Low Oil Pressure Warning
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 12,769
Likes: 10,202
From: Garden Valley CA
Here is the end result of my plight. I ended up putting 4 quarts of oil in the engine to ensure I would get to the local Chevy dealer without issue. The dipstick still did not show oil but I knew I had enough to get to the service appointment. When the car was serviced and I got it back, the mechanic showed me how to check the oil. When he did, the oil was at the proper place on the dipstick. What he did tell me which was different from what I was doing was to get the engine temp up to 175, then shut the car off for 5 minutes, then check the oil. I was checking the oil while the car was running on idle. My guess as to why I had an oil pressure warning flash for a few seconds was I was low on oil but not in danger of seizing the engine immediately. It should be noted I never got a “low oil” warning which I assume I should have gotten. Additionally, I can only guess that the previous oil change did not get the full 7.5 quarts of oil needed which is why I was low at 6,000 miles between changes. I just checked the oil yesterday and it registers full so I hopefully don’t have a leak. I will be checking the oil occasionally from now on. Thanks everyone for your advice and be well!
Do you have a C7 or C8? If you have a C8 your dealer is incorrect.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 1,759
Likes: 1,494
2024 C8 of the Year Winner - Unmodified
The C8 engine oil level is checked with the engine running. The C7 is checked with the engine off. You posted in the C8 section and didn't state what car you have so it was assumed you have a C8. Neither car has an oil level sensor.
Do you have a C7 or C8? If you have a C8 your dealer is incorrect.
Do you have a C7 or C8? If you have a C8 your dealer is incorrect.
So as RKCRLR said, you check the oil level on the C8 idling and engine temp at or above 175 F. Dealer advised you wrong there.
Last edited by chevyrules727; Mar 20, 2025 at 10:30 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 1,759
Likes: 1,494
2024 C8 of the Year Winner - Unmodified
Would also question if it is now overfilled if they checked it with the engine off and waiting 5 minutes....
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 11,376
Likes: 8,532
Here is the end result of my plight. I ended up putting 4 quarts of oil in the engine to ensure I would get to the local Chevy dealer without issue. The dipstick still did not show oil but I knew I had enough to get to the service appointment. When the car was serviced and I got it back, the mechanic showed me how to check the oil. When he did, the oil was at the proper place on the dipstick. What he did tell me which was different from what I was doing was to get the engine temp up to 175, then shut the car off for 5 minutes, then check the oil. I was checking the oil while the car was running on idle. My guess as to why I had an oil pressure warning flash for a few seconds was I was low on oil but not in danger of seizing the engine immediately. It should be noted I never got a “low oil” warning which I assume I should have gotten. Additionally, I can only guess that the previous oil change did not get the full 7.5 quarts of oil needed which is why I was low at 6,000 miles between changes. I just checked the oil yesterday and it registers full so I hopefully don’t have a leak. I will be checking the oil occasionally from now on. Thanks everyone for your advice and be well!
Last edited by Andybump; Mar 20, 2025 at 11:48 AM.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 45
Likes: 26
From: Georgia
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 45
Likes: 26
From: Georgia
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 11,376
Likes: 8,532
Either you lost that much oil while driving - which means there is a serious problem. Or, at the last oil change, the car was not filled properly, and that would mean you were driving with very little oil in the tank. Both explanations are kinda serious. The fact that you still had oil pressure most of the time, with only a brief oil starvation incident (the low oil pressure event) very likely means that little or no damage was done - we hope.
You can't worry about damage any more, but I would be worried about what happened to all that oil.
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