Oil consumption?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,146
Likes: 203
From: Edmonton Alberta, Canada
My '03 uses zero oil between changes but that is not to say what you are experiencing in not normal. It is well between GM acceptable specs. Don't sweat it just add a litre between oil changes. BTW the oil is slipping by the valve guides and is scrubbed by the cats so no smoke or smell (In case you were wondering where it is going)
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 2,725
Likes: 149
From: chicago area IL.
as some of you know the 01 is the worst year when it come to using oil
been thinking of pulling the engine and having the lower half redone. BTW i change it about every 3k
Last edited by Stroker87; Mar 23, 2016 at 11:34 PM.
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The FSM and the owner's manual states 6.5 quarts with filter change. But, some here have stated it took them 7 quarts to get the reading on the dipstick right. I've always used 6.5 quarts and it reads properly every time.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 214
Likes: 26
My C5Z burns(and in the oil catch can) half a quart after 4,000 miles, this is with alot of spirited driving, Around this time I change out my oil. Warm up the car a bit, then drain it, lift up the rear and let it drain some more over night, then I measure the amount of oil drained and conclude how much I burned. My C5Z has always used 7 quarts measured to the dipstick, my buddies base c5 has always needed 6.5 quarts 
weird.
Also for those wondering if you need an oil catch can, just use mobil one euro 0W 40, for the 8k miles I ran it in Z I only found a couple of drops in the catch can after an oil change, not like the couple of ounces I found with mobil one 5w 30 and currently with amsoil 5w 30, oil pressure never changed with the 0w 40, only switched back to 5w 30, because it took a while for the 0w 40 to warm up to full temp in the winter months.
weird. Also for those wondering if you need an oil catch can, just use mobil one euro 0W 40, for the 8k miles I ran it in Z I only found a couple of drops in the catch can after an oil change, not like the couple of ounces I found with mobil one 5w 30 and currently with amsoil 5w 30, oil pressure never changed with the 0w 40, only switched back to 5w 30, because it took a while for the 0w 40 to warm up to full temp in the winter months.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,928
Likes: 93
From: Boulder City NV
I got 1500 miles since last oil change. I use 5-30 Hi-Mi synth Mobil1. My oil life gauge is at 50%.Checked my dipstick the other day, I noticed level was down a tad..added about 1/3 Qt to bring it back to full. My car has 230000 on it. It's a street driven bone stock '99 a4 coupe. What's a catch can for anyway? am I missing something? I think I need floor mats worse..
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 3,052
Likes: 112
1/4 mile/AutoX
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 11,440
Likes: 2,184
From: Buffalo Texas
I have driven 3 GMC trucks with the LS engine, two of them over 200,000 and my present one is at 164,000 and none of them used any oil. Changed the oil at around 5000 miles and used Valvoline oil with a high capacity oil filter.
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Thank you for the comment.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2008
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It's much easier for members to see my photo album rather than bore everyone with pics. I love this car and never will settle for another one. It's a rock star in our local area.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/g/album/1295101
Thank you for the comment.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/g/album/1295101
Thank you for the comment.
If I decide to paint my black Z, this is exactly the color combo I'll go with. Inspiration. Gonna save all these pics on my computer.
And,btw NOBODY would be bored looking at pics of that car..!
.
Last edited by Studying4boards; Mar 25, 2016 at 08:44 AM.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 590
Likes: 57
From: Aurora Colorado
I've never owned a v8 that did not use some oil between changes, this consumption sounds "normal enough" to me. and it is directly proportional with how hard car is driven. Also my mechanic always says you should check your oil in the morning before you start the car and should be in the middle of range not the top.
and it is directly proportional with how hard car is driven. Also my mechanic always says you should check your oil in the morning before you start the car and should be in the middle of range not the top.Is everyone checking their oil level when the oil is hot or cold? I have noticed on mine, that the oil level will show lower when hot than when cold.
