LS6 Port Oil Pump Guys Come In Please...
#1
Staging Lane
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LS6 Port Oil Pump Guys Come In Please...
Before I did work to my car, bone stock with the stock oil pump, at idle with the car at normal temp, the needle would be straight up and down. This was like this since I got the car new back in 98. After install the TR220 cam and a few other things, I changed out to a LS6 ported oil pump from Thunder. Question is, now at idle with the car at normal temp, it shows right above the first line after 0. Not straight up and down anymore. Why is this?? Is it because the pump is ported, so its pushing more oil, but showing lower oil pressure?? I am running Mobil 5w-30 oil, (have since new). Is this oil to thin for the pump, causing it to read low??? Should I maybe switch to a 10-30 or 10-40 redline oil?? Thanks for any help guys.
One other thing, could the blue "O" ring on the pump not be seated correctly causing this??
One other thing, could the blue "O" ring on the pump not be seated correctly causing this??
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Re: LS6 Port Oil Pump Guys Come In Please...
I have a ported LS6 pump from A.R.E and I run 70psi at idle cold and 45psi idle hot. I have never seen mine below 40psi.
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Re: LS6 Port Oil Pump Guys Come In Please...
so if the "o" ring is not sitting correctly, this could cause this?? I thought if it wasnt sitting correctly, I wouldnt get any oil pressure at all.
#7
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Re: LS6 Port Oil Pump Guys Come In Please...
I didn't know that Thunder sold a so called "Ported LS6" pump. In fact, I did not know that there was a difference between an LS1 and a LS6 pump.
I have a ported pump from Thunder. It's actually a pump that was ported by Katech and sold through Thunder Racing.
The Katech pump does not have a heavier bypass spring in it, nor does it have a shim under the spring.
Because of this, the oil pressure is [exactly] what it was with the factory original pump:
Hot Idle = 40 psi (never below)
Hot 70 mph Highway speed = 55 psi
Initially, after installing this pump along with a TR220 cam, headers and ported heads, I had erratic oil pressure. In fact, once the engine got hot, the oil pressure at idle would sometimes get so low that the oil light would illuminate and the lifters would rattle.
The Fix: Replaced the O Ring with a new one. Again, now the oil pressure is exactly what it was when stock.
39,000 mile 98 TA
Ron,
I have a ported pump from Thunder. It's actually a pump that was ported by Katech and sold through Thunder Racing.
The Katech pump does not have a heavier bypass spring in it, nor does it have a shim under the spring.
Because of this, the oil pressure is [exactly] what it was with the factory original pump:
Hot Idle = 40 psi (never below)
Hot 70 mph Highway speed = 55 psi
Initially, after installing this pump along with a TR220 cam, headers and ported heads, I had erratic oil pressure. In fact, once the engine got hot, the oil pressure at idle would sometimes get so low that the oil light would illuminate and the lifters would rattle.
The Fix: Replaced the O Ring with a new one. Again, now the oil pressure is exactly what it was when stock.
39,000 mile 98 TA
Ron,
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#8
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Re: LS6 Port Oil Pump Guys Come In Please...
You said you installed a TR220 cam and a "FEW OTHER THINGS". One of those "FEW OTHER THINGS" didn't happen to be a Double Row Timing Chain while you were swapping the oil pump did it? If so you may have put the pump output port spacer on upside down which is easy enough to do because it will fit on the WRONG WAY. This will severely limit the flow of oil out of the pump into the block. This would demonstrate as a low gauge reading not to mention reduced lubrication.
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Re: LS6 Port Oil Pump Guys Come In Please...
Before we dive into mechanical problems, look at the simple things:
thats really a pretty thin of an oil to be using. i used 5w-20 in mine and on hot days, the thermal breakdown on this thinner oil would cause the oil pressure to drop signifigantly after the motor warmed up. borderline on un-safe. on cold startups, the pressure would read fine, but once it heated up, watch the needle.
i'd switch to a heavier oil and go from there. if that dosent solve your problem, start a mechanical examination of the oil pump and o-ring.
