2010 5.3 Afm... When To Check The Oil?

[flstc4me]

I have a 2010 5.3L (LGM) AFM in a Tahoe. It has the aux cooler. When I changed the oil I filled the filter before installing it, then filled the crankase with the rest of the 6 quarts of oil and checked the level to make sure I had enough oil to start it safely. I started the engine, checked for leaks then shut the engine off. I checked the oil after shutting it off and it appeared to be two dots low on the dip stick, roughly 1/2 quart. I poured in 1/2 quart and checked again. I noticed that there was some smeared oil above the cross hatch area roughly and inch or so above the cross hatch area, but it appeared the bulk of the oil on the stick indicated it was full. I checked for leaks and assumed I was done.

 

The next morning before leaving for work I checked the oil level and it was about 1/2 quart high above the cross hatch area. I wiped off the stick and checked again to find it was over the cross hatched area. I drove my jeep that day and let the Tahoe sit at home. That evening I drained out some oil and poured in a bit to get the level at the top of the cross hatch area. All seemed good.

 

I checked the oil the next morning before going to work and the level was still at the top of the cross hatched area and all seemed very good.

 

After I drove the Tahoe home that day after work I let it sit for a couple of minutes and checked the oil and it was now 1/2 quart low with some smear or oil deposit higher up on the stick. I wiped the stick and checked again and it read about 1/2 quart low with some smear or oil deposits higher up on the stick. I've not seen this oil further up the stick on other vehicles so I let it sit for the evening.

 

The next morning I checked the oil before starting the engine and it read full at the top of the cross hatched area.

 

So my issue is that it seems after I run the vehicle for a while the oil is not all back in the oil pan, but if I wait overnight or several hours then the level is where it was when I changed the oil, at the top of the cross hatched area.

 

I've been watching the level for about 1300 miles and it reads consistently full after the engine sits for a while and about 2 dots low a little while after I shut it off.

 

Is this a function of the oil cooler taking time to drain back into the oil pan that gives me a seemingly false "1/2 quart low" measurement after running the engine, but reads full after the cooler can drain over night or for some amount of time?

 

Should I be adding some oil to make it read full after I run the engine or am I okay with it reading full after sitting overnight?

 

Any help appreciated.

[dlstewart01]

You know right after you shut it off the oil has not drained down into the oil pan yet. You should always wait a bit after shutting the engine off for the oil to drain back into the pan to get an accurate reading.

[foghorn23]

After the truck has been running it will not show the oil level correctly on the dipstick because not all the oil has drained back into the pan. I always check mine after it has sat overnight, or some extended time. If it's full after sitting... it's full; the oil doesn't magically disappear when the engine is started.

[crankman]

it takes 6 quarts we have 3 Gm trucks in the family 2-5.3 & 1- 6.2 they all take 6 quarts with a filter replacement. the other guys are correct you need to wait a while for a correct level check.

[BlackZ71Silverado]

I have a 2010 5.3L (LGM) AFM in a Tahoe. It has the aux cooler. When I changed the oil I filled the filter before installing it, then filled the crankase with the rest of the 6 quarts of oil and checked the level to make sure I had enough oil to start it safely. I started the engine, checked for leaks then shut the engine off. I checked the oil after shutting it off and it appeared to be two dots low on the dip stick, roughly 1/2 quart. I poured in 1/2 quart and checked again. I noticed that there was some smeared oil above the cross hatch area roughly and inch or so above the cross hatch area, but it appeared the bulk of the oil on the stick indicated it was full. I checked for leaks and assumed I was done.

 

The next morning before leaving for work I checked the oil level and it was about 1/2 quart high above the cross hatch area. I wiped off the stick and checked again to find it was over the cross hatched area. I drove my jeep that day and let the Tahoe sit at home. That evening I drained out some oil and poured in a bit to get the level at the top of the cross hatch area. All seemed good.

 

I checked the oil the next morning before going to work and the level was still at the top of the cross hatched area and all seemed very good.

 

After I drove the Tahoe home that day after work I let it sit for a couple of minutes and checked the oil and it was now 1/2 quart low with some smear or oil deposit higher up on the stick. I wiped the stick and checked again and it read about 1/2 quart low with some smear or oil deposits higher up on the stick. I've not seen this oil further up the stick on other vehicles so I let it sit for the evening.

 

The next morning I checked the oil before starting the engine and it read full at the top of the cross hatched area.

 

So my issue is that it seems after I run the vehicle for a while the oil is not all back in the oil pan, but if I wait overnight or several hours then the level is where it was when I changed the oil, at the top of the cross hatched area.

