[Z06] Low Oil Level Warning!
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,184
Likes: 1
From: CT
Low Oil Level Warning!
I picked up the car from the body shop today. They buffed some scratches and repainted my front license plate cover for me.
When I drove out, I noticed "Low Oil Level" on the DIC.
Oil level seemed low on the dipstick. I don't know if it was smoke coming out of the dipstick hole or just a difference in temp (the oil was at 190 degrees at that time and the temp outside was 72).
I put in a quart of Mobil 1 and it was back to normal levels.
This is a bit concerning. I think I will be taking it to the dealer (I'm under warranty).
I have an '02. Oil last changed 2500 miles ago.
Any thoughts?
When I drove out, I noticed "Low Oil Level" on the DIC.
Oil level seemed low on the dipstick. I don't know if it was smoke coming out of the dipstick hole or just a difference in temp (the oil was at 190 degrees at that time and the temp outside was 72).
I put in a quart of Mobil 1 and it was back to normal levels.
This is a bit concerning. I think I will be taking it to the dealer (I'm under warranty).
I have an '02. Oil last changed 2500 miles ago.
Any thoughts?
Last edited by mkiv808; May 17, 2006 at 06:37 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,454
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From: Ventura County CA
Probably moister burning off that you noticed coming out of the dipstick or PCV valve could be malfunctioning. As for a quart low, it leaked out, burned off or was sent out the tail pipe wet. A check over is a good idea. Keep us informed and good luck.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 10,649
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From: Central Florida
This subject was much written about in earlier years.
(1) If the motor is shut down when the car is parked in a nose down or nose up attitude, the DIC will occasionally throw an erroneous "low oil level" message.
(2) The only time checking the oil will yield an accurate reading is when the car has rested overnight and the oil is cold.
(3) To get an accurate reading...in the morning after the car has sat overnight, pull the dip stick out and read it.
(4) Do not wipe, reinsert , withdraw, and read. The shape of the dip stick tube drips oils back on the stick on both insertion and withdrawal.
For mkiv808, I'd suggest you check the oil again using (3) above. I'd adjust the oil level if it's too high.
Also please tell us who did your last oil change. The LS6 is supposed to get 6.5 quarts. It is not unheard of that someone will add the 6 quarts and inadvertently omit the last .5. If that happened to you and you checked the level 2500 miles later with hot oil, you'd read low.
That's one of the reasons on that car, I always changed the oil myself and added exactly 6.5 and then checked the level at least weekly...in the morning so that I got an accurate reading.
Ranger
(1) If the motor is shut down when the car is parked in a nose down or nose up attitude, the DIC will occasionally throw an erroneous "low oil level" message.
(2) The only time checking the oil will yield an accurate reading is when the car has rested overnight and the oil is cold.
(3) To get an accurate reading...in the morning after the car has sat overnight, pull the dip stick out and read it.
(4) Do not wipe, reinsert , withdraw, and read. The shape of the dip stick tube drips oils back on the stick on both insertion and withdrawal.
For mkiv808, I'd suggest you check the oil again using (3) above. I'd adjust the oil level if it's too high.
Also please tell us who did your last oil change. The LS6 is supposed to get 6.5 quarts. It is not unheard of that someone will add the 6 quarts and inadvertently omit the last .5. If that happened to you and you checked the level 2500 miles later with hot oil, you'd read low.
That's one of the reasons on that car, I always changed the oil myself and added exactly 6.5 and then checked the level at least weekly...in the morning so that I got an accurate reading.
Ranger
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,184
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From: CT
Ranger,
You were the last to change the oil. I think I'm going to take it to a local indie oil stop that's owned by a C5Z06 owner tomorrow. Change it and see if the problem comes up again.
You were the last to change the oil. I think I'm going to take it to a local indie oil stop that's owned by a C5Z06 owner tomorrow. Change it and see if the problem comes up again.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 10,649
Likes: 32
From: Central Florida
Originally Posted by mkiv808
Ranger,
You were the last to change the oil. I think I'm going to take it to a local indie oil stop that's owned by a C5Z06 owner tomorrow. Change it and see if the problem comes up again.
You were the last to change the oil. I think I'm going to take it to a local indie oil stop that's owned by a C5Z06 owner tomorrow. Change it and see if the problem comes up again.
So your approach is a good one.
Ranger
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,911
Likes: 1
From: Augusta GA
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
Originally Posted by Ranger
This subject was much written about in earlier years.
