Low oil sensor?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,228
Likes: 9
From: Crossville TN
Low oil sensor?
Ok, I am still a newb with the vette... I just bought mine this weekend. Its an 02 C5 Z06. When I was about to leave with it, I noticed the HUD displayed "low oil level". The display was showing I think 4 bars, as it looks like 7-8 bars would be at the top. So I put a qt in it and it only went to 5 bars, but the low oil message never popped up again for the 400 mile trip home.
Sunday, we changed the oil... put almost 7 qt. in it of Mobil 1 fully synthetic 5W30. After the change, it was still only reading 5 bars on the oil level in the HUD.
I took it out today and while I was driving, the "low oil level" popped up again. I checked my garage floor and I don't see any leaks. I check the dip stick and it looks like its right above the "ADD" and in the ok section. But it still only displays 4-5 bars in the HUD on the oil level indicator.
So I'm not sure whats up. I'm wondering if its a bad sensor or have a got other problems. The car seems to run fine and I don't hear anything out of the normal. Is it typical that the oil level indicator in the HUD never goes past 5-6 bars?
Sunday, we changed the oil... put almost 7 qt. in it of Mobil 1 fully synthetic 5W30. After the change, it was still only reading 5 bars on the oil level in the HUD.
I took it out today and while I was driving, the "low oil level" popped up again. I checked my garage floor and I don't see any leaks. I check the dip stick and it looks like its right above the "ADD" and in the ok section. But it still only displays 4-5 bars in the HUD on the oil level indicator.
So I'm not sure whats up. I'm wondering if its a bad sensor or have a got other problems. The car seems to run fine and I don't hear anything out of the normal. Is it typical that the oil level indicator in the HUD never goes past 5-6 bars?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,228
Likes: 9
From: Crossville TN
Ok maybe it is the oil pressure indicator on the HUD and not the oil level indicator.
I checked the dip stick again, and it did look a lil low. I added almost a qt. and that put it to the max line so looks like its good to go now. I guess it's holding more oil that I thought it would. There's no smell indicating burning alot of oil and there's no leaks either.
I checked the dip stick again, and it did look a lil low. I added almost a qt. and that put it to the max line so looks like its good to go now. I guess it's holding more oil that I thought it would. There's no smell indicating burning alot of oil and there's no leaks either.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 264
Likes: 8
From: Centre, AL
Dont put in too much oil. Thats a sure way to damage the engine. A little over is ok, but too much will kill the engine just like too little. The oil pressure varies by things like the temperature of the engine and how hard you are driving. Mine goes up and down, 3 bars, 4 bars, 5 bars, back to 4 bars. All good.
Just as a side note, I always have trouble reading the dipstick. Whole thing has a thin film of oil on it when I pull it out, and the oil is so clear (just changed it), that it is a bit tough getting a reading. I think mine took 6.5 qts in total, including the oil in the filter. 7 is probably pushing it. With 8, I would definitely start wondering what is going on.
Just as a side note, I always have trouble reading the dipstick. Whole thing has a thin film of oil on it when I pull it out, and the oil is so clear (just changed it), that it is a bit tough getting a reading. I think mine took 6.5 qts in total, including the oil in the filter. 7 is probably pushing it. With 8, I would definitely start wondering what is going on.
Last edited by waterzap; Mar 10, 2008 at 11:24 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,704
Likes: 4
From: Lone Star State
Do you have LT headers? I do and my car tend to get the low level light if I drive it hard because its burns more oil. When the light comes on, add a quart and your good to go. I too have no leaks.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,228
Likes: 9
From: Crossville TN
Maybe we didn't add as much oil in it when we changed as we thought we had. Anyways, all's well. Thanks for the help guys.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 25,889
Likes: 7
From: Virginia Beach
CI 3-5-6-7-8 Veteran
7 quarts with a new filter will get you to the full line on your dipstick. The car has capacity to hold at least 2 more quarts. When running HPDEs I overfill the sump by a quart and let it be... eventually the car will burn the extra off over time. My car uses maybe a quart between 6000-7000 mile oil changes after the GM re-ring in '04.
The low oil leve indicator will come one when you get 2 quarts low I believe... I can't remember... I had it happen back in '03 before I had the re-ring done and my car was a heavy oil burner.
The low oil leve indicator will come one when you get 2 quarts low I believe... I can't remember... I had it happen back in '03 before I had the re-ring done and my car was a heavy oil burner.
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