I have been trying to trouble shoot this issue for a while, and have also been trying to think of how to word it on here.

The issue.
1. I changed the oil and filter.
2.Drove it down the road and noticed the inoperative oil pressure guage now actually decreasing from its normally pegged out position.
3.Pulled over and checked the oil level. The dipstick was dry!
4.Thought I was having a senior moment and had forgotten to put oil in, or forgot to put the plug in.
5. Looked under car. No oil leaking.
6. Went into store bought oil.
7. Checked oil again, and found it properly serviced. (Did not add oil)
8. Started engine again. No abnormal sounds or taping.
9. Drove back home and checked oil again. Once again found dipstick dry. Still no odd sounds from engine.
10. With engine off, heard the oil draining back into the oil pan.
11. Restarted engine and looked into the oil fill cap and saw no oil circulating on that side (not sure if I would anyway).
12. Redrained oil, the oil looks fine.

I think the pump is working since it draws the oil from the pan.
Any thoughts?
Rob Nelson

 

how much oil did you put in it when you changed it?

 

Thanks for the quick response.
Just a regular oil change. I put in 5 quarts, then drive it a short distance. Let it sit for about half hour, then ensure fill is to center line on the stIck hash area or add as needed.
The oil I drained was at least 4.5 quarts.

 

Maybe the filter is somehow defective? I'd replace it with a new Wix before running it again. If that works, I'd send the defective one in for inspection.

 

they take 6.5 quarts, sometimes closer to 7... sounds like you just might not have enough in it... the oil pressure reading sounds like the sending unit may be shot if it was pegged all the way and now reads 0

 

4.5 sure might NOT put oil on the dipstick
Senior moment with NO oil or NOT enough to protect your motor... it would have let you know that FOR SURE!

 

That's what I am wondering. It's it possible to get a new filter that stops the oil flow? It is either a mobile one or the synthetic fram filter from the advanced auto parts shelf.

 

I have never put more then 6 quarts in the ls1. Just did a quick search just to make sure, and the recommended oil change to is 5.5q's.
I'm guessing that 4.5qs drained since it is only rolled up on ramps in the front. 3 quarts will still touch the dip stick.

 

that's odd, I have a z06 but the batwing pan is the same and to my knowledge there is nothing different that makes it hold more oil... unless maybe you have changed the pan or have a c6

 

Sorry, I don't mean to be argumentative, but I have always changed the oil using 5.5 to six at top off, as is recommended in the owners manual.
this is the first time it has been dry on the stIck at the stop and check.
I have owned this car since 2002...

 

Pull the valve covers and inspect all of the oil drain back holes. There are drain back holes around each center head bolt.

Make sure that no oil is pooling up in the valve cover area.

If you are not using 6 qts, its not totally full

BC

 

Thanks for the tip,

I pulled the mobile1 filter and replaced with another, a fram synthetic filter. And refilled with 6 quarts of fresh òil.

The oil gauge is stuck at the 2o'clock position before or after the engine is started, it doesn't move elsewhere. Yeah, I know it's broke.

Can I run the engine with the valve cover removed?

Looking thru the oil cap with a flashlight, I can see a lifter, I don't see any oil flowing even right after the engine is started. Should I be able to see the oil flow just from the oil cap? It has to be going somewhere since the level goes down when I check it after I shut the engine off, and it is low on the stick, , then comes back up after a short time.

If the oil is not flowing, will there be a change in the sound of the ls1? It sounds normal, even with my ear as close to the motor as I dare put it.

I have found no debris in the oil drain pan.

Maybe I am worrying about nothing and all is fine.

Guess I've been on auto pilot with oil change process on my cars and always go by center on the dip stick hash marks, and just keep it there till the next oil change. I honestly don't know how much I put in since I use jugs to service the engines. I have 250,000 miles on my tribute and 170,000 miles on my trailblazer. The Vette only has 107,000 miles on it, but it has been trouble free until this.

 

You are not going to see a RIVER flowing. The oil flows out of the top of the rocker and down on to the rocker trunions .

It doesn't flow a lot. Yes, you can crank and run the engine briefly without the valve cover but it will be messy.

Take a look at this post and you can see where the OIL squirts out of the rocker and where it runs off the rocker tip. and the oil at the drain back holes. Your valve cover has drippers that divert the oil and helps it drip on the trunion area

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...tor-video.html


BC

 

5 quarts in a LS1 Corvette is NOT enough. 5 quarts in a 4 gen LS1 F-body YES. Oil pans are different. How long have you been driving with an inoperative oil pressure gauge?(sending unit) I have driven my car on a vacation trip ONCE with it not working because of bad timing. However I was a nervous a tick the whole time because a pressure reading can be a huge indicator of something wrong.

 

If you drained the oil out completely by raising the rear of the car relative to the front, you should have put back in at least 6.5 quarts of oil to fill it up.
How do you know how much oil you drained out? Did you refill the original jug with the used oil to dispose of it?
Did you measure the oil level on the dipstick after you filled it? You should then start the car and let it run for a minute or so, then let it sit for a few min. and check for leaks etc, then remeasure with the dipstick after it all drains back down to be sure it's correct, before driving it away for a ride.
You may not have filled it up correctly to start with and could have been a quart or more low.

 

Any follow-up or resolution to this?

 

 

It's not the filter. A filter would keep the oil from being pumped out of the pan.

I've never had an engine show a dry dipstick after shutting it down if it was in the normal range before starting it. I have no idea what would suddenly be holding the oil from draining back though.

 

From the OWNERS MANUAL:

Crankcase
With Filter Change . . . . . . . . . . . 6.5 quarts (6.1 L)

Think you need to start reading your owners manual.

 

Put in 6.5 and roll with it. Measuring the oil you drain out is pointless as my 01 uses about a quart every 1000 miles....