416 ls3 oil pressure dropping as oil heats up
04-20-2012, 07:58 PM
#41
FormerVendor
A million things can cause problems but a little too much bearing clearance isn't generally one of them. We have had engines here to be rebuilt from some other shops here on LS1Tech and a few had .004 on the mains and yet no problems other than very low idle oil pressure. Same with rods and cranks looked brand new even on heavy FI or NOS engines. Now we have probably fixed a hundred engines that had spun rods or mains that most also had tight clearance and VERY good oil pressure so we know what that does. Also stuff like oil pump O-Ring leaking and incorrect pickup height and windage tray etc. can cause big problems no matter what clearances you have.
04-20-2012, 08:06 PM
#42
FormerVendor
Also all engines will lose oil pressure with heat even the OEM engine does that but with larger clearances it will lose more and / or you may need to run a higher viscosity oil like 10W40 or 15W50 etc. It's just physics.
04-22-2012, 04:49 AM
#43
On The Tree
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: middle east kuwait
Posts: 116
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
416 ls3. New pump when built. Oil pressure has dropped. at start up is 40 psi. But as oil warms up it drops down to 10 psi. . oil temp is 190 cause car is just ideling but pressure does raise with rpm when blip throttle. opsu, bearing, pimp or oring....would like to hear what you guys think. As this has just happened after few thousand miles.
Also i changed the oil i running 10w40 .... the pump is melling high volume with high pressure spring the red one I think.
Also i changed the oil i running 10w40 .... the pump is melling high volume with high pressure spring the red one I think.
Someone told me it could be a Problem a worn oil pump.
04-22-2012, 09:03 AM
#44
You might be lucky or you might not.
My 408 had pretty low oil pressure from the start. I had slp pump
and switched springs and went to heavier oil up to 20/50
but still pressure was never that great .
After couple thousand miles one day noticed pressure went to basically zero
Shut engine immediately
Was hoping it was sender or gauge. Drained oil it looked not bad but when cut filter it had metal in there. Pulled engine and found hurting main bearing but minor damage on callies crank . Have some pics on one of my threads.
Not sure what went wrong but huge pain in the butt.
Now running ERL engine have few thousand on it no problems so far.
Can't tell you pressure numbers car is not near me and forget
what readings were but not zero when warm!!!
So it might be oil pump ,o ring or something but would start checking your filters.
My 408 had pretty low oil pressure from the start. I had slp pump
and switched springs and went to heavier oil up to 20/50
but still pressure was never that great .
After couple thousand miles one day noticed pressure went to basically zero
Shut engine immediately
Was hoping it was sender or gauge. Drained oil it looked not bad but when cut filter it had metal in there. Pulled engine and found hurting main bearing but minor damage on callies crank . Have some pics on one of my threads.
Not sure what went wrong but huge pain in the butt.
Now running ERL engine have few thousand on it no problems so far.
Can't tell you pressure numbers car is not near me and forget
what readings were but not zero when warm!!!
So it might be oil pump ,o ring or something but would start checking your filters.
04-23-2012, 01:00 PM
#45
07-01-2012, 05:42 PM
#46
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
just got my Hke 416 and have 195 miles on it and i have terrible oil pressure.. 30-35 on cold idle .... when i am rolling in neutral i am almost dropping to zero... not sure whats going on... im hoping its the brand new pump or the pickup tube.... gonna get it looked at this week..
07-01-2012, 08:05 PM
#47
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (5)
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Long Beach MS/Birmingham AL
Posts: 641
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I am running 20/50 dino oil now. The pressure did not change from 10/30 synthetic. I understand the physics, but loosing 20psi from cold idle to hot idle seems like a lot. What about putting a different spring in the pump? Is that just a bandaid?
07-02-2012, 08:22 PM
#49
11 Second Club
with my motor i know my clearances are a little loose but thats how it was set up. Cold idle is 50 psi and very hot idle after beating on it is 20psi. That is running Shell Diesel 15w40. If i run 20w50 the hot idle stays at 30 but to tell you the truth running to thick of oil hurts more then it helps.
07-03-2012, 10:18 AM
#50
op im having the same problem.. cold start mine is 50 but drops down to 20 on hot idle. i changed pumps o rings etc. changed the pump last nite and now its the same thing but alot more responsive.. im going to get a oil cooler and 20-50 and hope the brings it up around 5 psi so it will be around 25-30 which i will feel more comfortable with
07-07-2012, 10:31 AM
#56
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (5)
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Long Beach MS/Birmingham AL
Posts: 641
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If the engine had good pressure when it was new and is slowly dropping off with miles I would cut the filter and look for signs of bearing. Most new engines will put off a little fine dust as the rods work into each other and ti retainers will create some minor dust looking particles, but if you see any pieces in the base of the can that are the size of the tip of a pencil it's worth pulling the engine to take a look before you do serious damage.
Kurt
Kurt
06-17-2016, 07:00 PM
#59
Teching In
Join Date: May 2011
Location: michigan
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hey guys I think I'm runing into a low pressure problem I bought a ls3 crate engine and after installing it (using the ls3 pump with ls1 pick up tube and ls1 oil pan) factory synthetic oil ... Shortly after starting my car I heard a lifter noise but it came where my exhaust manifold is leaking (so didn't think it was a big deal) now my oil pressure dropped from 40psi at idle to 20psi and goes up as I drive (I am using the ls1 oil pressure sending Unit instead of the ls3 (not sure if that affects my oil pressure reading) but I need some help and thoughts on it thank you
02-02-2020, 10:23 AM
#60
Teching In
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: Miami
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
? 416 ls3. New pump when built. Oil pressure has dropped. at start up is 40 psi. But as oil warms up it drops down to 10 psi. . oil temp is 190 cause car is just ideling but pressure does raise with rpm when blip throttle. opsu, bearing, pimp or oring....would like to hear what you guys think. As this has just happened after few thousand miles.
Also i changed the oil i running 10w40 .... the pump is melling high volume with high pressure spring the red one I think.
Also i changed the oil i running 10w40 .... the pump is melling high volume with high pressure spring the red one I think.