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Oil Capacity on LS2

Old 02-09-2018, 02:35 PM
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enventr
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Default Oil Capacity on LS2

I decided to do an oil change on my 07. Instead of bringing it
In to a dealer. I added 5.5 qts- then started the car for 3 minutes waited 5 minutes and it was slightly lower than the full mark . I added another quarter and it was slightly low so I added the full 6 quarts. I drove it around and parked it in the garage for 2 hours. It now shows about a quarter inch ( or slightly less) over the full mark. Can I still drive it being slightly overfilled?
Thank you

Last edited by enventr; 02-09-2018 at 02:36 PM.
Old 02-09-2018, 02:55 PM
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Cooter Tech
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Some information, 1/2 quart too much, many opinions.

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ty-of-ls2.html
Old 02-09-2018, 03:23 PM
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Originally Posted by Cooter Tech
Some information, 1/2 quart too much, many opinions.

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ty-of-ls2.html

Thank you. It’s a pita setting everything up again but if I have to I will.
Old 02-09-2018, 03:41 PM
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Eritosthenes
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The official oil capacity specification for the non-Z51 LS2 6.0L engine is 5.5 quarts. The Z51 oil cooler adds a half quart more.

It sounds like yours has been slightly overfilled, but it shouldn't cause any problems. You don't mention how many miles are on your engine. Oil consumption on an LS2 will increase slowly as it ages. My '07 LS2 just rolled over 126K miles, and it uses about a quart between oil changes. (I've added an oil cooler and changed from 5W-30 to 10W-30. Still Mobil 1 of course.)
Old 02-09-2018, 03:48 PM
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J.Moore
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6 qts. in my LS2 non Z51, a tad over full. Drive it! As long as the level is between the hash marks you are ok according to OM. 5.5 qts. left mine a tad below hash mark.

Also, read the low side of the oil level on the stick. One side is usually a tad higher than the other.

Last edited by J.Moore; 02-09-2018 at 03:53 PM.
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Old 02-09-2018, 08:43 PM
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Originally Posted by Eritosthenes
The official oil capacity specification for the non-Z51 LS2 6.0L engine is 5.5 quarts. The Z51 oil cooler adds a half quart more.

It sounds like yours has been slightly overfilled, but it shouldn't cause any problems. You don't mention how many miles are on your engine. Oil consumption on an LS2 will increase slowly as it ages. My '07 LS2 just rolled over 126K miles, and it uses about a quart between oil changes. (I've added an oil cooler and changed from 5W-30 to 10W-30. Still Mobil 1 of course.)
29,000 miles- thanks
Old 02-09-2018, 10:38 PM
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You should be o.k. At autocross events they actually recommend to overfill the oil a bit so the engine doesn't starve for oil during hard cornering.
Old 02-10-2018, 09:11 AM
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Kenny94945
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On my Z51 5.5 qts seems perfect.

Some say extra 1/2 quart when racing is a good idea.

6.5 qts may be too much and worst case result, I'd assume would be a seal blowout somewhere.

But maybe more feedback from co-member about 6.5 quarts may result in answer.

FWIW, what about a Harbor Freight tool to suck 1/2 quart out of the dip stick tube? The tool could be an asset for your tool box. I would do this sooner than later.
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Old 02-10-2018, 10:04 AM
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Originally Posted by Kenny94945
On my Z51 5.5 qts seems perfect.

Some say extra 1/2 quart when racing is a good idea.

6.5 qts may be too much and worst case result, I'd assume would be a seal blowout somewhere.

But maybe more feedback from co-member about 6.5 quarts may result in answer.

FWIW, what about a Harbor Freight tool to suck 1/2 quart out of the dip stick tube? The tool could be an asset for your tool box. I would do this sooner than later.
It’s 1/2 qt overfilled but tomorrow I will correct it. Harbor freight is a great idea- thank you
Old 02-10-2018, 10:16 AM
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I'd drive it. Next time do the correct fill.

I've noticed that all my vehicles find their own level on the dipstick. Once there, if it stays steady, you're good to go.

