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Old 03-05-2007, 06:56 PM
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Default Oil Pressure?!

I did an oil change 1 month ago and the owner before me didnt do it for 7 months... After the oil change that I did it ran at 41-42 ish but not it dropped to low 30's high 20's.

We cant figure out why....

Any suggestion to why the drop?
Old 03-05-2007, 07:11 PM
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Is the oil level good?

Sending unit might be on the way out.
Old 03-05-2007, 07:17 PM
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When you have a thicker oil, or a heavy duty oil filter, it can increase your oil pressure significantly. Having it been that long since the car has had an oil change, the oil was probably super dirty, and thick, making the oil pressure go up. Now that you changed it, it is where it should be (asuming you put in the correct amount and weight of oil), so it will not show the same pressure numbers as before. Viscosity also has to do with temperature, so your car should show a higher oil pressure when it is cold, compared to when it is warmed up.
Old 03-05-2007, 07:22 PM
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Originally Posted by CALL911
Having it been that long since the car has had an oil change, the oil was probably super dirty, and thick, making the oil pressure go up. Now that you changed it, it is where it should be
I think what he's saying is that it was still at ~40ish psi after he changed it 1 month ago, and stayed that way for a month, but has now suddenly dropped 10psi lower for no apparent reason....
Old 03-05-2007, 07:24 PM
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Originally Posted by RPM WS6
I think what he's saying is that it was still at ~40ish psi after he changed it 1 month ago, and stayed that way for a month, but has now suddenly dropped 10psi for no apparent reason....
Oh... If thats the case, then thats no good. It may in fact be a bad oil pump, or also the gage as the GM ones were known not to be very accurate.
Old 03-05-2007, 07:24 PM
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Yes in a sense... It was a 40 psi and then had a little drop here and there... I used 5W 30 Royal Purple with a K&N Oil filter...


What should i be puttint in it and what type fo oil filter?
Old 03-05-2007, 07:26 PM
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The weight you are using should work fine, and the filter is probably one of the better ones. Personally, I like the Mobil One oil filter, but I have heard a lot of good things about the K&N one.
Old 03-05-2007, 07:28 PM
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Originally Posted by CALL911
Oh... If thats the case, then thats no good. It may in fact be a bad oil pump, or also the gage as the GM ones were known not to be very accurate.
I'd get the sending unit checked out before worring about the pump though. I've known other LS1 owners to see a sudden 10-15 psi drop in oil pressure out of nowhere, and it was a bad sending unit....
Old 03-05-2007, 07:32 PM
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Originally Posted by Intense
I used 5W 30 Royal Purple with a K&N Oil filter...


What should i be puttint in it and what type fo oil filter?
The filter choice is good. I like the M1 filters as well, but K&N is considered among the best.

You might want to try GC 0W30 or M1 0W40. Both of these oils show very good wear numbers for LS1 motors. The GC is considered to be better, but it's often hard to find. M1 0W40 is a common second choice. I use the M1 0W40 myself, I'm very happy with the results.

But either way, if you notice a sudden 10psi drop in oil pressure from your normal readings with no changes to the oil, you may have a bigger issue.
Old 03-05-2007, 07:37 PM
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Well i will change the oil... since i have it al already and see if it does it again... If it does drop what could be the issue and the problems that go with it?
Old 03-05-2007, 07:47 PM
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Originally Posted by RPM WS6
I'd get the sending unit checked out before worring about the pump though. I've known other LS1 owners to see a sudden 10-15 psi drop in oil pressure out of nowhere, and it was a bad sending unit....
It wasnt a sudden drop... but over a 2 week period it has dropped from 38 to about 38 in a 2 to 3 week period
Old 03-05-2007, 09:01 PM
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or your car is broken and you shoulnt have bought a wrecked one??
oh yea, and your ugly!!!

i gave shane my extra oil, get it from him tomorrow..


or yea... and your ugly
Old 03-06-2007, 12:45 AM
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if the other person hadnt changed the oil in 7 months...ehhh...

check the psi by gauge, then worry about the pump, THEN worry about the internals
Old 03-12-2007, 01:49 PM
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I don't mean to scare you by any means. But my friend read a article where they tested multiple brands of oil filters and K&N was actually rated one of the worst ones. Not to mention I know a guy that had a K&N oil filter in his car and it collapsed on the inside and unfiltered oil ran through his car and metal shavings got inside his engine and he developed a tick. He then replaced it with another K&N and it also collapsed...

Mobile 1 and I believe AC delco rated 2 of the top brands.
Old 03-12-2007, 01:59 PM
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i just really hope no one believes that can just wash out a k/n oil filter and use it again
Old 03-12-2007, 02:06 PM
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Originally Posted by staringback05
i just really hope no one believes that can just wash out a k/n oil filter and use it again
i got a recharge kit with mine!!!!!!!! it says, wash completly with water from the inside out............
Old 03-12-2007, 09:09 PM
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has the temperature outside gotten any warmer?thusfore the engine temp would raise a tad if it did making the oil thinner 5w oil doesnt hold up to heat as well as thickere oils.this sounds crazy but on a colder day your engine wont get as hot as it wopuld on a hot day .the hotter the engine is the less o/p you will have.is the 20-30 psi at idle or during acceleration.if at idle dont worry@ 2k it should be past 40psi.
Old 03-12-2007, 09:21 PM
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My car runs between 20-25 at idle, not optimal, but sufficient. I got a used ported ls6 oil pump for cheap though, so my pressure troubles should end once I do my cam swap.
Old 03-13-2007, 06:22 AM
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20-25 at idle?!........you might want to fix that....thats not acceptable
Old 03-13-2007, 07:33 AM
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20-25 is normal for a warmed up LT1. I would figure that it also would be for an LS1. Is it not? My newly purchased LS1 idles 20-25 once its warmed up.


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