"Competitive driving" oil level? - Z06Vette.com

GS1000FF · 09-05-2006, 06:07 AM

As new owner of a stock 01-Z06 as well as to this great forum

I have a question related to reading through the Owners Manual.

"When racing add 1 quart of oil above the upper mark"!
That sounds OK but how to get it out again after a track day

I tried a thin oil change suction pipe through the oil stick hole but it could not reach deep enough.

Do you guys out there follow this recommendation and "overfill"??

regards
GC1000FF

Six wheels in the garage
01-Z06
YSF-R1
(Pro Street 383" 72, owned 99-06)

robls6 · 09-05-2006, 06:14 AM

I keep mine filled with an extra quart all the time and haven't had a problem with it.

MiamiCowboy · 09-05-2006, 06:20 AM

Drop the filter and empty it.

GS1000FF · 09-05-2006, 06:36 AM

Thanks for prompt answers, that is I have two alternatives go "well filled" all the time or lift it up and get under the car and empty the oilfilter.
Just taking out the oil filter won´t let out all oil, right?

But still messy!

regards
GS1000FF

IT L GO · 09-05-2006, 06:42 AM

Buy the time you finish your competition the extra oil will be burned off.

**DennyM** · 09-05-2006, 06:46 AM

First time I overfilled for track I drained a light qt off thru the drain plug ... messy. Then I read that the oil just rides up in the pan "wings" and there were no foaming issues ... so after that I just said "screw it" and left it in until next oil change (which is soon after a couple of hard track sessions where, without a cooler, I see temps close to 280 ...)
FWIW

gonzalezfj · 09-05-2006, 06:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IT L GO

Buy the time you finish your competition the extra oil will be burned off.

This has NOT been my experience. My C5Z does not use oil at high RPM.

Just overfill by 1 quart like the book suggests and run the car at that level on the street. No ill effects will ensue.

Enjoy the track time...

Frank Gonzalez

GS1000FF · 09-05-2006, 06:50 AM

OK guys I´ll go with the flow i.e. well filled

WB6HRO · 09-06-2006, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gonzalezfj

This has NOT been my experience. My C5Z does not use oil at high RPM.

Just overfill by 1 quart like the book suggests and run the car at that level on the street. No ill effects will ensue.

Enjoy the track time...

Frank Gonzalez

Frank,

You're not driving it hard enough! I typically go though a quart in about 160 minutes of track time

speedpup · 09-06-2006, 05:03 PM

Frank runs hard

Seems I go and run 5 sessions and it never moves on the stick. Then I run another and it is down in one session:jawdrop:

Smae floor at Pocono and I let it drain and dip it a few times

May be that's when I'm chasing Frank I lose the quart

WB6HRO · 09-06-2006, 06:27 PM

Probably relates more to how much you are in 2nd gear, winding it up. We have been running at Spring Mountain in Nevada, and California Speedway.

wtknght1 · 09-11-2006, 11:30 AM

I don't run "a quart over the full line"...never have. I put over 20K track/racing miles on my 01 and just ran it at the "full line" and never had any issues. Great engine!

If you do choose to run it over full, there's no need to drain any of it out. Just leave it and it'll be fine.

If you run it over full, then the engine just 'pukes' the extra oil back up thru the engine and into the intake. If you've ever taken off the flexible air intake tube (coming from the air filter box), I'm sure you've noticed that little pool of oil. That's basically where that's from. So, the way I look at it is that it's better to NOT puke so much oil into the engine. The LS6 doesn't suffer the same oiling problems that the LS1s did, so I'm just not convinced it's necessary to overfill it.

If you run the engine much over 6500, that's where you'll start getting 'ring flutter' and burning more oil. The 02-04 engines aren't as bad about that, but they still burn some up.

GS1000FF · 09-11-2006, 11:50 PM

One concern I had was that overfilling has been said to harm your engine but it seems that Z06 engines revised internal "oiling set up" has addressed that very well.

Another question I have is what oil temps do you see at the track.

My first real track test so far read ~280 F. Is that normal?
When do you need to install extra engine oil cooling and if so, what is your recommendations. Does GMPP sell bolt on's?

Ralph

**DennyM** · 09-12-2006, 08:56 AM

280 is not unusual. ... up to 300 prolly ok for short time; sustained track use means you should look into cooler.
Here's some threads on cooling and coolers.
Ron Davis or DeWitt Radiator
Need advice on engine oil for track day use plus temp problem
LPE oil cooler guys please step in

kmagvette · 09-13-2006, 08:57 AM

My experience is in-line with what Chris said. I divide the two camps and just do a 7 qt. oil change - no leftovers. I am convinced my dipstick lies, you get different reading depending on how you insert it.

I did over fill at the track once, the engine sounds like dump at around 3500 to 4000 rpm as the fuel-oil mixture gets rich. Above 4000 you get enough oil into the top of the motor that it runs fine. I figured that it was an oil issue and pitted. Absolutely no foaming, but the back of the car was a mess.

As far as oil burn goes, I can't measure anything significant. I do measure what comes out of the engine - I get about 6 1/2 quarts back. Considering what stays behind in the filter I figure I lose less than 1/4 qt over a two day session at Watkins Glen. I run in the 2:15-2:16 range (according to the camcorder) which is quite fast for a street car with no mods other than brakes, tires, and an oil cooling radiator. T1 guys will dust me, they run those speeds for warm-up :jawdrop:

I typically see oil temps in the 260 to 275 range. I use 275 as my "back-off" temp to maintain a margin of safety.