Dipstick shows oil low even after proper fill quantity.

[Roadster Guy]

I think I have seen this discussed here before but can't remember what came out of it. Anyway, I did my spring oil and filter change and put in Mobil 1 10W30 (used to put 5W30 but switched after reading one of Hib's discussions recommending 10W30). As usual with filter change, put 4.3 liters (5 US quarts) as per the owner's manual. And as usual the dipstick reads that I am about half to three quarters of a quart short, so I topped it up until it shows full on the dipstick.
Anyone else run into this with C-4's or is it an LT4 thing or what?

As we are on the subject of oil changes, I do about 5000 kilometers (3000 miles) a year between April and December. I change the oil and filter before going into storage and then again when it comes out of storage (stored in my garage which is dry, but cold). My mechanic says this is the best oil rotation for the car and I feel comfortable with it as the engine sounds and runs like new (53,000 kilometers or 33,000 miles) and I want to keet it that way. However, some of my friends think this is a bit of overkill and that one change every spring is fine.
I buy the Mobil 1 at Wal Mart or Canadian Tire (CT was slightly cheaper this time) and therefore the price of the change is relatively cheap. Thoughts?
RG

 

[Joe C]

i have found that checking the oil level right after turning the engine off can lead to false dipstick readings. it takes several minutes for the oil to drain back into the oil pan. on my c5, the manual says to wait 20 minutes, but i find that the level will still continue to rise after that. next time you change oil/filter (you should pre-fill the filter), start the engine and run it for about 5 minutes while checking for leaks. shut the engine off, and wait 15-20 minutes or so, and check the level. that my friend, is about the only advice i can give you. lately, i,ve been checking levels on both my c4 and c5 corvettes in the morning, after the cars sit overnight.

as far as your oil change intervals, why do you change it again in the spring - ??? i change my oil and filter in the fall, before storage each year. i drive about 5000 miles per year.

 

[SPANISHVETTS]

It takes a good 20 min for the oil to all run down to the pan on Thunder. Try waiting ½ hour after you change the oil before you check the level. Also some filters hold more oil than others. The K&N filter for a L98 is quite a bit longer than the PF454 Delco.

We change the oil & filter in everything we own at 3500 miles or 12 months, which ever comes first. We do not have the cold to deal with but the temp hovers around the dew point from December thorough March so once a month we start everything up and run them for 15 min at operating temperature to fight condensation.

I do not think that it is possible to change the oil too often. On the race cars we change all of the fluids after every race weekend and after the practice sessions. We used send a sample of the oil from every change to the lab. The one time we got a negative report on some transmission oil we found a shim grinding itself to bits. Another 0.5mm and the gearbox would have engaged 3rd 4th and 5th when downshifted. Shim value about $0.50 Gearbox $25000. Now we have our own oil analyzer…Actually 2 one in the shop and one that travels with the GP2 cars.

 

[Roadster Guy]

Thanks for the input guys. I am aware that the oil reading should be done after allowing for the oil to drain back down. I have waited a couple of hours to check it and my garage floor id dead level.. The different size oil filters is a good thought. I am using the AC Delco.....but maybe it has changed slightly in size and design since 1996.

Assuming the dipstick is original then you either accept it's reading as correct or you stick to the manual's quantity fill. In this case I am assuming the dipstick is correct and now it shows right at the full line, not above or below but dead on, about half a quart over what the manual recommends.

So you guys have covered both sides of my thoughts on this. I do wonder Joe why I change it in the spring. And yet like Spanish Vettes says, is it possible to change too often and is there a chance that after 4 months of sitting and 4 winter cold starts to circulate the fluids that something nasty gets flushed out? I don't know I guess. I wonder if most people who store their Vettes in winter only do an oil change once a year?

I have a 350 Chev (Merc I/O) in my boat. We put new synthetic oil in each fall when the boat is winterized and it sits outside all winter. My boat mechanic says this is fine with the synthetic and the fact I use it only about 25 hours per summer...he says a spring change is not necessary. I have never had an engine problem in 10 years. But to me the Vette runs hotter, harder, longer and I don't start the boat up a few times while in storage......
RG

 

[c4cruiser]

The dipstick on my 92 Vette and the one in my 99 Silverado are marked to show a "safe" range for oil fill. There is a crosshatch pattern on the dipstick and as long as the oil appears within this pattern, it should be OK.

I use a UPF44 filter and 4.5 quarts of 5W-30 Mobil-1 for an oil change.

