Oil Level/Comsumption

[GOFAST]

I have a '95 with about 12k miles. I purchased the car about one year ago and have found it difficult to get a consistent oil level reading on the dipstick. My last oil change was about 3k miles ago (Mobil 1 XP 10W30), and I added about 8 2/3 Quarts which read slightly below the full mark on the dipstick. Since the change I have added the remaining 1/3 Quart (9 total), it now reads in the middle between add and full.

The engine has either started to burn oil or I just never got it full from the last change. I would appreciate your input/experience.

Thanks.

[PhillipsLT5]

Wait overnight or 24 hr to check
Let the same amount of time to pass with each check for consistency
These cars will normally use some oil especially with spirited driving

http://www.zr1specialist.com/HAT%20W...5%20Engine.pdf

http://www.zr1specialist.com/HAT%20W...ate%202011.pdf

[gbrtng]

My 91 uses about a quart in 1500-1800 miles on the road. On the track about a quart in 300 miles. Typical from what I have heard.

[mike100]

Originally Posted by gbrtng

My 91 uses about a quart in 1500-1800 miles on the road. On the track about a quart in 300 miles. Typical from what I have heard.

I can concur that that doesn't sound excessive, although I would admit that I was worried about it when i first got the car. The only observation i can share is that the "top" quart burns quickly, but after it is running a quart low, the windage losses seem to be less.

[sammy]

Originally Posted by mike100

I can concur that that doesn't sound excessive, although I would admit that I was worried about it when i first got the car. The only observation i can share is that the "top" quart burns quickly, but after it is running a quart low, the windage losses seem to be less.

i find that the same happens with me on the top QT.what is also interesting is when i tried changing dipsticks between my 90 and 92 the oil level didnt read the same . the 90 stk in the 92 read full when the 92 read add. are they different ?????

[GOLDCYLON]

Originally Posted by sammy

i find that the same happens with me on the top QT.what is also interesting is when i tried changing dipsticks between my 90 and 92 the oil level didnt read the same . the 90 stk in the 92 read full when the 92 read add. are they different ?????

No they should not be

[Hib Halverson]

I don't think you need to wait a day but you do need to wait several hours to get an accurate read of oil level from the dip stick.

An engine using a qt. every 1500-1800 street miles is likely in need of some service...perhaps valve stem seals. That seems like a lot of oil use for an LT5 unless it's very high mileage or maybe using a 5W30 or 5W20.

With my LT5, I've never experienced the "top quart" burning quickly.



My 95, with about 60,000 miles on the motor, uses a quarte in about 8000 miles.

[gbrtng]

Originally Posted by Hib Halverson

An engine using a qt. every 1500-1800 street miles is likely in need of some service...perhaps valve stem seals. That seems like a lot of oil use for an LT5 unless it's very high mileage or maybe using a 5W30 or 5W20.

I've been using 10W-30 - both conventional and synthetic - since 8k miles
when I bought the car in 1995. 1500 miles on a quart is fine with me and well within warranty limits for a new vehicle per GM's criteria. And this is a 91 with the seals on both intake and exhaust ... The burn rate has not changed in 40k miles.

[efnfast]

Hib, do you go 8k between changes? I know oil is important, but it seems many people change it far too often. Wasn't it Jiffy lube that started the 3000 mile oil change? Subject of a new thread?

[tomtom72]

I thought that the 405 hp motors got exh & Int valve stem oil seals? I'm almost positive the 375 hp motors are missing one or both, I think it's only the exh seal they left out?

Anyway, GOFAST how are your PCV valves? I change mine every year as part of my "get ready" for the season. I have noticed that they don't make that clear metallic clinking sound after a season's worth of use, for me somewhere between 6k to 8k miles. As I get towards season's end my oil use goes up or becomes accelerated if you'll allow me that phrase. I can't find the oil on the plugs. Anyway, my point is my LT5's use seems directly related to the health of the PCV valves...or at least that's JMHO thru my own observation. Oh yea, pounding on Her just seems to speed up oil loss no matter when I do it. One of the development issues LOTUS had, ccv blow by ( my words, not LOTUS ), as there is no place for the internal wind with oil in it to slow down enough for the oil to coalesce and fall out of the air stream. Or at least that's what I think they, LOTUS, was saying. I would think that if that is true, then how clean the PCV valves remain over their time in service would be very important to oil loss?

As for checking the oil level. I use my car only on weekends and that's when I check my oil as part of my pre-start up check list. I always get consistent readings from the dipstick. If you think about all the places in our heads that oil can hide I can easily see 4 or 5 hrs should pass before all the oil gets back to the pan. Okay maybe a bit less?

These are just my observations with how my engine behaves in this regard.


Tom