6th quart it was still in the cross hatched area so began to add the 7th quart in three stages until the container was empty and this coincided with the oil level being right at the top of the cross hatched area. I should also say that I made sure the new oil filter was totally full before I began adding oil to the crankcase. Now, (and this is were I believe the cold/warm reading stuff comes into play) after running the engine oil up to normal operating temp, and allowing the engine to sit for a few minutes, the oil level reads slightly above the cross hatched area on the dip stick. I'm at a loss to explain why cold vs warm can make a difference in the reading but then again I'm not a design engineer so I'll just go along with the best advise given here and in the manual and put this unanswered question to rest. Thanks to all of you who contributed to my question and rest assured I'll have more questions in the very near future.
PS ~ I don't know why I waited so long to buy my first Corvette, it is far and away the greatest personal/sports car I've ever owned.
Remember to check the oil a couple of minutes after the engine has been run. You will get an inaccurate reading if checking when the engine is cold, per the owner's manual instructions.[/QUOTE]
I kind of figured the top of the cross hatched area would be the full mark. As I changed the oil in my 04 for the first time I paid particular attention to the oil level on the dip stick as I added the 5th quart and beyond. I noticed after adding the 6th quart it was still in the cross hatched area so began to add the 7th quart in three stages until the container was empty and this coincided with the oil level being right at the top of the cross hatched area. I should also say that I made sure the new oil filter was totally full before I began adding oil to the crankcase. Now, (and this is were I believe the cold/warm reading stuff comes into play) after running the engine oil up to normal operating temp, and allowing the engine to sit for a few minutes, the oil level reads slightly above the cross hatched area on the dip stick. I'm at a loss to explain why cold vs warm can make a difference in the reading but then again I'm not a design engineer so I'll just go along with the best advise given here and in the manual and put this unanswered question to rest. Thanks to all of you who contributed to my question and rest assured I'll have more questions in the very near future.
PS ~ I don't know why I waited so long to buy my first Corvette, it is far and away the greatest personal/sports car I've ever owned.
10-21-2014, 09:58 AM
#11
Race Director
I have a 2001 vert. I agree with you 100%. When I change my oil and filter I put in 7 quarts. The oil on the dip stick then measures to the top of the cross hatch. I check my oil level in the morning when the car has been sitting over night. I have always done this with any car that I have owned and never had any problems. Don't understand why you would have to run the engine for 5 minutes, turn the car off and then wait 5 minutes to check the level of the oil.
10-21-2014, 06:15 PM
#12
That may be true, but putting in a little too much isn't going to hurt anything. I put "a little too much" (usually about 1/4 of a quart) in all of the vehicles in which I change the oil myself (mine and my kids', a total of five vehicles), simply for the reason that over time, every engine tends to burn at least a little oil between oil changes. I don't go overboard; for example, I put about 6.75 quarts total in the Vette. This way, I generally never have to add any oil before the next oil change (although I do check the levels periodically just to make sure they don't get too low, which I define as being close to or below the low level mark).
10-21-2014, 06:21 PM
#13
Race Director
I put "a little too much" (usually about 1/4 of a quart) in all of the vehicles in which I change the oil myself (mine and my kids', a total of five vehicles), simply for the reason that over time, every engine tends to burn at least a little oil between oil changes.
10-21-2014, 06:28 PM
#14
You may think you don't lose any, but the loss occurs, it may just be too imperceptible for you to notice. No combustion engine exists that doesn't burn at least the smallest amount of oil over a given period of time.
10-21-2014, 06:36 PM
#15
Race Director
10-22-2014, 10:00 PM
#16
Safety Car
Owners manual also say if tracking add another qt to compensate for the G slosh effect- I doubt a 1/2 qt will.hurt you- I always put in 7 - no issues-
10-23-2014, 11:43 AM
#18
Race Director
10-23-2014, 12:45 PM
#19
Melting Slicks
The stock LS1 takes 6-1/2 quarts to fill. The space between the bottom and top of the of the cross-hatch section equals one quart.
Remember to check the oil a couple of minutes after the engine has been run. You will get an inaccurate reading if checking when the engine is cold, per the owner's manual instructions.
Remember to check the oil a couple of minutes after the engine has been run. You will get an inaccurate reading if checking when the engine is cold, per the owner's manual instructions.
10-23-2014, 12:56 PM
#20
Race Director