I am running Mobil 5w-30 oil...
thats really a pretty thin of an oil to be using. i used 5w-20 in mine and on hot days, the thermal breakdown on this thinner oil would cause the oil pressure to drop signifigantly after the motor warmed up. borderline on un-safe. on cold startups, the pressure would read fine, but once it heated up, watch the needle.
i'd switch to a heavier oil and go from there. if that dosent solve your problem, start a mechanical examination of the oil pump and o-ring.
#10
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Re: LS6 Port Oil Pump Guys Come In Please...
thanks......I did put a new "O" ring on.....I guess I will have to break it down and re-check it.
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Re: LS6 Port Oil Pump Guys Come In Please...
You said you installed a TR220 cam and a "FEW OTHER THINGS". One of those "FEW OTHER THINGS" didn't happen to be a Double Row Timing Chain while you were swapping the oil pump did it? If so you may have put the pump output port spacer on upside down which is easy enough to do because it will fit on the WRONG WAY. This will severely limit the flow of oil out of the pump into the block. This would demonstrate as a low gauge reading not to mention reduced lubrication.
#13
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Re: LS6 Port Oil Pump Guys Come In Please...
just how low is your pressure???
If you're at 40 its all good...If your at the first line??then you got that spacer backwards....did that on accident myself....DOH!!!.
Just tear back into the front and fix it...as soon as possible...and dont push the motor until you get it done....
You should have atleast 10psi of oil pressure / 1000 Rpm.
If you're at 40 its all good...If your at the first line??then you got that spacer backwards....did that on accident myself....DOH!!!.
Just tear back into the front and fix it...as soon as possible...and dont push the motor until you get it done....
You should have atleast 10psi of oil pressure / 1000 Rpm.
#14
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Re: LS6 Port Oil Pump Guys Come In Please...
just how low is your pressure???
If you're at 40 its all good...If your at the first line??then you got that spacer backwards....did that on accident myself....DOH!!!.
Just tear back into the front and fix it...as soon as possible...and dont push the motor until you get it done....
You should have atleast 10psi of oil pressure / 1000 Rpm.
If you're at 40 its all good...If your at the first line??then you got that spacer backwards....did that on accident myself....DOH!!!.
Just tear back into the front and fix it...as soon as possible...and dont push the motor until you get it done....
You should have atleast 10psi of oil pressure / 1000 Rpm.
#15
Re: LS6 Port Oil Pump Guys Come In Please...
I had a similar issue with the TR pump. After doing a H/C swap on my '98 C5, I lost 5 psi across the board compared to stock. I had the pump shimmed and now I run about 10 psi higher than stock. In my case it was not the o-ring.
#16
Re: LS6 Port Oil Pump Guys Come In Please...
If so you may have put the pump output port spacer on upside down which is easy enough to do because it will fit on the WRONG WAY.
How do I know if the spacer is backward? Will it be partially covering a port in the block if it is? I wouldn't want to take everything apart when it's good, and then flip it so it's on wrong when I put it back together.
#17
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Re: LS6 Port Oil Pump Guys Come In Please...
sounds like you gotta get back in to check the o-ring anyways(just go buy a new one from the parts store and replace it anyways) and while your in...look at the spacer...the middle hole should be closer to the top...if its not...then it is blocking you......button it back up and tell us the results.....
#18
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Re: LS6 Port Oil Pump Guys Come In Please...
Ok. I'm getting ready to have the cam, ASP, double roller, valve springs, retainers installed. I have a 99 Z. Should I really buy a ported oil pump? TSP has one for 129, everyone else advertises theirs as "blueprinted" for $149. I just don't want to spend $ if it's really not needed, but I want to do the right thing.
#20
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Re: LS6 Port Oil Pump Guys Come In Please...
Ok. I'm getting ready to have the cam, ASP, double roller, valve springs, retainers installed. I have a 99 Z. Should I really buy a ported oil pump? TSP has one for 129, everyone else advertises theirs as "blueprinted" for $149. I just don't want to spend $ if it's really not needed, but I want to do the right thing.
looks like a good quality unit with a nice port job, havent installed my **** yet, waitin for the damn ups man to come with my o-ring.