Too much oil???
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 206
Likes: 33
From: Abu Dhabi/AZ
Too much oil???
Had my oil changed yesterday. Mechanic put 6 quarts in my Z51, dry sump engine, which takes five and a half quarts (I think).
How serious a problem is that extra half quart?
How serious a problem is that extra half quart?
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 26,257
Likes: 4,363
From: Chirper Island
If they put only six quarts in a dry sump, then it is dangerously under filled, but your car (on your avatar) appears to be a wet sump, which requires just about six quarts.
What does your dipstick show you?
What does your dipstick show you?
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,029
Likes: 2,719
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
If you have an oil cooler, oil capacity is normally 6 qts; without oil cooler (auto tranny cars) it's 5 1/2 qts like ours.
Our dealer puts in 6, partly to be sure he doesn't underfill and partly because an extra 1/2 qt does no harm.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 206
Likes: 33
From: Abu Dhabi/AZ
It's a 2007 with the Z51 feature, which I think has a dry sump engine that normally takes 5 and 1/2 quarts. By dry sump I mean no oil pan, so if you're making 1G turns in competition, there is always oil in in the engine, not drawing from an oil pan where all the oil is on one side due to centrifugal force.
Dip stick shows about a 3/4s of an inch above the top "dot", so there is extra oil
in there.
Question is: is this a serious problem?
It seems to me that Corvette engineers would have built in a little leeway in things like this.
Dip stick shows about a 3/4s of an inch above the top "dot", so there is extra oil
in there.
Question is: is this a serious problem?
It seems to me that Corvette engineers would have built in a little leeway in things like this.
Last edited by tabing; Sep 15, 2016 at 09:06 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 26,257
Likes: 4,363
From: Chirper Island
Two questions:
1. Is the filler cap separate from the fuel rails, or is it part of the fuel rails (the cover has a hole in it for the cap)?
2. Is the dipstick long (over 18") and wobbly, or short (under 12") and stiff?
1. Is the filler cap separate from the fuel rails, or is it part of the fuel rails (the cover has a hole in it for the cap)?
2. Is the dipstick long (over 18") and wobbly, or short (under 12") and stiff?
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 2,476
Likes: 45
From: One of the Edema Ruh
Are you checking your oil with the engine cold? Mine shows over full when cold but when the engine is warm it's spot on. Also, as others have said if you have an oil cooler (Z51 with manual trans) your car takes six quarts. FWIW I have an 07 with Z51 and put in six quarts.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 206
Likes: 33
From: Abu Dhabi/AZ
1. Part of fuel rails (on passenger side of engine cover)
2 Long wobbly dip stick.
Pretty sure engine has an oil cooler.
Boy this is getting confusing for a non mechanical guy like me.
Let's just stipulate that there's an extra half quart in there. Should I worry?
I like Gearhead Jim's answer:"because an extra 1/2 qt does no harm."
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Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 26,257
Likes: 4,363
From: Chirper Island
Sounds like a wet sump to me.
If it's at the top of the hash marks (not over), don't sweat it. If you are worried, take it back and have them remove some of it so it sits just between half way and the top of the hash marks. It is recommended to over fill if racing, so I guess it won't do any harm in the short term, but it also says to remove the excess oil after.
If it's at the top of the hash marks (not over), don't sweat it. If you are worried, take it back and have them remove some of it so it sits just between half way and the top of the hash marks. It is recommended to over fill if racing, so I guess it won't do any harm in the short term, but it also says to remove the excess oil after.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 251
Likes: 3
From: IL
St. Jude Donor '13-'14
dry sump cars take 10 quarts of oil.....standard wet sump is 5.5 qts, unless as indicated above you have an oil cooler that could bring the total closer to 6 qts.
Simply check the dipstick while the car is cold and on a level surface.
Simply check the dipstick while the car is cold and on a level surface.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 206
Likes: 33
From: Abu Dhabi/AZ
Sounds like a wet sump to me.
If it's at the top of the hash marks (not over), don't sweat it. If you are worried, take it back and have them remove some of it so it sits just between half way and the top of the hash marks. It is recommended to over fill if racing, so I guess it won't do any harm in the short term, but it also says to remove the excess oil after.
If it's at the top of the hash marks (not over), don't sweat it. If you are worried, take it back and have them remove some of it so it sits just between half way and the top of the hash marks. It is recommended to over fill if racing, so I guess it won't do any harm in the short term, but it also says to remove the excess oil after.
The oil is above the hash marks, I guess I'll have some removed.
Thanks all for your advice.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 26,257
Likes: 4,363
From: Chirper Island
Since you mentioned that you bought it used, you may not have received the Owner's Manual with the purchase. In case you did not, here is a copy.
https://consumermediallc.files.wordp...07corvette.pdf
https://consumermediallc.files.wordp...07corvette.pdf
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 2,454
Likes: 495
From: Clearwater, Florida
Well, I bought it used, but have the original window sticker and original bill from the dealer which clearly says Z51. And yes I checked the VIN on car to match the VIN on the window sticker.
The oil is above the hash marks, I guess I'll have some removed.
Thanks all for your advice.
The oil is above the hash marks, I guess I'll have some removed.
Thanks all for your advice.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 11,146
Likes: 1,913
From: Missouri City, TX
BINGO!!! The only vettes prior to MY2010 to have dry sump engines were the C6 Z06 and ZR1. And the Wil Cooksey 427 convertibles.
Last edited by GOLD72; Sep 15, 2016 at 10:14 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 2,800
Likes: 565
From: Mesquite NV
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 14,475
Likes: 786
From: Las Vegas NV
Well, I bought it used, but have the original window sticker and original bill from the dealer which clearly says Z51. And yes I checked the VIN on car to match the VIN on the window sticker.
The oil is above the hash marks, I guess I'll have some removed.
Thanks all for your advice.
The oil is above the hash marks, I guess I'll have some removed.
Thanks all for your advice.