DBH-Vette

I have a really stupid question. I have a 98 with of course a 5.7. It was stroked to a 383. I've been doing my own oil changes for a few years now. The owners manual calls for 6.5 qts. Everywhere I've checked calls for 6.5 qts. When I fill it after an oil change and I always change the filter also it seems to only take 5qts or so on my dipstick. I'm afraid to overfill it and cause some damage. So how much do I put in it.

RBS_Z51C5

I had a 2000 WS6 with LS1 that filled at 5 quarts, but my C5 LS1 fills out at 6.5 quarts.

Vetteman Jack

All three C5s that I've owned (99, 00 and 03) have always taken 6.5 qts to show full on the dipstick. Are you positive that you have fully drained the old oil out - although leaving a quart and a half in the crankcase would be a lot.

Doug Doty

Are you positive you dip stick is correct ???, may be running 1,5 low all along

calguy

I just changed oil yesterday in my 04, and I did the complete drain by raising the rear to make sure all the oil drained out.
As with all previous changes, 6 quarts brought it to the full mark on the stick.
Ran it for a few miles, and rechecked.
Still at the full mark.

Oh, and I changed the filter at the same time.
Would never change oil without replacing the filter at the same time.

Bob.

laurent_zo6

My 2002 Z takes 6.5 qts.

captaineddie

It seems to me that this is most likely the case. I've seen the same situation come up with other vehicles.

grantv

Same hunch; likely headers necessitaded a new dip stick and tube, and an incorrect unit was installed. You are draining the oil with the car level, yes?

MBVette

Same here. Just changed my oil for the first time since I got it yesterday. I put 6 quarts in and said it was full. Drove it and checked again still full with 6 quarts.

striper

You did mention that the motor was stroked. Did the builder put on a different oil pan. I don't know when it was but at some point the oil pan was changed to delete the bat wings, so maybe it holds less oil now?

v8srfun

How are you changing the oil if you change it by just lifting the front of the car you will not get all the oil out. The oil pan design requires that the car is level for a complete oil drain.

Gordy M

Also, it does not hurt if you run 1/2 quart over the full mark it you are running you Corvette hard----HPDE, autocross, canyon runs, etc.

midnight01

I make sure my car is level when I 1st start draining it. After the oil starts to dribble out I jack up the rear and quite a bit more starts to come out. When I refill, it takes about 6.4 quarts to hit the full. Make sure you give it enough time to drain out.

knewblewkorvette

My 98 has a LS1 stroked to a 383 and she still takes 6.5 quarts.

runner140*

When doing an oil change... we have to elevate the rear end slightly higher then the front. (to get a full drain) The answer is still the same.....6.5 quarts.

v8srfun

He never said weather he has a bat wing pan or not

striper

I already asked this question and it seems that everyone ignored it. It definitely could be the reason the engine isn't taking the full amount of oil.