My 92 typically sits in my unheated garage during the winter months and I change oil once a year as my mileage is also around 3000 miles per year. I typically change the oil and filter in the spring. I do occasionally drive the car during the winter on decent days and I will drive the car for about 30 minutes so that both coolant and oil temps get to their operating ranges and stay there for most of that time. That helps to remove any moisture or contaminants that may be in the motor.

I aslo run the A/C for 10-15 minutes or so to keep the seals from drying out.

 

[Roadster Guy]

C4, I am in the crosshairs too after 5 quarts and another half brings me to the full line at the top of the crosshairs. You know, I'm beginning to lean towards changing the oil and filter only in the spring which for me would be about every 3000 miles. Running the AC sounds like a good idea, but I don't think AC's cut in below 50 degrees F.

RG

 

[ßill]

I am lucky enough not to have to store my Vette for the winter. If I did I and was considering changing the oil once a year I would change it just prior to storage. That way I would not leave oil contaminated with combustion products in the engine all winter long. Any condensation that collected over the winter would be boiled out the first time the car was run at temperature. Am I missing something? :confused

 

[Ken]

If you think it's hard trying to check the oil level on a stock engine, try it with an aftermarket oil cooler and all the line between the exchanger and the block, and top (or in this case - bottom) it off with an aftermarket large-capacity oil pan, well, let's just say it can be trying.

 

[froggy47]

C4, I am in the crosshairs too after 5 quarts and another half brings me to the full line at the top of the crosshairs. You know, I'm beginning to lean towards changing the oil and filter only in the spring which for me would be about every 3000 miles. Running the AC sounds like a good idea, but I don't think AC's cut in below 50 degrees F.

RG

I always thought a/c runs no matter the outside temp. Depends on the mode. For example in the winter when you put defrost on to clear inside "fog" on the windshield, isn't the a/c running to dry the moisture off - a/c puts out drier air.

 

[Ken]

You really shouldn't add more oil to the crankcase than the factory specifies; too much oil and you stand the chance of aerating it and causing starvation to critical areas of the engine.

Yes, the air conditioning is designed to run with the defrost function. This not only dries the air passing over the inside of the windshield, but it also ensures the air conditioning system and compressor are run during the colder winter months when the air conditioner is not usually used. Running it occsionally prevents seals from drying out and clears the ventilation system.

 

[Roadster Guy]

So I better dress up warmly to run my AC......

Ken thanks for the advice. As the car is stock then I will stick with the factory fill specs in future. I really did not know the AC would run when cold. True, I know on most of my cars when I switch from heat settiing (floor) to defrost, the AC kicks in, but I thought there was a temp below which it would not operate. That's what's great about the CAC...ya learn stuff and have some fun at the same time.
Ok, so next winter when it's 10 below I will head out to the garage and fire her up and put on the AC. Now, I will know it helps the seals and ventilation, but man my wife is gonna have me committed if she sees me sitting out there in a wooly hat, gloves, scarf and parka and I'm running the AC!:crazy
RG

 

[Roadster Guy]

Bill, no I don't think you are missing something...makes sense to me if what you say is true...:ugh So let's see, C4 cruiser changes his in the spring, you think the fall is the time and Spanishvettes says once a year or every 3500 miles. Well, I'm glad everyone agrees..........at least on once a year.

The question then on a once a year oil change with a Vette that goes into winter storage; is it ok for the engine to have old oil sit in it all winter or is it better to put in new synthetic oil in the fall and assume the oil is not impacted by the cold storage and occassional startups of the engine?
I was leaning towards a spring change. Then I was leaning towards fall.... and now I'm....well...thinking....
RG

 

[8388]

Make sure the dip stick (tube) has not been pulled up, therefore not allowing the dip (stick) to go down to the proper depth.

 

[SPANISHVETTS]

Make sure the dip stick (tube) has not been pulled up, therefore not allowing the dip (stick) to go down to the proper depth.

That is a good thought. When we were building the motor for the S10 the dipstick did not want to go all the way into the block.
I wish that SBCs had a sight glass like motorcycles. It takes away all of the guess work.

 

[SPANISHVETTS]

Ken thanks for the advice. As the car is stock then I will stick with the factory fill specs in future. I really did not know the AC would run when cold. True, I know on most of my cars when I switch from heat settiing (floor) to defrost, the AC kicks in, but I thought there was a temp below which it would not operate. That's what's great about the CAC...ya learn stuff and have some fun at the same time.
Ok, so next winter when it's 10 below I will head out to the garage and fire her up and put on the AC. Now, I will know it helps the seals and ventilation, but man my wife is gonna have me committed if she sees me sitting out there in a wooly hat, gloves, scarf and parka and I'm running the AC!:crazy
RG

Exactly what is the significance of 10 below?:confused

I aslo run the A/C for 10-15 minutes or so to keep the seals from drying out.