Per the owner's manual:
"Do not check the engine oil level after the engine has
been sitting overnight. A higher than normal reading
might be obtained. Check oil level with the oil warm.
Turn off the engine and give the oil a few minutes to
drain back into the oil pan. If you don’t, the oil dipstick
might not show the actual level."
https://my.chevrolet.com/content/dam...tte_owners.pdf
My 14k mile early build 2001 C5 burns about 1/2 quart per 2500 miles. And my city area requires a dyno emission test I/M 240 every two years and my emissions are extremely low--it could pass even higher and cleaner 2016 model year level Federal Emission standards . So no wear on the engine.
I noticed that the engine will use more oil when driving in the mountains. I suspect it uses more oil because I use engine compression braking when going down steep mountain roads--and don't use the brakes--to prevent overheating the brakes when going down very long downgrades that extend several miles at times.
Last edited by phoneman91; Mar 26, 2016 at 10:27 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 2,764
Likes: 375
From: Central Florida
The owner's manual states that a cold reading will be incorrect. It should be checked when warm.
Is everyone checking their oil level when the oil is hot or cold? I have noticed on mine, that the oil level will show higher when hot than when cold.
Per the owner's manual:
"Do not check the engine oil level after the engine has
been sitting overnight. A higher than normal reading
might be obtained. Check oil level with the oil warm.
Turn off the engine and give the oil a few minutes to
drain back into the oil pan. If you don’t, the oil dipstick
might not show the actual level."
https://my.chevrolet.com/content/dam...tte_owners.pdf
My 14k mile early build 2001 C5 burns about 1/2 quart per 2500 miles. And my city area requires a dyno emission test I/M 240 every two years and my emissions are extremely low--it could pass even higher and cleaner 2016 model year level Federal Emission standards . So no wear on the engine.
I noticed that the engine will use more oil when driving in the mountains. I suspect it uses more oil because I use engine compression braking when going down steep mountain roads--and don't use the brakes--to prevent overheating the brakes when going down very long downgrades that extend several miles at times.
Is everyone checking their oil level when the oil is hot or cold? I have noticed on mine, that the oil level will show higher when hot than when cold.
Per the owner's manual:
"Do not check the engine oil level after the engine has
been sitting overnight. A higher than normal reading
might be obtained. Check oil level with the oil warm.
Turn off the engine and give the oil a few minutes to
drain back into the oil pan. If you don’t, the oil dipstick
might not show the actual level."
https://my.chevrolet.com/content/dam...tte_owners.pdf
My 14k mile early build 2001 C5 burns about 1/2 quart per 2500 miles. And my city area requires a dyno emission test I/M 240 every two years and my emissions are extremely low--it could pass even higher and cleaner 2016 model year level Federal Emission standards . So no wear on the engine.
I noticed that the engine will use more oil when driving in the mountains. I suspect it uses more oil because I use engine compression braking when going down steep mountain roads--and don't use the brakes--to prevent overheating the brakes when going down very long downgrades that extend several miles at times.
, I think he probably tells people that to keep them from overfilling and it would always be a consistent reading, sometimes when oil is new it's hard to see where the level actually is and some of his customers are pretty old (Florida 
) either way, as long as it's between the marks you are ok, I've checked mine warm it doesn't change much, it's just easier to read cold.
Last edited by Forcedvert; Mar 26, 2016 at 10:55 PM.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 590
Likes: 57
From: Aurora Colorado
No--it was a typo. I have now corrected it. The point is--that the cold level can be incorrect and that the hot level may be different. This vehicle has an unique oil pan that is probably causing a possible different reading on the dip stick depending on temperature.
Last edited by phoneman91; Mar 26, 2016 at 10:32 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 14,999
Likes: 312
From: P-town Baby! Virginia
could be normal for your vette....just track it over several oil changes. Also....make sure you put enough oil in after each oil change...you might have been a little low after that first oil change.