Last edited by LowRyter; 02-10-2018 at 10:17 AM.
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Old 02-10-2018, 10:16 AM
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Originally Posted by enventr
It’s 1/2 qt overfilled but tomorrow I will correct it. Harbor freight is a great idea- thank you
I have an 05 w/z51 but no oil cooler. I've been filling with 6 qts for 7 years. You can drain 1/2 qt if you want but leaving it won' hurt anything.
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Old 02-10-2018, 10:44 AM
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Your worrying about nothing

1/2 Qt of engine oil above the full mark won't hurt a thing ... Not a thing
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Old 02-10-2018, 10:48 AM
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The z51 with an oil cooler INITIAL FACTORY FILL is 6 qts. Thereafter the 1/2 qt that sits in the lines and cooler NEVER drains out. So, on a Z51/cooler oil fill, it's exactly the same as a non-Z51...5 1/2 qts.

6 qts is the capacity with a cooler, not the refill capacity.
Old 02-10-2018, 11:01 AM
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IIRC the other problem with adding too much oil is that if the bottom of con rods dip into the oil, it will beat the oil into foam, which doesn't lube as well. Some track engines used to have windage trays installed to keep this from happ8ening in hard braking, acceleration, and cornering. Given that some oil gets pumped into the upper engine and stays there while it's running 1/2 qt over should be OK.
Old 02-10-2018, 11:04 AM
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Originally Posted by FatsWaller
IIRC the other problem with adding too much oil is that if the bottom of con rods dip into the oil, it will beat the oil into foam, which doesn't lube as well. Some track engines used to have windage trays installed to keep this from happ8ening in hard braking, acceleration, and cornering. Given that some oil gets pumped into the upper engine and stays there while it's running 1/2 qt over should be OK.
Additionally, LS engines have a rather weak designed rear crank seal. Overfilling is a sure way to shorten its life.
Old 02-10-2018, 11:13 AM
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Originally Posted by BlindSpot

Additionally, LS engines have a rather weak designed rear crank seal. Overfilling is a sure way to shorten its life.
So, your saying that filling the LS engine 1/2 quart above the full mark might cause an early failure of the rear main seal ?

Believe what you want, but I am not buying that at all.

Again, the OP is only talking about 1/2 quart of oil.
Old 02-10-2018, 11:13 AM
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Originally Posted by BlindSpot
Additionally, LS engines have a rather weak designed rear crank seal. Overfilling is a sure way to shorten its life.
Just so i'll know how to explain it to my grand children some day....how does an over fill cause the rear main to blow out ?? Does an over fill create more pressure ??......

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Old 02-10-2018, 11:28 AM
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Originally Posted by Turbo6TA
So, your saying that filling the LS engine 1/2 quart above the full mark might cause an early failure of the rear main seal ?

Believe what you want, but I am not buying that at all.

Again, the OP is only talking about 1/2 quart of oil.
A half qt won't hurt a thing. Also, the op hasn't mentioned if he has an oil cooler or not.
Old 02-10-2018, 12:11 PM
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You guys still arguing about 1/2 qt of oil? The engine won't see, feel, or taste the difference. 1/2 qt. of oil is about a coffee cup of oil. Time to panic!!

Over full on motor oil or Transmission fluid WILL NOT BLOW seals out. Where does some of this BS start anyway?

In my shop of 42 years we ALWAYS overfilled with oil or trans fluid. And I don't want to hear any BS of how we did it wrong either.

On transmissions the VENT is used to exhaust excess oil or fluid and you have to get 2-4 qt. over full before it starts to vent. IT WON'T BLOW THE SEALS OUT.

When I bracket raced guys would run 1 qt. low if they wanted to pick up .05 or a tenth. One guy would run 1 qt. over full to slow down .05 to a tenth. He said it was easier than trying to peddle it at the stripe.
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Old 02-10-2018, 12:36 PM
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Welker1
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From the Owner's Manual:

Engine Oil with Filter
6.0 L Engine 5.5 qt 5.2 L
6.0 L Engine Performance Package (Z51) 6.0 qt 5.7 L
7.0 L Engine 8.0 qt 7.6 L

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