Oil level

[MyFirstSHO]

This is really bothering me.

I have performed over 100 oil changes in my life.

I have done 5 oil changes to the SHO since I have purchased it.

I use K&N oil filter HP-2009.

Book in glovebox states: 3.0L SHO engine oil- 5 quarts.

Ok I drain the very hot old oil, put new filter on, throw 4 quarts into it. I then wait 5 minutes. Check the dipstick, it is at "add 1 quart mark" Before I started the motor, before the oil filter, oil lines, oil cooler has any oil in it. Put 1 more quart into motor, wait 5 minutes, check dipstick- perfectly on the full mark. I then start the motor, let it run for 1 minute, no noises, nothing. Shut it off, wait 5 minutes. Check dipstick, it is back to the "add 1 quart line". That is with 5 quarts of oil in the motor. What is the problem here?

Immediately After an oil change, i drive the car about 100-200 miles that same day. No noises, no smoke, nothing. The car runs solid.

Now listen to this:
I then park the car, go to sleep, wake up the next morning, start the car (cannot check oil in my driveway cuz it is on a hill) let car run for 3-5 minutes I get out and i hear a slight tapping coming from top of motor (can only hear outside the car). Now THIS ONLY HAPPENS THE DAY AFTER I CHANGE THE OIL, THE FIRST TIME I START IT AFTER I LET IT SIT FOR A NIGHT and thats it, Trust me I am so **** about engine noises if i hear a mouse fart from under my hood, ill be under there checkin it out. I can start it any other time/day after that first cold night sit, and it will not have ANY tapping noise. This makes absolutly no logical sense. Well....... I do add another 1/2 quart of oil to bring the level up the half way in the checkered marks on the dipstick, but i don't think 1/2 quart will do anything. And yes, I add that oil after i hear the tapping (i think?, i might add that 1/2 quart the day i change the oil shrug )

So whats up will my oil pan, do I have some secret compartment that my oil hides in?

And i think my motor likes used motor oil, It never makes any noises til i change it, but then after it gets a little dirty (the oil) the motor is so quiet you cannot even hear it running.

So just in case i lost ya thats:
5.5 quarts
Biggest K&N filter i can buy
Oil level is still 1/2 quart below full mark
So that means 6 quarts of oil would be full

Come on now, i've changed mad oil in about 17 different cars/motors, and they were all the same- if the book called for 5 quarts, HEY sure enough it took 5 quarts, even with a huge *** K&N HP-2002 on my Monte carlo SS did not even alter the amount of oil i poured into the motor.

This is what i think it wrong:
When I bought the car (some of you might remember my post) the front sub frame was broken. the motor, subframe (and everything attached to those parts) was sagging about 4 inches too low.

I had my subframe re welded, and all is well, so i think. The only thing i can think of is: Now the motor is tilted toward the firewall to much, hence it "takes" more oil to reach the "full" mark, because it is all being sloshed/tilted (the oil in the oil pan) away from the dipstick. But the thing is, it doesnt "Look" to be tilted, but we all know what Looks can be.....(decieving)

How much tilt does a motor have to be tilted (LOL) to throw off the oil level? Not much right? Just think of parking of a slight incline, checking oil, then parking dead flat and checking it. Sure does make a difference right?

Wow this post is long, Sorry guys!! headbang

Any ideas?

<small>[ January 02, 2004, 07:47 AM: Message edited by: MyFirstSHO ]</small>

 

[sideSHO]

Could it be the oil is too cold to flow as good in the morning as it will later in the day? shrug IMO I would'nt think about the oil pickup because it would pick up the colder(ie.thicker) oil better than the warmer(ie.thin)oil.

 

[MyFirstSHO]

SideSHO- That is what im sayin. The slight tap is not right when i start it up, its about 3 minutes after startup, only idleing. But again, this tapping is only the Morning after i change the oil, thats it. I'm figureing the oil gets somewhat diluted (i.e. thiner) after I drive on the oil for a few miles, thats why i think it likes used oil. After i drive it and once its warmed up its fine no noises. Actually you know whats funny? After i actually really open it up when driveing (above 4000 rpm) it runs sooooooo smooth and idles like you cant even tell its running. (whenever my mom's outside and i pull in or start it up, she always tells me "You can't even hear that thing run, I wish my car ran like that.....")

And the motor was tilted FAR more forward then it is tilted back now. It looks "normal" compared to other pictures on this site. Before I rewelded it, I could not even see the oil cap, and the dipstick was pushing against the coolant overflow tank cap. Now i can fit my first 3 fingers between the oil dipstick and the overflow tank cap, I use that as a reference to where my motor is located, if anyone can verify this. I know thats a *** way of telling where the motor is, but it works!

Thanks.

<small>[ January 02, 2004, 08:10 AM: Message edited by: MyFirstSHO ]</small>

 

[93EmeraldMTX]

when i filled mine with teh oversized HP1 fram on it, it took 6 quarts.

 

[FamilySHO]

Notwithstanding what the owner's manual says, it takes 5.5 quarts to fill with the stock sized oil filter, 6 quarts with the larger filter. The experiences of others may differ, but that's the way it works for me.

 

[torinogt]

Did a change with Mobil 1 and a stock filter. I added the 5 qts as stated and my level was almost to the add mark so the 5.5 sounds dead on. I would go with the 5.5 and 6 if the aftermarket filter has a bit more volume than stock. There are people on here who use the FL1As from a 302 so they are probably at 6 with them or even a little more.