djfury05

2007 C6 Z06 with heads/cam/ProCharger/meth/exhaust etc. Car has 22,5xx miles on it, stock shortblock.

Back story. Previous owner screwed up valve seal install when installing new BTR .660 springs. The seals got all chewed up and the tiny metal springs went all through the motor. I bought the car in November without knowing how bad of a condition it was in. It just smoked a little oil here and there from seals. Only noticed how bad it was when I pulled the valve cover and valve seal material was everywhere. Didn't take note of oil pressure before pulling everything apart for new heads. Only had about 100 miles on the car with my ownership before tear down.

Fast forward to now. I put new WCCH stage 2 LS7 heads on, Johnson linkbar lifters, meth kit, Mightmouse catch can and a few other things. The oil was replaced with Pennzoil Platinum silver bottle light blue stripe 5w30 oil, 8 quarts total. Oil filter is AC Delco PF48E.

On a cold start the oil pressure is 49-50psi. When the coolant is 205* and oil temp is 190* the oil pressure will hover between 18-20 psi. The oil pressure rises accordingly with RPM. By about 1500 RPM the psi is 32 and 2000 RPM the psi is probably around 38-40 psi. It returns to idle at 18-20 psi. Idle is set around 900-1000 and it is hunting occasionally from not having a retune after new mods yet. I know per the owners manual that 6 psi is still within spec at 1000 rpm or so, but I do not like that at all.

I went to check the oil level today. The oil temp was 189* F when I turned the car off. Car parked on a level surface. I know the owners manual states to wait 5-20 minutes to let the oil return to the dry sump tank. Well I waited until 5-6 mins and checked. Oil level was 1" or so below the bottom of the cross hatching. I waited another 5 minutes and checked again with the same results. Waited another 5 mins, same thing. I know for a fact there is 8 quarts of oil in there. This oil was meant to help clean out any more of the valve seal and valve seal spring material left over in the motor. I have not drained it yet. What could cause the oil to be indicating low level on the dipstick?

As for the psi possible issue I have made an excel spreadsheet and will track the psi once new oil is in it. This is not the oil I plan on keeping in the car when all is said and done. Oil I am planning on for now is Pennzoil Ultra Platinum dark gray bottle light blue stripe 5w30 with engine prolong treatment in it from 540rat's blog results.

Thoughts?

Dirty Howie

Your oil is too low. It should be near or at the top hatch mark at 200*
Mine is stock and idles around 550rpm. Oil pressure is 30 psi at 200* and idle. I'm using Redline 5w30 which is a little thicker .....


DH

C6z06man

I was using that oil last year and that hot pressure is close to what I was getting. Low 20s at ~200 degree oil temps. My cold pressure what more like 65-70 though. Cruising was around 50. I moved to Motul 5w30 and now see a couple psi higher. Especially at idle. More in the mid to upper 20s when hot. So I think your pressure is good. It at least closely matches mine.

djfury05

Ok cool I had read of similar pressure just worried me seeing that low. I think I will still take precautions and do the logging etc.

But how is my oil level too low? The capacity calls for 8 quarts? It's an 07.

Wass

Any chance the previous owner upgraded the oil tank to the 10.5 qt. ?

djfury05

Negative, the tank looks just like the earlier 8 quart version.

Like this..

Super6

Does the 8.0 quarts, or 10.5 quarts for later year models, correspond to the tank capacity or the system capacity (tank plus filter)? New to Z06.

djfury05

The picture above is what the 8 quart tank looks like. The later years (09-up) it has an expansion tank off one side of the cylinder, easy to tell the difference. Sometime in 08' though there was a point where they called for 8.5 quarts as well.

Super6

I have an 09 Z and the bigger tank. So is the total amount of oil in the system 10.5 quarts or 10.5 plus what's in the filter?

djfury05

10.5q total including oil filter.

C6z06man

I have an 09. I put 10 in it then check it. Usually end up filling to full with an extra 1/4-1/2 quart.

Super6

Thanks, that's what I was after.

50 4Ever

Don't know about the oil level, but the pressure problem could be the pump. I have an 08Z and I had the hardening on two lobes of the cam come off. I found out that the oil travels from the pan thru the pump, them to the filter. I had metal pieces floating around in my oil, so when I had the work done I also replaced the oil pump. Could be your problem too.

djfury05

Anyone else have ideas why I'm having trouble checking the oil level? Is the dry sump tank easy to disassemble and inspect/clean out?

djfury05

Sure if you wouldn't mind finding the link, the more the merrier on pictures, thanks. I am probably going to do it tonight. Wish there was an easier way to pull the pan as well other than dropping the cradle and everything associated. Might be debris in the pickup too Idk.

littlefranks

Ive seen oil pressure drop by 10 psi at idle.using the Johnson lifters 2110r .stock pump.joe Gibbs ls30.....50 psi cold 20 at idle hot...the oil tank my be modified to add more oil.like a lingenfelter tank.check to see if you have a extension on tank.....

tdeweese

Subscribed; I agree those Johnson lifters had me at 20psi hot idle, 55 psi at 7000rpm on a brand new motor. Changed to Katech red oil pump and now 28psi hot idle and 70psi at 7000rpm. I feel better anyway!!

slappy3347

So if I reach 70 psi during hard acceleration that is ok? It runs about 50 psi under normal driving conditions. I was worried I might be a little high at 70 psi. Thanks!

NemeZ

I put in Johnson lifters when I did my heads/cam and ran the same oil as the op. I had the exact same issues. Hot idle would be near 18 psi. I went with Redline 5w40 now and it never drops lower than 34 psi hot idle.

Katech_Zach

That's fine.