Metal shavings low oil pressure HELP
#1
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I have about 300 miles on my new motor. rebuilt ls1 new bearings cam 5.3 heads ect ect. Suddenly the oil pressure is about half of what it used to be at hot idle. When I took it for a drive after noticing this the oil pressure does move with RPMs untill after a few miles or so. Then the pressure just keeps dropping all the way to zero. I shut her down for a few minutes and fired her up and full oil pressure again then lower and lower as i continue to drive the second time and hot idles at 20psi. Oil is full. WTF
So what do i do now? There is a tiny tiny bit of silver metal dust graphite like in the oil and no shavings in the filter(sorry no pics) no big flakes or chuncks. I was told that isnt unusual for a new motor.
I have a new oil pump and o-ring to try out but should I? Or just start tearing apart the motor.
Also oil pressure has been verified by mechanical guage.
What should i DO??????
So what do i do now? There is a tiny tiny bit of silver metal dust graphite like in the oil and no shavings in the filter(sorry no pics) no big flakes or chuncks. I was told that isnt unusual for a new motor.
I have a new oil pump and o-ring to try out but should I? Or just start tearing apart the motor.
Also oil pressure has been verified by mechanical guage.
What should i DO??????
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#7
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yes it could possibly be your problem... or you spun a bearing, that would be my quess. I had a c5 with a massive oil leak, pour a quart in run it up to temp and watch the quart pour right back out. turned out to be the rear seal, rear cover and oil pan. even with this massive leak it showed good oil pressure hot or cold. i would cut your filter open to see what you find. sounds to me like a spun bearing
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I'd suspect rear cover if what you say is true (loses pressure when it starts pissing out). Thats just common sense!! Easier to try that then it is to remove motor to disassemble. Take your time and remember there are plenty of people around to give you advice, so if you get stuck just ask for help.
#9
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Welcome to the spun bearing club
Thats exactly what my 5.3 does
It hasnt gone to 0 yet but still barely holds 20psi at 70mph
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I get alot of shavings too.
I believe mine is a cam bearing that turned a little and its eating the cam journal probabaly, because of the noise it does, on stand still acceleration and loss of power and fuel mileage
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I was spinning around 4k rpm loaded with about 3000lbs of broken down shipping crates though up these mountain passes
It all was about 4000 miles ago. She is still ALIVE !!
I drive it about 80miles back and forth to work everyday
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My son sure loves his new stilt club house i built out of em though
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Good Luck man,
I hope its not the same as mine but it does sound familiar
#10
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I'd suspect rear cover if what you say is true (loses pressure when it starts pissing out). Thats just common sense!! Easier to try that then it is to remove motor to disassemble. Take your time and remember there are plenty of people around to give you advice, so if you get stuck just ask for help.
#11
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OK so ill start with installing the new pump and o-ring. I will fire her up to check oil pressure. If i still have the problem then ill pull the tranny AGAIN @#$% and change the rear cover gasket and barbell thingy back there maybe do a cam sensor o-ring too. Does this sound like a straight forward plan?
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Yes the rear covers have an oil passage crossover. It is not supposed to leak.
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OK so ill start with installing the new pump and o-ring. I will fire her up to check oil pressure. If i still have the problem then ill pull the tranny AGAIN @#$% and change the rear cover gasket and barbell thingy back there maybe do a cam sensor o-ring too. Does this sound like a straight forward plan?
Agreed
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I am new to the ls1 engine but I rebuild diesel engines and this does sound like a spun bearing or me as far as losing oil pressure from a rear seal it would have to be almost gushing out. As far as your oil pump could be clogged up from the spun bearing. This IMO is what is going on, good luck man!