 

I've been watching the level for about 1300 miles and it reads consistently full after the engine sits for a while and about 2 dots low a little while after I shut it off.

 

Is this a function of the oil cooler taking time to drain back into the oil pan that gives me a seemingly false "1/2 quart low" measurement after running the engine, but reads full after the cooler can drain over night or for some amount of time?

 

Should I be adding some oil to make it read full after I run the engine or am I okay with it reading full after sitting overnight?

 

Any help appreciated.

 

Here is some educational reading for you.....

 

http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-...-oil-level.html

[BigBlueLB756]

It's better to be a little below the "full" mark than above it. One instance where too much is not too good.

[Websterdan]

Mine shows 1/2-1 qt over full with 6 qts added. If I check it right after shut down 3-5 min it's at the full mark. Wait several hours and it's over full. This is where my dealer is doing the oil changes and said it's fine.

[MaverickZ71]

I've found the easiest and most consistent way to check it is when it is cold, first thing in the morning before I start it for the first time that day. Yes, the owner's manual says to check it when it's hot, such as at a gas station, after it's been shut off for a couple minutes. But when you do that, the oil level shown on the dipstick tends to vary a little depending on the outside temp, how long you drove to get to the station, and how long you shut it off and let the oil drain back into the pan before you check it. If you are using the OEM-size oil filter, 6 quarts of oil will show a little high (over full) on the dipstick when it is cold. I put in 5.5 quarts to get mine exactly on the full line; others on this forum just glug in 6 quarts and they apparently haven't had any trouble with it showing a little over full. Don't let the smarta$$es on this forum who recommend "just take it to Jiffy Lube" get you down. They probably don't know where the hood latch is!

[ujtruck]

check your oil anytime you want, bit over / less on that |XXXXXXX| no big deal

 

checked and have oil in you engine is much more important

 

Ohh, I didn't know how to check oil level properly @ one point in my life, now I know how to drop the transmission pan and remove filter / filter sleeve and refill transmission fluid, change rear drum Brakes etc...

[flstc4me]

Thanks to those that took this post seriously, most everyone did. I was simply wondering if I should add an extra 1/2 quart so that during operation of my 5.3 with aux cooler the amount of oil in the pan would be the same amount as if it did not have 1/2 qt in the aux cooler and the associated lines. Not a big deal, but I was looking for some input. Many of you provided your opinion and experience on the 1/2 quart which is appreciated. I just don't want to give this thing a reason to start using oil such as too little oil. My 2004 Tahoe 5.3 never consumed oil in 7 years and 106K miles.

 

And ujtruck you are completely right, we all start somewhere. I started taking automatic transmissions apart when I was in my early teens and helping to rebuild TH350's and TH400's later in my teen years in the family business. I've been a gear head since. I prefer to work on my Chevelles as opposed to my Tahoe, they are much more simple, even the one with two carbs and a blower.

 

Next time maybe I'll phrase my question a little better so that there is less room for interpretation.

 

Cheers.

[MikeNH]

In all honesty I have noticed that this truck seems to take forever to "drain down" after shutdown compared to anything else I've owned or changed oil on. I spent almost 3 years in a dealer service department so during that time I probably changed more oil in a month than most people will in their entire life. I did the first oil change on this truck yesterday and noticed that after filling with 6 qts it wasn't reading full but after waiting an hour (cleaning up tools and doing other stuff outside) it was now reading full.

[brainpause]

Any help appreciated.

 

For the first time in my life, I will recommend someone taking your truck to Jiffy Lube. This task is beyound your skill level.

 

 

Smart aleck. He asked a legitimate question. Go get your rubber duckies and get back to the sandbox.

 

Larry

[4wd]

Like you, when I checked oil the first time I was worried something was wrong but the service manager insisted it's fine as long as you put the right amount....however, you mention the oil cooler a couple of times and I'm curious about it!. Is this something you ordered? or it is standard? how do I know if I have it or not?

[flstc4me]

Like you, when I checked oil the first time I was worried something was wrong but the service manager insisted it's fine as long as you put the right amount....however, you mention the oil cooler a couple of times and I'm curious about it!. Is this something you ordered? or it is standard? how do I know if I have it or not?

 

It's listed on the options sheet as follows:

 

KC4 - Engine Oil Cooling System

K5L - Heavy Duty trailering package, Engine Oil Cooler, HD Transmission Oil Cooler

 

I did not order the vehicle, I bought if off of the dealer lot. If you have the HD trailering package then you likely have the oil cooler as well.