2002 C5 Oil Level
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 12,864
Likes: 4,668
I'd like to add something to this thread. Manuals, including shop manuals, are great tools. However, my 2000 C5 manuals were printed 22 years ago, maybe longer. My 3 catalog set of service manuals is the same age. I'd like to point out that nowhere in my shop manuals does it mention aligning the oil pump upon reassembly of the engine, so it, obviously, doesn't include the later instructions on how to do it. Point being, the newest C5 owners manuals were printed at least 18 years ago. Newer, and better, service, maintenance procedures, and workarounds, have been discovered in the last 18 years. That's why many, including me, dislike digging up "necro" threads. My .02. I'll also add there's no oil starvation I've been aware of with 6-1/2 qts. I'll also say that there is power to be gained running at the dragstrip at the lower mark on the dipstick. My guess is improved bay to bay breathing with a slightly lower oil level. Sure, I don't mean deliberately draining the oil until there's nothing on the dipstick. One visit, one time, at the strip with a slightly low oil level proved this to me. After my last run that day at the strip, I thought "Man, this engine is really running well today". Just then, my "low oil level" light came on!!!! No damage occured, but enough said........
Racer
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 380
Likes: 170
From: Erath County Texas
I'd like to add something to this thread. Manuals, including shop manuals, are great tools. However, my 2000 C5 manuals were printed 22 years ago, maybe longer. My 3 catalog set of service manuals is the same age. I'd like to point out that nowhere in my shop manuals does it mention aligning the oil pump upon reassembly of the engine, so it, obviously, doesn't include the later instructions on how to do it. Point being, the newest C5 owners manuals were printed at least 18 years ago. Newer, and better, service, maintenance procedures, and workarounds, have been discovered in the last 18 years. That's why many, including me, dislike digging up "necro" threads. My .02. I'll also add there's no oil starvation I've been aware of with 6-1/2 qts. I'll also say that there is power to be gained running at the dragstrip at the lower mark on the dipstick. My guess is improved bay to bay breathing with a slightly lower oil level. Sure, I don't mean deliberately draining the oil until there's nothing on the dipstick. One visit, one time, at the strip with a slightly low oil level proved this to me. After my last run that day at the strip, I thought "Man, this engine is really running well today". Just then, my "low oil level" light came on!!!! No damage occured, but enough said........
many dislike 72 threads on the same topic ...
So ... IDK ... 2.5 years is kinda new for a 20 year old car, though.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 12,864
Likes: 4,668
I see your point about updating manuals ... Interesting theory on the oil level and racing. And I didn't know there was a quantity alert. Good dope. So a DIC message will annunciate before the oil pressure gauge falls to zero. Nice.
many dislike 72 threads on the same topic ...
So ... IDK ... 2.5 years is kinda new for a 20 year old car, though.
many dislike 72 threads on the same topic ...
So ... IDK ... 2.5 years is kinda new for a 20 year old car, though.
'check engine' light, or 'service vehicle soon' light, or BOTH, illuminate, and the DIC flashes 'Low Oil Level' on the DIC. When the pressure drops to a too "low" psi (7psi, iirc), you will hear 3 chime sounds in rapid succession as a "heads up" there's a serious issue. I think the 3 chimes sound in either case......
Racer
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 380
Likes: 170
From: Erath County Texas
I think you're confusing pressure with quantity. The C5 has both a pressure gauge AND a low oil level warning. Two different issues, two different sending units. When the warning comes on, the
'check engine' light, or 'service vehicle soon' light, or BOTH, illuminate, and the DIC flashes 'Low Oil Level' on the DIC. When the pressure drops to a too "low" psi (7psi, iirc), you will hear 3 chime sounds in rapid succession as a "heads up" there's a serious issue. I think the 3 chimes sound in either case......
'check engine' light, or 'service vehicle soon' light, or BOTH, illuminate, and the DIC flashes 'Low Oil Level' on the DIC. When the pressure drops to a too "low" psi (7psi, iirc), you will hear 3 chime sounds in rapid succession as a "heads up" there's a serious issue. I think the 3 chimes sound in either case......
“Just then, my "low oil level" light came on!!!! No damage ”
i thought you meant quantity. Sorry.
I’ve been impressed with the available readings
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 12,864
Likes: 4,668
Racer
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 380
Likes: 170
From: Erath County Texas
you referred to quantity in your racing experience ...
I presumed you never had a low pressure indication which the typical (lessor) vehicle's indication of lost quantity (though other things can cause loss of pressure, but there's no pressure if there's no quantity) ... and therefore I just projected in a punched oil pan/leak scenario, for example, the low quantity annunciation will display before the pressure gauge falls to zero ... from zero/too low quantity.
Whew.
No worries here.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 12,864
Likes: 4,668
OK ... I see ...
you referred to quantity in your racing experience ...
I presumed you never had a low pressure indication which the typical (lessor) vehicle's indication of lost quantity (though other things can cause loss of pressure, but there's no pressure if there's no quantity) ... and therefore I just projected in a punched oil pan/leak scenario, for example, the low quantity annunciation will display before the pressure gauge falls to zero ... from zero/too low quantity.
