6.5 with the filter. One tip; fill the filter with oil before installing
Oil Change Question
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 855
Likes: 40
From: Liverpool NY
Filling the filter gets the oil flowing to the cylinders immediately when first starting the engine. Think of a garden hose that has no water in it when first turn it on and squeeze the trigger how much air comes out. That's pretty close to what your oil pump is experiencing but a lot faster.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,937
Likes: 21
From: Waldorf MD
There are two oil dip stick systems on a C5.
Early years show full (6.5 quarts) at the top of the hashed lines (the normal fill level).
Later year C5s show full (6.5 quarts at the middle of the hashed area (normally this is one half quart low). This is why some people overfill the later year C5s by 1/2 quart (putting in 7 quarts). This probably does no harm, as the owners manual says you can put in another full quart of oil during HPDEs, but should drain it out afterwards.
Putting in way too much oil can result in the crankshaft hitting oil and "foaming" it, creating air (and poor lubrication) in oil. This can ruin an engine.
BTW, jacking up rear of a C5 drains 4 ounces more oil. Also the low oil level warning comes on at one quart low.
Early years show full (6.5 quarts) at the top of the hashed lines (the normal fill level).
Later year C5s show full (6.5 quarts at the middle of the hashed area (normally this is one half quart low). This is why some people overfill the later year C5s by 1/2 quart (putting in 7 quarts). This probably does no harm, as the owners manual says you can put in another full quart of oil during HPDEs, but should drain it out afterwards.
Putting in way too much oil can result in the crankshaft hitting oil and "foaming" it, creating air (and poor lubrication) in oil. This can ruin an engine.
BTW, jacking up rear of a C5 drains 4 ounces more oil. Also the low oil level warning comes on at one quart low.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 7,788
Likes: 6
From: Winchester TN
Cruise-In III Veteran
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'11
Hi peebee_c5 -
Filling the oil-filter, when it's installed position allows, helps to "prime" the oil system by minimizing the minuscule amount of time that the engine rotates before oil pressure builds up.
While I view the benefits of doing so roughly equivalent to blowing on the dice while playing craps, I still fill my oil filters religiously.
best regards-
mqqn
Filling the oil-filter, when it's installed position allows, helps to "prime" the oil system by minimizing the minuscule amount of time that the engine rotates before oil pressure builds up.
While I view the benefits of doing so roughly equivalent to blowing on the dice while playing craps, I still fill my oil filters religiously.
best regards-
mqqn
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!
Joe Kucinski
10 Things C8 Corvette Owners Hate (But Won't Tell You)
Joe Kucinski
10 Best Corvettes Coming to Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach 2026!
Brett Foote
Every Corvette Grand Sport Explained! (C2, C4, C6, C7, & C8)
Joe Kucinski
Pro
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 666
Likes: 5
From: Mt. Pleasant SC
Filling the filter gets the oil flowing to the cylinders immediately when first starting the engine. Think of a garden hose that has no water in it when first turn it on and squeeze the trigger how much air comes out. That's pretty close to what your oil pump is experiencing but a lot faster.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,677
Likes: 0
From: I have to return some videotapes
Same here, but I still do it every time.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 40,999
Likes: 9,764
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
I have put 7 quarts in the LS1/LS6 engines ever since I did my first oil change on my 97 11 years ago. Don't get hyper over the slight amount of over fill. When I checked my oil level before changing it the first time on the 97 I noted the spot where the oil was on the dip stick and made sure the level came back to the same point after the oil change. 7 quarts brought it to the same point. You are going to find some **** people out there that will worry about the extra half quart but the level is only critical if you are driving on the track where you are pulling high cornering Gs at high rpm. Then you need 8 quarts in the engine or you could starve the bearings for oil.
Bill
Bill