Oil level in my Z71

[georgewe4]

Hey folks,
I just bought a 94 Z-71 with the 350 in it. I changed the oil tonight and looked in the owners manual to find out capacity. It stated that with a filter it required 5 quarts. I put 5 quarts in it. I drove it for a while tonight with no problems whatsoever and popped the hood to check the level. It is about 1/4 inch above the operating range on the dipstick. I looked in the owners manual again and found under "adding oil" that as long as you have it in the operating range you was ok. Well that operating range is about a 1 inch area on the dipstick, and im about 1/4" above that. What do you guys think. Should I remove some oil? This truck would pass for a 70,000 mile truck easily in looks and how it drives. It has 203,000 on it and has been well taken care of. Always the oil changed, dealer serviced in every way every year with all systems flushed and filled, The engine or transmission has never been rebuilt. I just don't want to blow it now.
Thanks!
George

 

[gn85]

Well.. changing oil you don't always get the oil out completely.. so it's possible that you slightly overfilled it because there was still some oil in there. A 1/4" over the top isn't TOO bad IMO.

Dumb question... have you inspected the oil pan to make sure there are no dents in it?? This will throw off your oil reading (and in some cases not be good for the motor either). Also.. you may want to make sure that is the correct dipstick for the vehicle and that it's properly installed (fully seated).

 

[bruce]

Hey folks,
I just bought a 94 Z-71 with the 350 in it. I changed the oil tonight and looked in the owners manual to find out capacity. It stated that with a filter it required 5 quarts. I put 5 quarts in it. I drove it for a while tonight with no problems whatsoever and popped the hood to check the level. It is about 1/4 inch above the operating range on the dipstick. I looked in the owners manual again and found under "adding oil" that as long as you have it in the operating range you was ok. Well that operating range is about a 1 inch area on the dipstick, and im about 1/4" above that. What do you guys think. Should I remove some oil? This truck would pass for a 70,000 mile truck easily in looks and how it drives. It has 203,000 on it and has been well taken care of. Always the oil changed, dealer serviced in every way every year with all systems flushed and filled, The engine or transmission has never been rebuilt. I just don't want to blow it now.
Thanks!
George

Next oil change use the tall truck filter, and you'll have the same 5 quarts in it, but will be a little lower on the stick. On *some* of the later trucks they just *burn* down to the right level and stay there. And the *right level* might not be what's indicated on the stick. Some just like 1/2" low on the stick.

On my own truck, when towing it would always *burn down* to almost the low lewvel mark, but then stop.

 

[Turbo Indian]

did you check it after changing the oil, before driving it?

 

[georgewe4]

Did I check it?????

Yes I did and it was just slightly over the normal range and it was on level ground. I drove it about 80 miles last night and when I got home thats when I checked it againto find it 1/4" over. I guess I've got a truck that just produces oil as I drive it.
As long as it doesn't hurt it.

 

[Turbo Indian]

if it's making oil you can have a serious problem. does it smell like fuel or is the color milky?

 

[georgewe4]

No. The oil smelled normal, like used oil should. As for any antifreeze in it there is none, and there was none in the oil that I removed. I think I figured it out though. The dipstick Has a little catch in it that you really have to push it to get it to seat all the way into the tube. I probably didn't push it far enough in when I checked it after just changing the oil. Thats why I didn't see the 1/4" over when I had just finished changing the oil. It was like that from the get go. So now that I know that I will make sure that I have the dipstick fully seated the next time.

 

[SloGN]

94 z71

My Z71 does exactly the opposite. when you change the oil and put in 5 quarts with a tall filter PF1218 AC my oil level is about 1/4 of a quart low.

 

[georgewe4]

hmmm

I used the tall filter too. How many miles on the Z71?

 

[chevyII]

I have a 94 GMC sub and it takes about 5and 1/3 quarts. Glad to see I'm not the only one driving a 200,000+ truck. mine could and does pass for a new truck.