Whew.
No worries here.
you referred to quantity in your racing experience ...
I presumed you never had a low pressure indication which the typical (lessor) vehicle's indication of lost quantity (though other things can cause loss of pressure, but there's no pressure if there's no quantity) ... and therefore I just projected in a punched oil pan/leak scenario, for example, the low quantity annunciation will display before the pressure gauge falls to zero ... from zero/too low quantity.
Whew.
No worries here.When I bought my MY2000 A4 Vert, I was unaware of the piston slap/oil consumption issues of the early LS1's, and mine apparently had both. FFW to 2018. I've got a built LS7 in it now, with the batwing pan. The very poor GM oil sender read ZERO psi on my spring startup. Freak out time!!! Put on a mechanical gauge, it read 40lbs at idle. BUT.....The cheap Chinese compression fitting that came with the gauge ran out of threads just as the ferrule was starting to contact. So I thought it was tightly sealed. WRONG!! Left Michigan, and got to Miami, Florida. Presto, the low oil level warning came on! After dark, of course!! I figured it out eventually, but whatta mess under my car!!!!
EDIT: Does anyone know exactly how low on oil you have to be to trigger the oil level warning?? I'm guessing 2-2-1/2qts??
Racer
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 380
Likes: 170
From: Erath County Texas
The whole scoop is this:
When I bought my MY2000 A4 Vert, I was unaware of the piston slap/oil consumption issues of the early LS1's, and mine apparently had both. FFW to 2018. I've got a built LS7 in it now, with the batwing pan. The very poor GM oil sender read ZERO psi on my spring startup. Freak out time!!! Put on a mechanical gauge, it read 40lbs at idle. BUT.....The cheap Chinese compression fitting that came with the gauge ran out of threads just as the ferrule was starting to contact. So I thought it was tightly sealed. WRONG!! Left Michigan, and got to Miami, Florida. Presto, the low oil level warning came on! After dark, of course!! I figured it out eventually, but whatta mess under my car!!!!
EDIT: Does anyone know exactly how low on oil you have to be to trigger the oil level warning?? I'm guessing 2-2-1/2qts??
When I bought my MY2000 A4 Vert, I was unaware of the piston slap/oil consumption issues of the early LS1's, and mine apparently had both. FFW to 2018. I've got a built LS7 in it now, with the batwing pan. The very poor GM oil sender read ZERO psi on my spring startup. Freak out time!!! Put on a mechanical gauge, it read 40lbs at idle. BUT.....The cheap Chinese compression fitting that came with the gauge ran out of threads just as the ferrule was starting to contact. So I thought it was tightly sealed. WRONG!! Left Michigan, and got to Miami, Florida. Presto, the low oil level warning came on! After dark, of course!! I figured it out eventually, but whatta mess under my car!!!!
EDIT: Does anyone know exactly how low on oil you have to be to trigger the oil level warning?? I'm guessing 2-2-1/2qts??
I've seen this batwing pan thing referenced. Unfamiliar, but that's OK. there's a LOT on these wonderful machines with which I'm unfamiliar, but that list is slowly decreasing.
Thanks!
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Drifting
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,862
Likes: 594
From: Prescott, Arizona
For those who race on road course tracks, one thought from a buddy from Jr High in the '50's who later raced Camaros and a big block '66 Corvette on road course tracks in the west-
"install an oil pressure switch and a big red light in the cockpit to alert of oil pressure below set limits in hard turns."
I once spent three laps in the shotgun seat of an acquaintance at Laguna Seca, watching oil pressure in turns--YES the oil pressure dropped below 20 psi -- but after three laps I was too carsick to continue.
"install an oil pressure switch and a big red light in the cockpit to alert of oil pressure below set limits in hard turns."
I once spent three laps in the shotgun seat of an acquaintance at Laguna Seca, watching oil pressure in turns--YES the oil pressure dropped below 20 psi -- but after three laps I was too carsick to continue.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 12,864
Likes: 4,668
For those who race on road course tracks, one thought from a buddy from Jr High in the '50's who later raced Camaros and a big block '66 Corvette on road course tracks in the west-
"install an oil pressure switch and a big red light in the cockpit to alert of oil pressure below set limits in hard turns."
I once spent three laps in the shotgun seat of an acquaintance at Laguna Seca, watching oil pressure in turns--YES the oil pressure dropped below 20 psi -- but after three laps I was too carsick to continue.
"install an oil pressure switch and a big red light in the cockpit to alert of oil pressure below set limits in hard turns."
I once spent three laps in the shotgun seat of an acquaintance at Laguna Seca, watching oil pressure in turns--YES the oil pressure dropped below 20 psi -- but after three laps I was too carsick to continue.
But not if you're the one who's car sick!! Here I always thought dramamine tabs were for boating in rough water, not Laguna Seca!!! Makes sense, but who knew??!!