I run my AC in the winter to keep my seals from blowing.:cool

In the last 5 years we have had one day with a wind-chill factor below freezing and none of the kids that work for me have ever seen frost on a windshield.:W I guess that we are underprivileged; maybe there is a charity or foundation that busses sun burnt children to the snow regions.

 

[Roadster Guy]

I think 8388 has a good idea!

Make sure the dip stick (tube) has not been pulled up, therefore not allowing the dip (stick) to go down to the proper depth.

I agree, that is a very good thought...I will check it out this weekend.

Ok SPANISHVETTES, maybe you are pulling my chain here , but the significance of "10 below" is when it is 10 degrees below freezing and I am sitting in the car running the Air Conditioning and my wife sees me (or anyone else for that matter), then maybe they think I might be a candidate for the looney bin.......:Silly ....by the way, I am not sure about the charity foundation but I happen to have my Euro passport as well as my Canuck one, so maybe we should bring the snow to the kids instead of taking the kids to it....mind if I drive over and dump a huge truckload of ice and snow at your front door...we have plenty to spare here. Now which bridge to Spain is the shortest drive, the one from Halifax or New York?
RG

 

[froggy47]

Ken thanks for the advice. As the car is stock then I will stick with the factory fill specs in future. I really did not know the AC would run when cold. True, I know on most of my cars when I switch from heat settiing (floor) to defrost, the AC kicks in, but I thought there was a temp below which it would not operate. That's what's great about the CAC...ya learn stuff and have some fun at the same time.
Ok, so next winter when it's 10 below I will head out to the garage and fire her up and put on the AC. Now, I will know it helps the seals and ventilation, but man my wife is gonna have me committed if she sees me sitting out there in a wooly hat, gloves, scarf and parka and I'm running the AC!:crazy
RG

When you run the a/c you can still turn the heat "temperature" up high.

 

[Ken]

Aw man, quit pickin' on him guys. Innocent enough slip of the tongue, or as in this case, the fingers. :L

 

[SPANISHVETTS]

I agree, that is a very good thought...I will check it out this weekend.

Ok SPANISHVETTES, maybe you are pulling my chain here , but the significance of "10 below" is when it is 10 degrees below freezing and I am sitting in the car running the Air Conditioning and my wife sees me (or anyone else for that matter), then maybe they think I might be a candidate for the looney bin.......:Silly ....by the way, RG

I have done my cold time. I was inside the Artic Circle working with X-Commies when the Go-Kart track in the sunny south of Spain was put up for sale.:ugh

I am not sure about the charity foundation but I happen to have my Euro passport as well as my Canuck one, so maybe we should bring the snow to the kids instead of taking the kids to it....mind if I drive over and dump a huge truckload of ice and snow at your front door...we have plenty to spare here.

Marbella Spain trucks in a mountain of snow every Christmas for the kids and Santa…It is almost as big as the mountain of Coke that comes in by boat.:W

Now which bridge to Spain is the shortest drive, the one from Halifax or New York?

Bush closed the bridges because of private information about WMD being smuggled past Customs at the Bermuda exit so you will have to use the Tunnel.*

When you run the a/c you can still turn the heat "temperature" up high.

If you push the Defrost button the AC runs regardless of the temperature selection, at least that is the way it works on a 90.

*I can’t believe that I managed to Bash Bush in a thread about Oil Levels. It must have been the use of the term Dip Stick that sent me over the edge.

 

[Roadster Guy]

Not the dreaded tunnel.....

Hmm...tunnnel...good idea...but... I was hoping to get some rays on the drive over (under?) with the top down...so the tunnel is out! But, heat from the AC in January....good.....now I know where to hide at Christmas when the relatives pile in!
So, in case anyone remembered, I checked the dipstick's (no not him) tube and it appears to be snug and in its original position. Therefore, let's say I'll stick with the designated fill amount in the manual and assume that as that amount is in the crosshairs then it is ok, though on all my other cars it seems the manual amount shows full on the dipstick.

Ken I think we (you?) should start a new thread on oil change and storage for all Vettes running synthetic oil. Something like this: If you drive about 4000 miles per year and winter store your car, do you change your oil once a year and if so when...fall or spring and why?

And on a lighter note, if we arrange for Froggy and Spanish Vettes to meet half way in the tunnel, do we slip them each a map that has the Pacifc tunnel on it...not the Atlantic.
RG