meatloaf

I am new to this site so bare with me...

I have an 04 5.3L with <30k miles. It was running good with a slight tap...It came from a wrecked Tahoe and can't seem to get any oil to the rockers. We put a new oil pump, no luck. I pulled off the sending unit on the back/top of the engine and oil flows good there. Ran a 50/50 oil & flush in case the engine sat for a while and something was clogging it and still no luck. pickup screen looks clean and so does the oil. Engine looks new when I pull the oil pan & valve covers.

Any other suggestions?

Thanks in advance,

Meatloaf

JPH

iTrader: (2)

Are priming the engine, by spining the motor over with the starter and with the coil packs unplugged? what weight oil?

meatloaf

Yes, we tried that. also 'primed' lifters by squirting some oil on them. driver side rods seem to be clear. Oil is Valvoline full synthetic 10w-30.

JPH

iTrader: (2)

squirting oil on them will not prime them. Is the oil pump pickup tube o-ring pinched or missing? How long/seconds are you cranking the engine?

vettenuts

iTrader: (4)

If you messed with the oil pump, the o-ring would be my first suspicion. They are easy to pinch during installation.

meatloaf

oil pump is new and I have not checked the o-ring for kinks or damage. I just reused the same one when replacing the pump and I might have messed it up when I tightened the pickup tube to set it in place. As for cranking it over, about 30-45 seconds continous.

meatloaf

Pardon my ignorance here, but something as simple as the o-ring could cause this problem? Why am I getting oil to the top of the engine at the sending unit but not the rockers? Regardless, I will go buy an o-ring today and try it. Should I get this at the dealer or is there something better out there?

meatloaf

Ok, I changed out the o-ring & cranked engine over with coil packs unplugged. Rockers are still dry. Any other suggestions?

m6ls1maro

oil galley plugged?

meatloaf

Is there an 'easy' way to get to the oil galley to get it unplugged?

fossil

iTrader: (1)

If you have pressure at the sending unit? Then you have oil at the camshaft oil gallery. What does your oil pressure read by the guage? What color is the oring on your oil pickup tube?

99 2500

It takes my engine atleast a half a minute for it show oil spilling on the rockers and this is with it reving at 2000 rpm. Maybe you are not running it long enough for the oil to show?

meatloaf

I know there is pressure at the sending unit because I took it off (since my gauge died) and oil is flowing there. I will get an aftermarket gauge later today. the oring is red/orange.

meatloaf

I ran it for about 5 minutes at ~2000 rpm and it is still dry.

meatloaf

Today I installed an aftermarket oil pressure gauge and I get 0-psi. If I pull it off the tubing I get some oil flow but not a squirt...

vettenuts

iTrader: (4)

If you checked the o-ring and have marginal flow at the sending unit, I would be suspicious of the galley plug (not sure if you even messed with this) or the oil pump itself. Wondering if the relief valve is stuck open.

meatloaf

the oil pump is new oem and i did not mess with the galley plug. do I have to remove the heads to get to the galley plug?

98Camarod

iTrader: (43)

Galley plug is in the rear I believe. You have to remove the transmission and its on the left side of the rear of the motor.