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Old May 28, 2014 | 08:39 AM
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Default Checking oil

After a month of ownership of my 2014 3LT I'm still not getting this right. I wait 10 minutes after the engine is shut off and the dipstick reads low. It only seems to register on one side. Yesterday waited 20 minutes and got a better reading. 600 miles and low? Help!
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Old May 28, 2014 | 09:56 AM
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Originally Posted by smithrebel
After a month of ownership of my 2014 3LT I'm still not getting this right. I wait 10 minutes after the engine is shut off and the dipstick reads low. It only seems to register on one side. Yesterday waited 20 minutes and got a better reading. 600 miles and low? Help!
My guess is your oil is low. It has been known to happen with these cars. Either take it to the dealer or top it off.
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Old May 28, 2014 | 10:29 AM
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Originally Posted by smithrebel
After a month of ownership of my 2014 3LT I'm still not getting this right. I wait 10 minutes after the engine is shut off and the dipstick reads low. It only seems to register on one side. Yesterday waited 20 minutes and got a better reading. 600 miles and low? Help!
On my Z51 the oil level is difficult to read. Even after 2000 miles and even before I changed the oil that was black (as it should be, doesn't mean there is any problem) it was difficult to read. Read best on the back side, behind the cross hatched area. With the clean oil I now have to hold it in the sun or a bright light and turn it to define the amount. With the Z51 you wait from 5 to 10 minutes to get an accurate reading. If you wait longer too much may drain back in the pan to get an accurate reading. Perhaps it’s my old eyes!!
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Old May 28, 2014 | 12:49 PM
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Modern day dipsticks and dip tubes seem to smear the oil on the stick making it hard to see where the level actually is IMHO. The dipsticks of decades ago never seem to have that problem.
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Old May 28, 2014 | 01:34 PM
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On the wet sump cars, the dip stick must go in at an angle because the level will be 1/4th quart lower on one side.
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Old May 28, 2014 | 01:39 PM
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Originally Posted by smithrebel
After a month of ownership of my 2014 3LT I'm still not getting this right. I wait 10 minutes after the engine is shut off and the dipstick reads low. It only seems to register on one side. Yesterday waited 20 minutes and got a better reading. 600 miles and low? Help!
Hey there,

I apologize that you have encountered concerns regarding the oil. We are available to help set you up with a dealership to look at this for you. If this sounds like a good plan, please PM us your contact information, VIN, and the preferred dealership name/location. I will keep an eye out for your response!

Jennie R.
Chevrolet Customer Care
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Old May 28, 2014 | 01:58 PM
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Originally Posted by smithrebel
After a month of ownership of my 2014 3LT I'm still not getting this right. I wait 10 minutes after the engine is shut off and the dipstick reads low. It only seems to register on one side. Yesterday waited 20 minutes and got a better reading. 600 miles and low? Help!
I don't know whether you have a Z51 or not so it's hard to answer you. But, I have a Z51 & a thing I do after having trouble & I think it helps is when I want to ck the oil I shut it down, warm & on flat, o c, I pop the hood, glance at my watch to know when 7 mins is going to be, grab my rag & immediately pull my dipstick out & dry it off. Set the rag over the hole so nothing falls in & then after 7 mins, I read it. Never a problem anymore.
Not sure why it works tho. I do this on all dipstick tube engines & I didn't think the Z51 really had this.
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Old Jun 3, 2014 | 04:49 PM
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Originally Posted by Chevy Cust Svc
Hey there,

I apologize that you have encountered concerns regarding the oil. We are available to help set you up with a dealership to look at this for you. If this sounds like a good plan, please PM us your contact information, VIN, and the preferred dealership name/location. I will keep an eye out for your response!

Jennie R.
Chevrolet Customer Care
Well THIS is one for the books. I have a Z51 automatic obviously with dry sump. My car shows full oil with just 9 qts of oil. It's suppose to take 10.3 The dealer Overfilled it twice. and after bringing the car home, hot engine waited five min. Also eight min. Checked the oil. Same indications. Flat garage floor. I then pumped out one point three qts. Dip stick then showed full. I have a fancy device with exact measurements . Thought dealer overfilled the car. Five hundred miles later decided to change oil and FILTOR again. This time gave him exactly 9.5 qts. You got it, half Qt overfilled. Since mobile one has at times over filled their containers, I made all of them exact. Could the dip stick be fallty. By the way, dealer ticked at me. Told him to wait ten min to insure all oil was drained out. I watched him. Same deal again. By the way my previous car was a Grand Sport with dry sump. I know how to check the oil. ANY Suggestions....

