Question to any LS1 savvy builders out there

[rev2xs]

Hi guys,

I was hoping that someone out there could tell me what could possibly happen to a stock LS1 motor if there was too much oil? Could you potentially screw your hydraulic lifters?

Thanks in advance,

Tom

P.S, i added pics to the finished car gallery for anyone who is interested in seeing my car.

[MTSCustoms]

If anything there would be too much oil pressure and could blow something internally, but if the engine sounds fine and you caught it quickly then I doubt anything is wrong

[LCD Gauges]

I've never heard of too much creating an over-pressure condition. There is a regulator valve on the oil pump itself that is controlled by a spring to limit the oil pressure. The oil is returned directly to the oil pan
via a valve.

If anything, too much oil will contact the crankshaft causing the oil to foam, and create extra drag (robbing power). Foaming oil can cause the following to happen:


"As the crankshaft rotates it will churn the oil, causing aeration and eventually sustained foam may form. This can lead to overheated motor oil, oxidation and a loss of oil pressure. Aerated oil is hard to pump. It starves the engine and critical lubricated surfaces. "

Could it ruin lifters? Not sure. WIll it affect performance (valve lift/duration). Yes.

[rev2xs]

Thanks for that, much appreciated :)

Affecting lift/valve duration, would that cause the engine to burn oil? Because another symptom i'm experience is that there is a regular but small puff of blue smoke during idle only from the drivers side exhaust. When you rev harder, the tap noise goes away but the blue smoke from the drivers side exhaust becomes more excessive. The tapping noise is probably being cured at higher revs because in increased oil pressure.

My idle is really low and rough, once again i feel that valve lift/duration being thrown out of whack will probably affect the idle also. But would 7 quarts of oil cause this problem? I thought you would have to seriously overfill in order to cause these sorts of problems. 6.5 to 7 quarts is normal from what i have read online.


I've never heard of too much creating an over-pressure condition. There is a regulator valve on the oil pump itself that is controlled by a spring to limit the oil pressure. The oil is returned directly to the oil pan
via a valve.

If anything, too much oil will contact the crankshaft causing the oil to foam, and create extra drag (robbing power). Foaming oil can cause the following to happen:



Could it ruin lifters? Not sure. WIll it affect performance (valve lift/duration). Yes.

[LCD Gauges]

Affecting lift/valve duration, would that cause the engine to burn oil?
No, not likely (or at all). That would cause rough idle, and a reduction in engine power/cylinder power to some degree.

Because another symptom i'm experience is that there is a regular but small puff of blue smoke during idle only from the drivers side exhaust.
This could be valve guide wear, or valve stem seal wear. Check the seal(s). Pull the spark plug on the suspected cylinder(s) and look for
oil deposits.

When you rev harder, the tap noise goes away but the blue smoke from the drivers side exhaust becomes more excessive.
These issues do not seem to be related. I think oil is entering the cylinder causing the smoke. The ticking may be:
- incorrect valve adjustment (if aftermarket rockers)
- loose rocker (check them all again)
- wrong pushrod length/bent pushrod
- faulty lifter, etc.

Alternatively, the smoke could be rich mixture due to injected fuel not buring (valve not allowing enough air for correct mix). Are you
sure it's smoke from oil? Can you take pictures of the spark plugs?

Was this a rebuild? Crate engine?

The tapping noise is probably being cured at higher revs because in increased oil pressure.

Yes, Possibly.

My idle is really low and rough, once again i feel that valve lift/duration being thrown out of whack will probably affect the idle also.
One bad valve setting/faulty lifter may cause this.

Do you have a vacuum gauge?

But would 7 quarts of oil cause this problem?
Not likely (not at all in my experience).

I thought you would have to seriously overfill in order to cause these sorts of problems. 6.5 to 7 quarts is normal from what i have read online.
Agree (although, a bit much oil IMO.).