I need help with my 75 Stingray
Thread Starter
1st Gear
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
I need help with my 75 Stingray
I purchased a 1975 Corvette about three weeks ago. I have fixed a few simple problems with the car such as the speedometer and the door locks. However, when I drive it I have noticed that the oil pressure gage will drop. Recently it has started to drop lower and lower. It almost reached empty the last time that I drove it. I pulled the dipstick out to check it. There was barely a few drops on it. I wiped it clean and checked it again. The second time I looked at it there was no oil at all on the dipstick. I have looked and I cannot find where to put more oil into the car. The dipstick is on the left side of the engine, but I cannot find where to fill it with oil. The Corvette still has the original engine, a 350, and I don't want it to lock up so I'm not going to drive it anywhere until I can put more oil in it. The engine has about 68,000 miles.
I need to know what is the best oil to use, and where I fill it up with oil.
I need to know what is the best oil to use, and where I fill it up with oil.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 298
Likes: 0
From: Comstock Park Michigan
Congrats on the purchase. I have a '73 with a 350, and the oil fill cap is right on my left valve cover. I wouldn't use a real expensive oil for now, if it's just gonna leak out, or get burnt off. I think Castrol GTX 10-40 is pretty good stuff.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 7,456
Likes: 2
From: Coming home from Luckenbach Texas
You shouldn't be driving the car until you solve this problem! You have a SERIOUS oil consumption and/or leakage issue. Your engine could become damaged -- or seized -- by running this low on oil!!!
If you have aftermarket valve covers that don't have an oil filler cap. It's possible you'll have to remove the PCV valve from the valve cover, and use a funnel to fill it with oil.
If you have aftermarket valve covers that don't have an oil filler cap. It's possible you'll have to remove the PCV valve from the valve cover, and use a funnel to fill it with oil.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,672
Likes: 1
From: New Cumberland PA
Oil cap should be on the driver's side vavle cover.
Don't confuse oil pressure with the amount of oil in the engine. Running low on oil may contribute to low oil pressure due to the fact that the oil is getting hotter and thinner.
Fill it up and drive it, and get an idea as to how much it using or losing. If it is leaking oil, find out where and have it fixed. If it burning more than 1 quart in less than 500 miles, it may have to be rebuilt.
Don't confuse oil pressure with the amount of oil in the engine. Running low on oil may contribute to low oil pressure due to the fact that the oil is getting hotter and thinner.
Fill it up and drive it, and get an idea as to how much it using or losing. If it is leaking oil, find out where and have it fixed. If it burning more than 1 quart in less than 500 miles, it may have to be rebuilt.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,652
Likes: 80
From: Lakeland Florida
You should be able to pour oil down a hole in the valve covers.
Depending on what type of valve covers you have, there may be a total 0-3 holes in them.
If they are replaced and not original, there may not be any holes in them at all, because the replacer forgot to punch out the holes.
Typically there is at least one hole for the oil cap to be inserted.
There may also be one hole for the air cleaner to valve cover connection.
There should also be a hole for the PCV connection.
Any one of these three should work to add oil to your car. Use a funnel to help guide the oil and not spill all over your valve covers.
For the oil level issue, is the issue that it is using oil through burning, or blow by, or is it leaking, in which case you should see drops of oil or a puddle on the ground. There are different remedies for both kinds.
kdf
Depending on what type of valve covers you have, there may be a total 0-3 holes in them.
If they are replaced and not original, there may not be any holes in them at all, because the replacer forgot to punch out the holes.
Typically there is at least one hole for the oil cap to be inserted.
There may also be one hole for the air cleaner to valve cover connection.
There should also be a hole for the PCV connection.
Any one of these three should work to add oil to your car. Use a funnel to help guide the oil and not spill all over your valve covers.
For the oil level issue, is the issue that it is using oil through burning, or blow by, or is it leaking, in which case you should see drops of oil or a puddle on the ground. There are different remedies for both kinds.
kdf