Last edited by Tom Kane; Jun 3, 2014 at 05:01 PM.
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Old Jun 3, 2014 | 10:22 PM
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Originally Posted by Tom Kane
Well THIS is one for the books. I have a Z51 automatic obviously with dry sump. My car shows full oil with just 9 qts of oil. It's suppose to take 10.3 The dealer Overfilled it twice. and after bringing the car home, hot engine waited five min. Also eight min. Checked the oil. Same indications. Flat garage floor. I then pumped out one point three qts. Dip stick then showed full. I have a fancy device with exact measurements . Thought dealer overfilled the car. Five hundred miles later decided to change oil and FILTOR again. This time gave him exactly 9.5 qts. You got it, half Qt overfilled. Since mobile one has at times over filled their containers, I made all of them exact. Could the dip stick be fallty. By the way, dealer ticked at me. Told him to wait ten min to insure all oil was drained out. I watched him. Same deal again. By the way my previous car was a Grand Sport with dry sump. I know how to check the oil. ANY Suggestions....
10.3 was changed to 9.7 with sheet that came with the owners manual.
I put in 9 after my oil change and it reads 1/2 quart low. I intend to keep 1/2 way in hatched area, about 1/2 quart low.
When I changed oil, had front of car slightly lower than the rear. Pushed on hoses from pan to tank but don't think I got much more out. Waited some time as all oil drained. For what it's worth.
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Old Jun 3, 2014 | 10:46 PM
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Originally Posted by smithrebel
After a month of ownership of my 2014 3LT I'm still not getting this right. I wait 10 minutes after the engine is shut off and the dipstick reads low. It only seems to register on one side. Yesterday waited 20 minutes and got a better reading. 600 miles and low? Help!
WHY GM DOESN'T DO OIL METER IF THEY CAN DO OIL MONITOR?
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Old Jun 3, 2014 | 10:56 PM
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Originally Posted by JerryU

10.3 was changed to 9.7 with sheet that came with the owners manual.
I put in 9 after my oil change and it reads 1/2 quart low. I intend to keep 1/2 way in hatched area, about 1/2 quart low.
When I changed oil, had front of car slightly lower than the rear. Pushed on hoses from pan to tank but don't think I got much more out. Waited some time as all oil drained. For what it's worth.
9.8 actually......
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Old Jun 3, 2014 | 11:15 PM
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Just checked mine (Z51) after coming home the other day. Popped hood, waited 5 minutes, oil level just a hair over the full mark.
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Old Jun 4, 2014 | 12:21 AM
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Originally Posted by smithrebel
After a month of ownership of my 2014 3LT I'm still not getting this right. I wait 10 minutes after the engine is shut off and the dipstick reads low. It only seems to register on one side. Yesterday waited 20 minutes and got a better reading. 600 miles and low? Help!
1) do you know for a fact that when you took delivery that it was properly filled? 2) is there a difference between the z51 and the non-z51? 3) make certain that your oil heats to the designated temperature before checking, 4) be sure to clear the dipstick and reinsert it prior to reading, 5) if you still have a problem after checking with the above, see dealer--simple stuff, 6) check levels of transmission fluid, brake fluid, coolant, differential fluid, windshield washer fluid, 7) post results of all readings.
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Old Jun 4, 2014 | 12:32 AM
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At how many miles did you (generically speaking) add oil?
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Old Jun 4, 2014 | 07:53 AM
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I don't have a Z51. I did everything as instructed. Then found out an old friend of mine is now the certified Corvette mechanic at the local dealership (not where I ordered the car). Went there and he checked the oil. Car was outside and on a slight uphill angle. He got a full reading. He said the very slight angle made no difference. Everything is good. Why did they make this so difficult? My '67 911S is much easier and that has a dry sump.
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Old Jun 4, 2014 | 03:07 PM
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Originally Posted by Tom Kane
Well THIS is one for the books. I have a Z51 automatic obviously with dry sump. My car shows full oil with just 9 qts of oil. It's suppose to take 10.3 The dealer Overfilled it twice. and after bringing the car home, hot engine waited five min. Also eight min. Checked the oil. Same indications. Flat garage floor. I then pumped out one point three qts. Dip stick then showed full. I have a fancy device with exact measurements . Thought dealer overfilled the car. Five hundred miles later decided to change oil and FILTOR again. This time gave him exactly 9.5 qts. You got it, half Qt overfilled. Since mobile one has at times over filled their containers, I made all of them exact. Could the dip stick be fallty. By the way, dealer ticked at me. Told him to wait ten min to insure all oil was drained out. I watched him. Same deal again. By the way my previous car was a Grand Sport with dry sump. I know how to check the oil. ANY Suggestions....
Hey there,

Thank you for following up with us regarding your Corvette’s oil. Please private message us and we can further discuss this concern. We are not certified technicians so we cannot verbally diagnose your vehicle, but we are happy to reach out to our internal resources for advice. Talk to you soon!

Jennie R.
Chevrolet Customer Care
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