Oil pump pick up tube o-ring, a thank-you to LS1Tech members & a modification
07-14-2007, 04:32 PM
#1
Oil pump pick up tube o-ring, a thank-you to LS1Tech members & a modification Oil pressure was 40 psi cold idle, down to 30 psi @ temp., & only up to 40 psi @ WOT. Car wasn't driven long this way & there were no metal flakes in the pan or filter.
Decided to have a look & found no pinched o-ring or signs of a problem @ the pump. While in there, decided to change the o-ring. New oil pressure is 55-58 psi cold & 50 psi @ temp & increases to 80 psi @ WOT.....beautiful.
Made sure of two things while the work was being done. First, was to make sure that the o-ring was shouldered against the collar/bubble on the suction tube. Secondly, the oposite side (previously un-bolted side) of the suction tube was bolted/clamped to the oil pump.
From what was seen, it is likely that the o-ring probably wasn't seated on the collar of the suction pipe. It was probably trapped somewhere between the collar/bubble & the end of the tube (not pinched, but not shouldered). There was no sign of a pinch & the o-ring definately came out of the area where it was expected to have been found. Secondly, noticed was that the non-bolted side of the pick up tube could be pried away from the pump a bit, even w/ the mounting bolt tight. It looks like that if a pump were mounted while rotated even one or two degrees clockwise, that the non bolted side of the oil pump could pull away from the pump slightly. This is just an observation & with the o-ring properly mounted against the collar/bubble, is probably not an issue. Anyway, the confirmed seated o-ring allong w/ bolting both sides of the pick up tube to the pump has worked.
Thank-you fellow members; it was after reading so many threads about expected oil pressure & o-ring trouble that enticed me to have a look into the area. Don't know for sure whether a problem would have developed, but, feel much better having made the change.
Here is a pic of how the non-bolted side was clamped. A 10 mm stretch bolt was used along w/ a plain washer that was big enough to reach a top of the pick up tube flange, a lock washer, & red lock tight. This pretty much ensures that the connection will not come apart.
Decided to have a look & found no pinched o-ring or signs of a problem @ the pump. While in there, decided to change the o-ring. New oil pressure is 55-58 psi cold & 50 psi @ temp & increases to 80 psi @ WOT.....beautiful.
Made sure of two things while the work was being done. First, was to make sure that the o-ring was shouldered against the collar/bubble on the suction tube. Secondly, the oposite side (previously un-bolted side) of the suction tube was bolted/clamped to the oil pump.
From what was seen, it is likely that the o-ring probably wasn't seated on the collar of the suction pipe. It was probably trapped somewhere between the collar/bubble & the end of the tube (not pinched, but not shouldered). There was no sign of a pinch & the o-ring definately came out of the area where it was expected to have been found. Secondly, noticed was that the non-bolted side of the pick up tube could be pried away from the pump a bit, even w/ the mounting bolt tight. It looks like that if a pump were mounted while rotated even one or two degrees clockwise, that the non bolted side of the oil pump could pull away from the pump slightly. This is just an observation & with the o-ring properly mounted against the collar/bubble, is probably not an issue. Anyway, the confirmed seated o-ring allong w/ bolting both sides of the pick up tube to the pump has worked.
Thank-you fellow members; it was after reading so many threads about expected oil pressure & o-ring trouble that enticed me to have a look into the area. Don't know for sure whether a problem would have developed, but, feel much better having made the change.
Here is a pic of how the non-bolted side was clamped. A 10 mm stretch bolt was used along w/ a plain washer that was big enough to reach a top of the pick up tube flange, a lock washer, & red lock tight. This pretty much ensures that the connection will not come apart.
