Chevy 350 is a smaller engine compared to the other Chevrolet engines. That’s why Chevy 350 is called a small-block engine. This Chevy 350 engine is used in the V8 automobiles manufactured by the Chevrolet.
Chevy 350 is not only small in size but also unique in design. Because of its performance, durability, and quiet operation, Chevy 350 engines have been used in various vehicles, even including boats.
If your vehicle has a Chevy 350 engine and you wonder how many quarts of oil in a Chevy 350, then this is the article you’re looking for.
How Many Quarts of Oil in a Chevy 350?
Before jumping into the main topic, let’s quickly look at the technical specifications of a Chevy 350 engine.
Specifications of Chevy 350 Engine
Chevy 350 is a 350 horsepower engine with a torque of 380 pounds per foot. Besides, its compression ratio is 11.0:1. Other important specifications are –
- Displacement: 5.7 Liter
- Stroke: 3.46 inches
- Cylinder Bore: 4.00 inches
Chevy 350 Oil Capacity with Filter
The oil requirement of the Chevy 350 depends on the engine type. If you haven’t modified your Chevy 350 engine, it will require 5 quarts of oil. But if you have made any modifications to your engine, it’s better to consult a local car mechanic to know about the exact oil requirement of your Chevy 350 engine. Besides, oil requirements can vary based on the compression ratio of your engine. In some cases, because of the compression ratio of the Chevy 350 engine, you’ll need to use high-grade oil.
Why It’s Necessary to Use the Motor Oil?
Why do I need to use the motor oil? Motor oil works as a lubricant, protecting the moving parts from friction.
Apart from eliminating friction between the motor parts, motor oil works as an engine coolant. Moreover, motor oil catches the particulate matter. Besides, when you use motor oil in the engine, it neutralizes the acids in the engine.
Acid is very corrosive and can damage your vehicle’s engine. If your engine keeps running in acidic conditions, it’ll start to lose its efficiency. That’s why to eliminate the engine acid; motor oil is used in the engine.
Types of Motor Oil
Usually, motor oil is divided into three categories- synthetic, mineral, and mixed oil. From its name, you can easily guess that the mixed oil is composed of synthetic and mineral oil. Sometimes, mixed oil is called synthetic technology or semi-oil.
Mineral oil is extracted by fracking the crude oil. All the impurities and unnecessary compounds are eliminated from the crude oil in this method. However, mineral oil is inferior to synthetic oil. When you use mineral oil in your vehicle, there will be more friction in your engine, which will reduce the efficiency and speed. Eventually, your engine will start to get damaged.
On the flip side, synthetic oil is produced in the labs and can be easily controlled. As the synthetic oil has consistent molecules, there will be less friction for synthetic oil in the engine.
Factors to Consider While Choosing Oil for Your Chevy 350 Engine
Now, let’s look at a few factors you should consider while selecting oil for your Chevy 350.
· Oil Type
If you have a brand new Chevy 350 engine, it’s recommended to use mineral oil to break the engine properly. As soon as the breaking period is over, you should switch to a synthetic oil type. It’ll make your engine run smoother and give you more mileage.
· Grade of the Viscosity
When choosing the oil type for your Chevy 350, you should check the oil’s viscosity. If you’re in colder areas, you must select an oil that has a lower viscosity. On the flip side, if you live in hotter climate areas, you should select higher viscosity oil for your Chevy engine.
Chevy 350 Oil Type
If you have Chevy 350 older models such as L81 or L82, you can use the 10W30 or 10W40 oil. On the other hand, if you use LT-9, L98, or L31, you can use the 5W-30 oil. But what do these alphabets mean in the oil name?
According to the Society of Automotive Engineers, W indicates winter. So, if you’re using the 10W40 oil, it will have a viscosity of 10 in winter and 40 in summer or warmer climate conditions.
As these types of oils are very versatile in different conditions, vehicle owners prefer to use such oils. Besides, when you use these oils in your Chevy 350, your engine will remain in good condition throughout the year.
FAQs about Chevy 350 Oil
No, because it creates an additional load on the engine bearing and other parts when you overfill the engine oil.
You can use a vacuum oil extractor to remove the excess oil from your engine. However, you’ll have to purchase a vacuum oil extractor for this method, which can cost you around $100. But if you want to remove the excess oil without purchasing any additional tools, you’ll have to open the drain bolt and dump the excess oil in your garage.
If you have L83, L05, or LT-9, you can use 5W-30 oil in your engine. And for L82 or LT1, you can use 10W30 or 10W40 oil.
You can find the engine oil capacity in the manual book that comes with the engine or vehicle.
Conclusion
So, if you have a Chevy 350 unmodified engine, you’ll require 5 quarts of oil. While filling oil in your vehicle, make sure that it’s not overfilled. Otherwise, excess oil will create additional pressure on your engine’s crankshaft.
