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Most of us know that checking the oil level is different on the C8. Has to be running and up to temp.
The engine is dry sump, so the dip stick measures the level of the dry sump tank mounted to the front of the engine. And running means oil is circulating in the tank continuously. The dip stick has a pretty wide range of hash marks and nothing says its a quart low. So as long as the oil level is within the hash marks, its good.
Today, I checked the oil level. It now has 4000 miles and it was changed at 2000 miles and the level was in the middle of the hash marks after the oil change and now at 4000 miles. Does it mean it has not burned any oil? I don't think that that is exactly correct. Just means while the oil is circulating, the level in the dry sump tank is in the correct range. Different way of thinking of it.
Most of us know that checking the oil level is different on the C8. Has to be running and up to temp.
The engine is dry sump, so the dip stick measures the level of the dry sump tank mounted to the front of the engine. And running means oil is circulating in the tank continuously. The dip stick has a pretty wide range of hash marks and nothing says its a quart low. So as long as the oil level is within the hash marks, its good.
Today, I checked the oil level. It now has 4000 miles and it was changed at 2000 miles and the level was in the middle of the hash marks after the oil change and now at 4000 miles. Does it mean it has not burned any oil? I don't think that that is exactly correct. Just means while the oil is circulating, the level in the dry sump tank is in the correct range. Different way of thinking of it.
After my oil change the stick read full. Top of the hash marks. If yours read at half of the hash marks after your oil change it would indicate to me that they did not put in all the oil that they could have. They may have been trying to avoid over filling and came up short. However, to your point on using oil, if your still at the halfway point on the stick after driving 2000 miles that would indicate to me that you have not used any oil. That is the experience I have had so far also. No oil usage at this point.
Most of us know that checking the oil level is different on the C8. Has to be running and up to temp.
The engine is dry sump, so the dip stick measures the level of the dry sump tank mounted to the front of the engine. And running means oil is circulating in the tank continuously. The dip stick has a pretty wide range of hash marks and nothing says its a quart low. So as long as the oil level is within the hash marks, its good.
Today, I checked the oil level. It now has 4000 miles and it was changed at 2000 miles and the level was in the middle of the hash marks after the oil change and now at 4000 miles. Does it mean it has not burned any oil? I don't think that that is exactly correct. Just means while the oil is circulating, the level in the dry sump tank is in the correct range. Different way of thinking of it.
I "assume" (always dangerous) that with the baffles in the dry sump tank the oil level when idling is pretty consistent. When I checked mine I did it a number of times to see how consistent the reading is was. It was very!
Really no different that a "slushbox" automatic transmission, car at idle and dip stick reading very consistent!
Wife's BMW has no dip stick and uses sensors with the engine running to define the level. Takes a bit of time but you get a value.
Mine was at the top of the hash marks from the factory. I just had it serviced and oil/dct filter changed @1700mi. I think I should check it to make sure it is at the same level, probably a good idea.
Problem is, do you know what level it was at right after the oil change? Make sure vehicle is on level ground too obviously.
I decided to change mine early after the 1500mi break-in rather than 7500 miles. The dealership put a sticker on the window that the vehicle was filled with "DEXOS".
I need to contact them because the large barrel of DEXOS oil I saw next to the lift where my vehicle was being worked on is NOT the correct oil for this vehicle. I should be DEXOS 2, Mobile 1 0W-40 ESP. Why does the window sticker say "DEXOS" ?
First checked engine oil level at 2,500 miles. Level reading at top of hash marks. Checked again at 4,000 miles. Same reading. Checked at 6,000 miles. No change. Had oil and filter changed at 8,100 miles. Checked after dealership provided service. Reads at top of hash marks.
Only change noted was engine oil color prior to oil and filter change. Originally looked almost clear. At 6,000 miles looked like good quality Tupelo honey.
Mine was at the top of the hash marks from the factory. I just had it serviced and oil/dct filter changed @1700mi. I think I should check it to make sure it is at the same level, probably a good idea.
Problem is, do you know what level it was at right after the oil change? Make sure vehicle is on level ground too obviously.
I decided to change mine early after the 1500mi break-in rather than 7500 miles. The dealership put a sticker on the window that the vehicle was filled with "DEXOS".
I need to contact them because the large barrel of DEXOS oil I saw next to the lift where my vehicle was being worked on is NOT the correct oil for this vehicle. I should be DEXOS 2, Mobile 1 0W-40 ESP. Why does the window sticker say "DEXOS" ?
That is the issue I have with the large Chevy/BMW/Mercedes dealer in town. They have ~20 service bay and one for oil changes that usually has a newbie working who may have been flipping burgers a month before- hard to get mechanics like most blue collar jobs! In the Oil Change Bay they have 55 gallon drums of GM approved dexos oil (dexos -no caps - is the GM trade name for several GM oil specs. And oil blend is dexos certified. Can see that when you're in Walmart and look at the Mobil bottles! There has also been a full synthetic 0-40 Mobil 1 that is labeled European formula for may years. Cheap like other weights, ~$25 in a 5 quart jug. Wrong stuff for a C8. . That has NO dexos cert (why should it no European car company would specify a GM designated specification.) GM, API and SAE get paid for the use of their cert name so Mobil doesn't bother to have the European oil certified to a dexos spec and doesn't have to pay the GM tribute for each quart sold! It may have an SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers)or API (American Petroleum Institute) or a European spec. API and SAE have to pay a small tribute per quart as well!
