'96 Engine Oil Capacity Issue

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Mar 10, 2004 | 09:12 AM

Ron04,02,96,64

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Drifting

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'96 Engine Oil Capacity Issue

The 1996 owners manual says:

- 4.0 qts without filter
- 4.5 qts with filter

To my knowledge, ALL Chevy small blocks in the past required AT LEAST 5 qts of engine oil. Is the manual wrong??

To further confuse the issue, when I change the oil and put in just 4.5 qts and check later after its fully drained into the pan, the dipstick always reads
correctly. :(

Mar 10, 2004 | 09:16 AM

bogus

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From: San Pedro CA

Re: '96 Engine Oil Capacity Issue (Ron04,02,96,64)

There were issues with the LT1 and oil foaming if you put in all 5 quarts.

Mar 10, 2004 | 10:17 AM

MSR

Burning Brakes

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From: Houston TX

Re: '96 Engine Oil Capacity Issue (Ron04,02,96,64)

i'm pretty sure the LT4 takes more. mine showed full on the stick when i used about 5.5qts. i've seen a few references on the web to the same, such as:
http://www.grandsportregistry.com/96_specs.htm#SPECS

with the stock pan i used to run 6qts, to help keep it from starving during auto-x.

-michael

Mar 10, 2004 | 10:22 AM

VR'92

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From: I'm the walkin dude I can see all of the world...

St. Jude Donor '03

Re: '96 Engine Oil Capacity Issue (MSR)

5 for me!

Wierd on the 96 tho..... :flag

Mar 10, 2004 | 10:47 AM

sinc93

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From: Oceanside CA

Re: '96 Engine Oil Capacity Issue (VictorRussell'92)

I put in 4.5 with a filter change. It will read a little low at first after refilling the oil. Let it sit overnight and check it again. It will read right on the full mark. I know a lot of places that overfill the engine I guess because it's easier just to dump in the last quart. One Corvette place told me it varied from engine to engine and they have dumped in as high as 6 quarts into an LT1. I politely mentioned that if the internals and pan are all the same, could it be possible that the dipstick installation is the part that varies. That seemed to make them stop and think. I'd rather not risk blowing my seals and just put in what the powertrain engineers say to do.

Mar 10, 2004 | 11:21 AM

SouthernSon

Race Director

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From: N. Alabama

Re: '96 Engine Oil Capacity Issue (Ron04,02,96,64)

Bogus is right. If the oil level interferes with crank throw, it will be whipped into a foam (aerated). If the oil foams, one can loose oil pressure because the pump cannot pump foam. (a very bad thing). :eek:

[Modified by southern_son, 10:22 AM 3/10/2004]

Mar 10, 2004 | 01:41 PM

JasonL

Melting Slicks

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From: Northern CA

Re: '96 Engine Oil Capacity Issue (Ron04,02,96,64)

I put 5 qts in my '96 and have never had no foaming issues.

There's really no comparison to earlier SBC because it depends on the oil pan design. e.g. I believe the LT1 F-body takes closer to 6 qts.

Mar 10, 2004 | 01:58 PM

TM-Z06

Safety Car

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From: Hayward CA

Re: '96 Engine Oil Capacity Issue (Ron04,02,96,64)

I just changed my oil/filter this past weekend. I added 5 quarts, let it sit a while, checked it, and it was on the low side of the "operating range" on the dip stick. So I added a 1/2 quart more, let it sit, checked it.....perfect.