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Old Jan 15, 2006 | 10:41 AM
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Default Oil capacity?

Hey I have an easy question that I am not sure of. I change my oil & filter myself always on all my cars I have had. On my 2000 Z28 she took 6qrts & read full on the mark. On my 2000 C5 she seems to take 6.5qrts to read full on the mark. Is this normal for a C5? I figured it would be 6qrts like my Z28 being the same engine.
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Old Jan 15, 2006 | 10:53 AM
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Originally Posted by JPriami
Hey I have an easy question that I am not sure of. I change my oil & filter myself always on all my cars I have had. On my 2000 Z28 she took 6qrts & read full on the mark. On my 2000 C5 she seems to take 6.5qrts to read full on the mark. Is this normal for a C5? I figured it would be 6qrts like my Z28 being the same engine.

1997 service manual calls out:
6.0 quarts without oil filter replacement
6.5 quarts with oil filter replacement

Mine took 6.5 quarts and I replaced the filter

Last edited by Stealthy4; Jan 16, 2006 at 08:47 AM.
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Old Jan 15, 2006 | 10:56 AM
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Originally Posted by Stealthy4
1997 service manual calls out:
6.0 quarts without oil filter replacement
6.5 quarts with oil filter replacement

Mine took 6.5 quarts and I replaced the filter
same here on my '97.

Paul
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Old Jan 15, 2006 | 10:57 AM
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For spirited driving, the recommendation is 7 qt
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Old Jan 15, 2006 | 11:03 AM
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Default Oil capacity

I always run my all of my vehicles 1/2 qt over the capacity.
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Old Jan 15, 2006 | 11:14 AM
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Thanks for the replies. Now I can rest easy.
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Old Jan 15, 2006 | 11:42 AM
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It is 6.5 quarts to full. Earlier years show full to top mark on dipstick, later years show full to middle mark on dipstick (go figure!).

Owners manual says to put an extra quart in for track driving, but to drain it out afterwards.
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Old Jan 15, 2006 | 12:21 PM
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I run 7.5 quarts in mine all the time, and the oil analysis results always come back looking good, and the level on my dipstick never goes down. In fact I'm at almost 9000 miles on my current oil (which I'm changing today) and the level on the dipstick never moved! So it's safe to run 7.5 quarts obviously (and I don't even bother to lift the back end when changing the oil, so that's even more oil that I'm running in my engine!)
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Old Jan 15, 2006 | 12:24 PM
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Originally Posted by Sponge Vette
For spirited driving, the recommendation is 7 qt


I always put in that last 1/2
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Old Jan 15, 2006 | 12:38 PM
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Originally Posted by Stealthy4
1997 service manual calls out:
6.0 quarts without oil filter replacement
6.5 quarts with oil filter replacement

Mine took 6.5 quarts and I replaced the filter


Same on my 2000!
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Old Jan 15, 2006 | 01:26 PM
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I do 7 quarts. Its a waste for me truthfully, but WTF
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Old Jan 15, 2006 | 03:52 PM
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I always do 7qts and it seems to be right at the full mark. Why have 1/2qt sitting around?
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Old Jan 15, 2006 | 08:56 PM
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Originally Posted by JPriami
Hey I have an easy question that I am not sure of. I change my oil & filter myself always on all my cars I have had. On my 2000 Z28 she took 6qrts & read full on the mark. On my 2000 C5 she seems to take 6.5qrts to read full on the mark. Is this normal for a C5? I figured it would be 6qrts like my Z28 being the same engine.
I think the side "wings" on the C5 oil pan account for the extra 1/2 quart above the F-body LS1s.
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Old Jan 15, 2006 | 09:44 PM
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6.5 quarts, with filter change, is correct per the manual. That's what I always put in.
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Old Jan 16, 2006 | 02:47 AM
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Default 7 quarts if butt lifted to complete drain

Originally Posted by JPriami
Hey I have an easy question that I am not sure of. I change my oil & filter myself always on all my cars I have had. On my 2000 Z28 she took 6qrts & read full on the mark. On my 2000 C5 she seems to take 6.5qrts to read full on the mark. Is this normal for a C5? I figured it would be 6qrts like my Z28 being the same engine.
Like your Z28, our 2000 TransAm (LS1) also takes 6 quarts if the passenger side is lifted to complete the drain, whereas the manual says 5.5 quarts.

By contrast, our 2000 Corvette C5 Vert (LS1) takes 7 Quarts if the butt is lifted to complete the drain (at least two 'jack stand' notches higher than the front), whereas the manual says 6.5 quarts.

Looks like GM never expected us to fully drain the oil pan! However, I (like many others) prefer a completely drained oil pan, which then allows for that extra 1/2 quart of NEW oil to be put back.
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Old Jan 16, 2006 | 03:52 AM
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Originally Posted by Old Rotor Head


I always put in that last 1/2
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Old Jan 16, 2006 | 08:27 AM
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6.5 quarts of oil with a filter change.
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Old Jan 16, 2006 | 09:57 AM
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Originally Posted by theadmiral94
Like your Z28, our 2000 TransAm (LS1) also takes 6 quarts if the passenger side is lifted to complete the drain, whereas the manual says 5.5 quarts.

By contrast, our 2000 Corvette C5 Vert (LS1) takes 7 Quarts if the butt is lifted to complete the drain (at least two 'jack stand' notches higher than the front), whereas the manual says 6.5 quarts.

Looks like GM never expected us to fully drain the oil pan! However, I (like many others) prefer a completely drained oil pan, which then allows for that extra 1/2 quart of NEW oil to be put back.
Actually, raising the rear only drains 4 ounces more oil (I measured). I do it anyways, why have any dirty oil remaining?
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Old Jan 16, 2006 | 10:34 AM
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I always put 9 quarts of Mobil 1 0W40 oil in mine. But, I have dual oil filters and an oil cooler integrated into my radiator:

.

.
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Old Jan 16, 2006 | 08:09 PM
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Originally Posted by Oldvetter
Actually, raising the rear only drains 4 ounces more oil (I measured). I do it anyways, why have any dirty oil remaining?
It's such a huge hassle for such a small amount of oil. Besides, a lot more oil than that stays inside the rest of the motor, trapped in the heads, oil passages, etc. So there is no point wasting time to jack up the rear just for that small amount. Your engine isn't going to last any longer. Besides, most of you change your oil far too often anyhow, so even if you only changed out 50% of your oil you'd still have clean oil all the time.
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