(1) If the motor is shut down when the car is parked in a nose down or nose up attitude, the DIC will occasionally throw an erroneous "low oil level" message.
Ranger
(1) If the motor is shut down when the car is parked in a nose down or nose up attitude, the DIC will occasionally throw an erroneous "low oil level" message.
Ranger
I saw this once at the track in the lanes. Pulled out, and parked flat and let the car sit. No issues after that. Best to check it out. Good luck!Dave
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,155
Likes: 56
From: Escondido CA
my Z does it if i park downward on a steep hill , or if i am a qt low..
works like clockwork depending on how i drive..i don't track , but my 01-goes about 1800 to 2200 mi/ qt, msg shows in DIC-i add a qt, and all is well..seems very reliable , i trust the DIC-almost as much as the dipstick
works like clockwork depending on how i drive..i don't track , but my 01-goes about 1800 to 2200 mi/ qt, msg shows in DIC-i add a qt, and all is well..seems very reliable , i trust the DIC-almost as much as the dipstick
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From: Virginia Beach
CI 3-5-6-7-8 Veteran
If an '02 is using oil in means the valley cover seal is bad and it's sucking oil in through the PCV system... it's an easy fix if it comes to that. In these cases the oil consumption can go from nothing to drastic as the seal fails.
I always put 7 quarts in the car when changing the oil... it puts it at the full mark on the dipstick.
I always put 7 quarts in the car when changing the oil... it puts it at the full mark on the dipstick.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: salem OR
Originally Posted by Cobra4B
If an '02 is using oil in means the valley cover seal is bad and it's sucking oil in through the PCV system... it's an easy fix if it comes to that. In these cases the oil consumption can go from nothing to drastic as the seal fails.
I always put 7 quarts in the car when changing the oil... it puts it at the full mark on the dipstick.
I always put 7 quarts in the car when changing the oil... it puts it at the full mark on the dipstick.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,538
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From: Pasadena, CA
Originally Posted by Ranger
(2) The only time checking the oil will yield an accurate reading is when the car has rested overnight and the oil is cold.
(4) Do not wipe, reinsert , withdraw, and read. The shape of the dip stick tube drips oils back on the stick on both insertion and withdrawal.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 10,649
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From: Central Florida
Originally Posted by DitchTehFish
According to the owners manual it says the exact opposite of what you're suggesting, it says: check oil when warm, and wipe of the dipstick. What gives?
The oil collects in the pan. The dip stick extends into the pan thru a tube and gathers the oil reading. But the dip stick has a complex curve that tends to pick up oil along its length on insertion thru the tube. That makes getting an accurate reading difficult. The more so if (1) oil is still dripping back into the pan and (2) you follow the remove, wipe, insert, remove and read procedure.
Take it for what it's worth. If you're more comforatble following the owners manual, and can manage a good reading using it, please do so. I can't and neither can many owners. So we follow the technique I described. It works every time and read the oil level at its max in the morning. By taking the reading then, you get a very consistent reading day-to-day, which is what most owners are after.
Ranger
Last edited by Ranger; Jun 10, 2006 at 05:40 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2006
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From: Pasadena, CA
Originally Posted by Ranger
There is a long history to this. I had two Z06s and wanted to track the oil level like a hawk. Owners of the LS6 found that the technique I described works best. I didn't invent the procedure.
The oil collects in the pan. The dip stick extends into the pan thru a tube and gathers the oil reading. But the dip stick has a complex curve that tends to pick up oil along its length on insertion thru the tube. That makes getting an accurate reading difficult. The more so if (1) oil is still dripping back into the pan and (2) you follow the remove, wipe, insert, remove and read procedure.
Take it for what it's worth. If you're more comforatble following the owners manual, and can manage a good reading using it, please do so. I can't and neither can many owners. So we follow the technique I described. It works every time and read the oil level at its max in the morning. By taking the reading then, you get a very consistent reading day-to-day, which is what most owners are after.
Ranger
The oil collects in the pan. The dip stick extends into the pan thru a tube and gathers the oil reading. But the dip stick has a complex curve that tends to pick up oil along its length on insertion thru the tube. That makes getting an accurate reading difficult. The more so if (1) oil is still dripping back into the pan and (2) you follow the remove, wipe, insert, remove and read procedure.
Take it for what it's worth. If you're more comforatble following the owners manual, and can manage a good reading using it, please do so. I can't and neither can many owners. So we follow the technique I described. It works every time and read the oil level at its max in the morning. By taking the reading then, you get a very consistent reading day-to-day, which is what most owners are after.
