Oil Reservoir
Author
Discussion

V8 Vum

Original Poster:

3,206 posts

245 months

Monday 7th February 2011
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Now my probelms have gone away ref the starting of my LS7 (thanks to all your suggestions), I have been reviewing the engine compartment.

I have replace the existing Holley-style LP pump with a new Gerotor pump (Holley HP 125), and wow! is it quiet!

A couple of quick questions which I hope someone can answer:

1. Oil reservoir - How high or low should this be clamped in its bracket? Does this have any impact on the engine levels?
2. Since there is no dip-stick, is there any rule-of-thumb on either the amount of oil is added to the reservoir, or the level it should come to in the reservoir? How do you know if any is used and needs replacing with no dip-stick? (sounds like a dumb question to me..but I admit, don't know the answer)

3. I ran the engine up to about 95 degrees yesterday, but still no fans coming on, so a bit nervous to leave it still building heat in case of boiling.
I know the fans work if I short the sensor, but obviously the temperature is measured at the engine end, and the sensor is quite a lot cooler I guess since it is a million miles away at the front of the car. Would it not be better to have the fan sensor at the engine end of things?


cheers

Keith

MarkWebb

983 posts

241 months

Monday 7th February 2011
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Yes

Mr Pid

148 posts

194 months

Monday 7th February 2011
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CBS do a lower temp sensor that is a direct replacement for the one in the radiator. I fitted this on the basis that the rad is a long way from motor and didnt want accidental overheating. It works fine.....only ever comes on when sat in traffic...Judging from the temp guage and the switch spec I reckon I see between 5 and 10 deg difference between rad and motor.

Gulf LS3

1,922 posts

228 months

Monday 7th February 2011
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just use the ecm to control the fans through the Ultima relay, the ecm will not switch them on till 100 degrees f but that can be changed by accessing the ecm.

ROWDYRENAULT

1,294 posts

238 months

Tuesday 8th February 2011
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The supply tank an be mounted at any height ithin the engin compartment. ith the engine unning the tank should be about 2/3 full no more than that. Lee

ROWDYRENAULT

1,294 posts

238 months

Tuesday 8th February 2011
quotequote all
Kieth the last thing to check on your engine temp is place your hand on the radaitor when the temp reads 95 degrees if its not hot the thermostat hasn't opened don't for get the the stock LS thermostat is around 94-96? degrees hotter than you might excpect. Lee

V8 Vum

Original Poster:

3,206 posts

245 months

Tuesday 8th February 2011
quotequote all
ROWDYRENAULT said:
The supply tank an be mounted at any height ithin the engin compartment. ith the engine unning the tank should be about 2/3 full no more than that. Lee
Thats interesting!
Currently my tank has been clamped as far up as it can go..ie the bottom ring-clamp is very close/touching the bottom oil outlet back to the engine, so the top neck/ filler of the tank is close to the underneath of the 'zig-zag' of the rear bulkhead. The reason for the question was that originally I added 7-8lts of oil (can't remember exactly, but somewhere I saw a recommended number of ltrs for an LS7), and the pressure is fine running at about 80 cold to 65 hot. TheN I took a look inside the tank and could see the oil level way down below the gauze baffle. Now I know that the oil cooler rad and the fact I am using -12 lines could use-up some extra, but since this is the first time I have experienced one of these engines, I wanted to be sure how to assess the correct oil level in the tank and how to keep an eye on it!

I assume that with a tank configuration like these the level in the tank is not so critical...provided there is a reasonable amount in it? Obviously without the old dip-stick thingy, one cannot see very easily if the engine is using oil! Not that it should! Soem sort of site-gauge would have been useful on the side of the tank, but now you are going to tell me I am being silly! silly

cheers keith

V8 Vum

Original Poster:

3,206 posts

245 months

Tuesday 8th February 2011
quotequote all
Gulf LS3 said:
just use the ecm to control the fans through the Ultima relay, the ecm will not switch them on till 100 degrees f but that can be changed by accessing the ecm.
Hi Kyle old chap! Tried belling you a few times, but guess you must have been 'whirring' spanners/hammers under a car somewhere! smash

OK sounds a good idea, scratchchin however I cannot remember ever seeing a wire tail for this, so I would have to work out where (what wire) I can get an output from the GM ECU ????

cheers wavey

keith

V8 Vum

Original Poster:

3,206 posts

245 months

Tuesday 8th February 2011
quotequote all
Mr Pid said:
CBS do a lower temp sensor that is a direct replacement for the one in the radiator. I fitted this on the basis that the rad is a long way from motor and didnt want accidental overheating. It works fine.....only ever comes on when sat in traffic...Judging from the temp guage and the switch spec I reckon I see between 5 and 10 deg difference between rad and motor.
That is another good idea ...I will have a look! Cheers!

With all these suggestions and help - its sooo cool! yes

Edited by V8 Vum on Tuesday 8th February 09:21

ROWDYRENAULT

1,294 posts

238 months

Tuesday 8th February 2011
quotequote all
Actualy the idea of a site gauge I think is a good one. I have a glass tube that runs up the side of my tank and is open to the tank on both the bottom and the top. I can visualize my oil level without removing the cap. The tube was sourced from a aerospace application. indeed 90% of all oil levels on helicopters either have a tube on the side or glass window in the side of the sump to read the level. Lee

V8 Vum

Original Poster:

3,206 posts

245 months

Tuesday 8th February 2011
quotequote all
ROWDYRENAULT said:
Actualy the idea of a site gauge I think is a good one. I have a glass tube that runs up the side of my tank and is open to the tank on both the bottom and the top. I can visualize my oil level without removing the cap. The tube was sourced from a aerospace application. indeed 90% of all oil levels on helicopters either have a tube on the side or glass window in the side of the sump to read the level. Lee
Deffo a worthwhile mod IMO then - Suggestion of the month methinks since it got the thumbs up!

maybe if we can source some fittings and a length of clear tubing, I can see myself taking the tank off and whizzing it down to my local tig welders!

k wright

1,039 posts

283 months

Tuesday 8th February 2011
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Not sure about your fan problem but you should always mount your oil tank as low as possible in the car and as stated above run about 2/3rds full. Check it often. A useful thing is a sight level affixed to the outside of the tank (factory tanks have this). It is a clear tube that allows you to see the level of the oil

V8 Vum

Original Poster:

3,206 posts

245 months

Tuesday 30th August 2011
quotequote all
Guys,

Anyone retrofitted a site gauge on their oil tank?
I understand the factory one has a gauge, but mine, sourced from JS has not, and I would like to fit one for convenience!

Can someone point me in the right direction for suitable parts?

cheers

keith