Low Oil Level
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 1,113
Likes: 144
From: Miami
Low Oil Level
Hi folks,
I'm kinda bummed out this morning by this. I turn on the car and had the low oil level message pop up. I just took the truck to work today and I'm gonna investigate it more on it later but these are the facts:
1. The car is already due for an oil change. I had never seen this pop up while I had the car. Last oil change was about 3,100 miles ago and I have been monitoring randomly the oil dipstick and so far I had not noticed a low oil dipstick. I generally drive the car moderately, but do go hard (drive it like you stole it) when I have the chances.
2. I recently changed one of the valve cover gaskets about a month ago (I just never got to the other one, but it's in my to do) and took the time to inspect engine bay. Yeah, there is old crudy oil here and there but it all seems like old, slow leaks from leaky valve covers. I also checked the oil at that point and UNLESS I measured or misread it, I swear the engine oil marked in between the MIN and MAX, and I think it was closer to MAX.
3. I've never smelled that "burnt oil smell". I know that smell very well from previous cars I've had that did burn oil excessively and I haven't noticed anything from the C5.
Well, at this point I just want to know a couple of things:
1. Can it be expected from a 1999 C5 to have a very slow oil consumption where I could get a low oil level after +3K miles of an oil change?
2. Assuming it's not a slow oil consumption, which are the most common leak points I should check and go through? (I have an NA cam build coming up next week so it's a great time to inspect. I'll also be changing front main seals anyways during the build).
3. I swore I did not see a low oil level about a month ago I checked the dipstick. Maybe I did the check wrongly. What is the GM procedure for this 5.7L for checking the oil on the dipstick?
Thanks for your help, and I hope I'm just not getting paranoid.
I'm kinda bummed out this morning by this. I turn on the car and had the low oil level message pop up. I just took the truck to work today and I'm gonna investigate it more on it later but these are the facts:
1. The car is already due for an oil change. I had never seen this pop up while I had the car. Last oil change was about 3,100 miles ago and I have been monitoring randomly the oil dipstick and so far I had not noticed a low oil dipstick. I generally drive the car moderately, but do go hard (drive it like you stole it) when I have the chances.
2. I recently changed one of the valve cover gaskets about a month ago (I just never got to the other one, but it's in my to do) and took the time to inspect engine bay. Yeah, there is old crudy oil here and there but it all seems like old, slow leaks from leaky valve covers. I also checked the oil at that point and UNLESS I measured or misread it, I swear the engine oil marked in between the MIN and MAX, and I think it was closer to MAX.
3. I've never smelled that "burnt oil smell". I know that smell very well from previous cars I've had that did burn oil excessively and I haven't noticed anything from the C5.
Well, at this point I just want to know a couple of things:
1. Can it be expected from a 1999 C5 to have a very slow oil consumption where I could get a low oil level after +3K miles of an oil change?
2. Assuming it's not a slow oil consumption, which are the most common leak points I should check and go through? (I have an NA cam build coming up next week so it's a great time to inspect. I'll also be changing front main seals anyways during the build).
3. I swore I did not see a low oil level about a month ago I checked the dipstick. Maybe I did the check wrongly. What is the GM procedure for this 5.7L for checking the oil on the dipstick?
Thanks for your help, and I hope I'm just not getting paranoid.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 2,804
Likes: 358
From: Northville, MI
The LS1 engine is prone to using oil when the rpms are held above 5000 for any length of time. Autocrosser's/HPDE/Time Trial drivers usually run 1/2 quart over and add when it reaches MAX level. Whether I am on a road trip or or competing I always run at 1/2 qt over, at autocross events I an constantly around the 5000+ mark and will see a little oil consumption. If you are leaking oil it should show up somewhere under the block so I would get the front end off the ground and inspect for the source. Many who have relocated their oil pressure gauge and experience some leakage by either over tightening the adapter or not torque it properly.
Zen Vet Master Level VII
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 5,218
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From: Southlake, TX
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 1,113
Likes: 144
From: Miami
Lol very true, wise words. Can’t complain honestly. I had a high mileage BMW M5 once and that sucker burned easily 1qt every 700 miles.
CF Community Team
Joined: Apr 2016
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Likes: 7,439
From: Pittsburgh
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OP, Did you actually check the oil level yet? That's the 1st step
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 1,113
Likes: 144
From: Miami
Yep, just did. Oil level was in fact right on the “Add” line in the dipstick marker. I added a quart of Mobil 1 10W-30, and then sat slightly below the MAX line. DIC message cleared afterwards upon startup.
So means I lost a quart in around 3k miles or so, but probably majority was lost during last 2 months of more aggressive driving. That last statement is a huge assumption though. Seems to be within spec. Gonna start fresh again with an oil change next week and monitor periodically from there. I’m not that concerned anymore.
So means I lost a quart in around 3k miles or so, but probably majority was lost during last 2 months of more aggressive driving. That last statement is a huge assumption though. Seems to be within spec. Gonna start fresh again with an oil change next week and monitor periodically from there. I’m not that concerned anymore.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 214
Likes: 26
You should invest in a oil catch can, the LS1/6 PCV system is a bit inadequate in our cars, the oil catch can won’t stop you from consuming oil but it will drastically reduce a large amount of it being burned in the combustion chamber. Especially helpful if you’re constantly going WOT.
Also to many reading don’t worry if you don’t have one, thousands and thousands of LS motors out in the wild without an oil catch can running perfectly fine, not having one won’t negate engine reliability, it just helps your throttle body and intake manifold stay clean so engine performance is at its peak.
Also to many reading don’t worry if you don’t have one, thousands and thousands of LS motors out in the wild without an oil catch can running perfectly fine, not having one won’t negate engine reliability, it just helps your throttle body and intake manifold stay clean so engine performance is at its peak.