Ranger
What about the "oil being warm" part in the manual? In the morning the oil will be very cool, obviously. I'm all for doing things the correct way, and yours seems to be valid. I just like a full understanding of what's going on.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
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From: Central Florida
Originally Posted by DitchTehFish
...What about the "oil being warm" part in the manual? In the morning the oil will be very cool, obviously....
What GM is doing by wanting the oil level measured hot is, in my view, trying to allow a safety cushion at absolute minimal oil levels by ensuring some of the oil is actually distributed thru the engine when the reading is taken. I'm not worried about that condition because I'm tracking the oil level (cold in the morning) frequently enough that it never gets low.
My sense is that's an admirable goal that fails in the details. When you shut the motor off, gravity eventually returns most of the circulating oil to the pan. But when does it all get there. If you measure it at 3 min, 5 min, 7 min, 9 min, etc. You'll get maginally different readings. If you measure it the next morning, you'll get a consistent reading.
Ranger
Safety Car
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From: Pasadena, CA
Originally Posted by Ranger
If I take 6.5 quarts of oil and put them in a graduate they will measure the same volume whether the oil's temp is ambient (say 70 F) or hot (say 210 F).
What GM is doing by wanting the oil level measured hot is, in my view, trying to allow a safety cushion at absolute minimal oil levels by ensuring some of the oil is actually distributed thru the engine when the reading is taken. I'm not worried about that condition because I'm tracking the oil level (cold in the morning) frequently enough that it never gets low.
My sense is that's an admirable goal that fails in the details. When you shut the motor off, gravity eventually returns most of the circulating oil to the pan. But when does it all get there. If you measure it at 3 min, 5 min, 7 min, 9 min, etc. You'll get maginally different readings. If you measure it the next morning, you'll get a consistent reading.
Ranger
What GM is doing by wanting the oil level measured hot is, in my view, trying to allow a safety cushion at absolute minimal oil levels by ensuring some of the oil is actually distributed thru the engine when the reading is taken. I'm not worried about that condition because I'm tracking the oil level (cold in the morning) frequently enough that it never gets low.
My sense is that's an admirable goal that fails in the details. When you shut the motor off, gravity eventually returns most of the circulating oil to the pan. But when does it all get there. If you measure it at 3 min, 5 min, 7 min, 9 min, etc. You'll get maginally different readings. If you measure it the next morning, you'll get a consistent reading.
Ranger
So just to clarify, let the car sit on level ground overnight, pull the dipstick in the morning, read it, and the rest is history. Correct?
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
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From: Central Florida
Originally Posted by DitchTehFish
Good deal Ranger. So just to clarify, let the car sit on level ground overnight, pull the dipstick in the morning, read it, and the rest is history. Correct?
So just to clarify, let the car sit on level ground overnight, pull the dipstick in the morning, read it, and the rest is history. Correct?While we're going thru all this, it is worth ruffening up the cross-hatched zone on the dip stick using a piece of emery cloth or a nail file. The roughened surface will trap a bit more oil and make reading it easier.
Ranger
Safety Car
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From: Pasadena, CA
Originally Posted by Ranger
it is worth ruffening up the cross-hatched zone on the dip stick using a piece of emery cloth or a nail file. The roughened surface will trap a bit more oil and make reading it easier.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
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From: Central Florida
Originally Posted by DitchTehFish
Wouldn't that smoothen the surface, kind of like sandpaper? Excuse my ignorance...
Ranger
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From: King George VA
It is entirely possible your car is losing oil as Cobra mentioned above. I had an early 02 motor in my car when it was stock and I frequently lost oil, particularly after high rpm use. The oil loss path is either via the rings due to ring flutter at high rpm low load, or via the PCV system into the intake. If you want to see if you are losing oil into your intake, take off the intake at the throttle body and see if there is any oil pooled there. I suspect there will be. One fix for this is to replace the valley cover, a job I did myself in an afternoon back in 03.
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Heel & Toe
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The top line on your dipstick is not the FULL line but rather the MAX line. The engine takes 6.5 Qts. when FULL. Your FULL line is whatever 6.5 Qts. comes to on your dipstick. Filling to the MAX line usually takes 7 Qts.
For more about this please see my post in: http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1415335
Cheers!
Jim
For more about this please see my post in: http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1415335
Cheers!
Jim
