armyboyatc

iTrader: (29)

I posted up on here one time before about it and got a bunch of people telling me to change my oil type and oil filter and stuff. I knew it wasnt that but I did it anyway and no luck. I run 5w30 Mobil 1 and a Wix oil filter so I shouldnt have a problem. I also run 5w30 Mobil 1 in my 99 Z28 and it has much better oil pressure and it has 120,000 on it and my SS only has 70,000.

My SS has had this problem since the day I picked it up. The oil pressure at idle is 15 - 20 lbs and at WOT its a little over 40. On my Z28 the car has 40 at idle and closer to 60 at WOT. What could cause this difference? Why is my SS oil pressure lower?

Please dont tell me I need another oil filter or that I need to switch to 0w30 weight. I am looking for other reasons why this could happen. Thanks for all the input guys. I really appreciate.

armyboyatc

iTrader: (29)

Also I just wanted to say the motor runs great. It doesnt make any funny noises or anything like that. It just has lower oil pressure than other LS1 cars I've been around. Also its been low like that for about 10,000 miles now, everyone tells me that its fine but I just want an answer as to why it is low.

89 formula350

iTrader: (8)

you need to use a mechanical gauge to check this for sure. even if you were to swap sending units the cluster can be off or a wiring issue.. (If it was me I would just for the fact its easy to do and you own both cars)

It can be a sticking valve in your oil pump, worn bearings ect. but start with the mechanical gauge go from there

armyboyatc

iTrader: (29)

How do I hook a mechanical gauge up to it?

MY99TAWS6

iTrader: (3)

You can get the kd3289 think going to order one today. Seen them for 100 bucks on ebay, Unfortunately living in canada and they don't ship here have to pay more.
This setup goes where oil filter is.
Or you can unscrew plug in oil gallery? or drill out above oil filter in that housing.

armyboyatc

iTrader: (29)

Hmmm im not really wanting to drill anything to do this. I will look into it. It seems like its not the bearings because its been like that for 10,000 miles and if was the bearings then it would've spun one or started making a knocking noise. Right??? Could it be the o ring in the oil pump or the oil pump going bad?

99LSS1

iTrader: (12)

There is a tool you can buy that goes on under the Oil Pressure sending unit. Has a small hose that connects to a manual pressure gauge. My buddy uses it at his shop. No need for drilling. Check Jegs or Summit, I am sure you could find it there. This would be my first move, Then I would look at your oil pump and O ring. If this does not take care of it, You may be looking at Internal problems. Spun Cam bearing will cause this problem!!!

armyboyatc

iTrader: (29)

I am fairly certain that if it was a cam bearing then it would make a noise right? Esp. after 10,000 miles..............

99LSS1

iTrader: (12)

Not saying that is the problem!!! BUT, the end result of low oil pressure can be internal problems.. Definately want to make sure the pressure is up to 35 after it is warm, and usually close to 50+ when you get the RPM's up. Yours is way too low, from what you are saying. It will eventually cause you all kinds of problems.

armyboyatc

iTrader: (29)

Well, the general rule of thumb is that you need 3lbs of oil pressure per 1,000 RPMs in order to get adequate oiling. I will check it with the mechanical gauge and if it reads the same I will replace the oil pump with the ported LS6 version from TSP and see what that does. I just cant see it being internal problems like bearings after driving it hard for 10,000 miles.

BigJeff_SS

My 98 Z28's oil pressure is exactly the same. The car has a 118,000 on the ODO so I don't lose sleep over it. Mine actually bounces at idle and the gauge is jumpy at other times. I believe mine is more of a sending unit or gauge/wiring problem. I plan on installing a mechincal gauge to verify the real pressure. I wouldn't call the oil pressure readings that low a big problem there are many reasons why certain engines have lower or higher engine oil pressures then others. Some of these ls engines come off the dealer lots with the same oil pressure readings.

I know a lot people change the stock oil pumps so it can't hurt to do so. I wouldn't rip the engine apart until after I hooked a real gauge to the engine a verfiy it is actually having oil pressure issues.

blsnelling

iTrader: (4)

What's the pressure when it's cold?

armyboyatc

iTrader: (29)

Its around 40 at idle and when you give it some gas it raises to 50-60 depending on how high you take it. Its only when its warm that it drops down like that.

Sales4@Texas-Speed

iTrader: (4)

Have you ever checked the O-ring on the pump? This statement makes me think that you might have a damaged O-ring. Whenever the oil is cold you will have good pressure because it hasn't thinned out yet, once the oil heats up it gets thinner and can slip through any pinch or nick in o-ring. 9 out of 10 times I hear this problem described, it ends up being the o-ring.

mrdreex

iTrader: (6)

Not sure why this wasn't mentioned, but if it were bearings/cam bearings, you would most likely see metal flakes in the oil. Check the filter for shiny specs/flakes.

blsnelling

iTrader: (4)

If it's not the O-ring, it sounds like your bearing clearances are calling for a heavier weight oil.

$750 L98

iTrader: (7)

That does sound a bit low, mine doesn't drop past 30-35 at hot idle. Hopefully it's just your gauge, replacing the O ring is such a PITA from what I am hearing. Might as well do a cam while you are at it, and well the car has 100k on it, so might as well rebuild, and you need a stroker crank, why go back stock....

lol, prepare your wallet.

armyboyatc

iTrader: (29)

The car only has 70,000 miles on it as stated in the original post. In my sig you can see that the car has heads and cam on it already.

THERE IS NO METAL SHAVINGS IN THE OIL. THE MOTOR DOES NOT HAVE A SPUN BEARING.

John - What would cause the oil pump o ring to just go out like that?

Sales4@Texas-Speed

iTrader: (4)

They are very sensitive to the smallest nick or pinch. Anything like that can cause issues like what you are seeing. I know its a lot of work but that would be the first place I look to fix this issue. If this has been an issue since you picked it up, possibly the o-ring was installed incorrectly. Its a very easy thing to mess up.

King Nothing

iTrader: (9)

i skipped past most peoples posts cause i've had this issue and i tried to fix it but it never was fixed mine started about 115K and it made it all the way to 169K till it went boom from hydrolocking, not oil pressure. a new oil pump did nothing, new oil and new oil filter did nothing, new heads and new cam did nothing. your engine has wear that's what it boils down to. the engine i just put in only has 7XK on it and the oil pressure is 40 when it's warm at idle and 60 when i'm cruisin on the freeway, it stays between those 2 numbers unless i go WOT then it goes up higher and this engine feels stronger than my old engine ever did, even when i bought the car with 55K on it. until you hear knocking i wouldn't worry too much about it, just don't drive all retarded and rev the **** out of your engine to impress people and you should be fine