Now the problem. The tech working the oil change bay can just pull the handle on a gun that pumps oil from a 55 gallon drum in his service bay OR go over to the parts department, wait if there are others there than lug 8 quarts of the proper 0-40 ESP dexos 2 oil to his change bay. Hmm, they gat paid commission for how many cars they service! What do you think many do? In fact with the C7 up to 2019 the Owner's Manual said that cheap oil blend (dexos certified) was OK to use. Do doubt the Service Manager who runs a business bought whatever the cheapest is as that is all that is required for 99.5% of the cars and trucks they service! That is one reason why up to now I have done my own oil changes.
However I now go to a small Chevy Dealer 30 miles from home with a great Corvette tech who is the only one who touches Vettes. Trust him. However I will call the parts department the week prior to making an appointment and be sure they have the 0-40 ESP Mobil 1 oil AND the DCT filter in stock! Also a quart of the DIF fluid for the ~8 oz needed to replenish what is lost with the filter change. Will call in 2 weeks as I'll be at 12 months end August.
After my oil change the stick read full. Top of the hash marks. If yours read at half of the hash marks after your oil change it would indicate to me that they did not put in all the oil that they could have. They may have been trying to avoid over filling and came up short. However, to your point on using oil, if your still at the halfway point on the stick after driving 2000 miles that would indicate to me that you have not used any oil. That is the experience I have had so far also. No oil usage at this point.
The recommended oil fill is 7.5 quarts, which is the middle of the hash marks. The "full" mark is 8 quarts, the "low" mark is 7 quarts.
Mine was at the top of the hash marks from the factory. I just had it serviced and oil/dct filter changed @1700mi. I think I should check it to make sure it is at the same level, probably a good idea.
Problem is, do you know what level it was at right after the oil change? Make sure vehicle is on level ground too obviously.
I decided to change mine early after the 1500mi break-in rather than 7500 miles. The dealership put a sticker on the window that the vehicle was filled with "DEXOS".
I need to contact them because the large barrel of DEXOS oil I saw next to the lift where my vehicle was being worked on is NOT the correct oil for this vehicle. I should be DEXOS 2, Mobile 1 0W-40 ESP. Why does the window sticker say "DEXOS" ?
Dexos is a spec, not an oil. All GM approved oils are Dexos, including that used in the C8. The 0W-40 oil conforms to the Dexos 2 spec. Why does it say Dexos? Probably because the dealer ordered 10,000 stickers that say Dexos, and aren't going to buy a different sticker just for Corvettes. But your invoice should have the part number for the oil used, and you can cross reference that part number on the internet and see what it is.
You can also ask your service manager to verify that they only put 0W-40 in Corvettes, but if you don't trust the dealer, maybe you should look for another one.
Last edited by Red Mist Rulz; Jul 29, 2021 at 03:13 PM.
Mine was at the top of the hash marks from the factory. I just had it serviced and oil/dct filter changed @1700mi. I think I should check it to make sure it is at the same level, probably a good idea.
Problem is, do you know what level it was at right after the oil change? Make sure vehicle is on level ground too obviously.
I decided to change mine early after the 1500mi break-in rather than 7500 miles. The dealership put a sticker on the window that the vehicle was filled with "DEXOS".
I need to contact them because the large barrel of DEXOS oil I saw next to the lift where my vehicle was being worked on is NOT the correct oil for this vehicle. I should be DEXOS 2, Mobile 1 0W-40 ESP. Why does the window sticker say "DEXOS" ?
Originally Posted by BADBIRDCAGE
First checked engine oil level at 2,500 miles. Level reading at top of hash marks. Checked again at 4,000 miles. Same reading. Checked at 6,000 miles. No change. Had oil and filter changed at 8,100 miles. Checked after dealership provided service. Reads at top of hash marks.
Only change noted was engine oil color prior to oil and filter change. Originally looked almost clear. At 6,000 miles looked like good quality Tupelo honey.
Zero oil consumption so far. Now at 8,400 miles.
From factory my engine oil level is also at the very top of the hash, maybe over it by 1/3 to 1/2 inch or so, I need to check again as it was my first time driving it. (Just got the car) I checked it after 35 minutes of driving around so it was probably way over 175F......but no need to wait until it drops to 175F right? oil level is correct even when you check it right after a 35 to 45 minutes drive?
^^^
Engine does not eat oil. Added none at ~4000 miles when I had my 12 month required change.
I have Engine oil, DCT fluid and Coolant temps displayed in the left of my dash (your choice on what you have,) Engine oil gets to ~175 in about 10 minutes. Won't get much higher. My Coolant temp stays between 175 and 180F. Both oil and DCT fluid have liquid/liquid heat exchangers that use coolant to maintain their temps so all will be close UNLESS Tracking of very aggressive driving.
Liquid/Liquid heat exchangers use engine coolant to keep engine oil and DCT fluid close to coolant temp in "normal driving." (I Post Pics for those who want to to know WHY when I make comments. IF not you for some of the Silent Majority who view Threads BUT Don't/Won't post! This Tread is a good example 100 X more folks viewed versus the Vocal Minority who Posted. Shows lots of interest!)
Checking oil level
