Recently my car has had a bit of an issue with oil pressure, when I first got the car about 3 months ago it made 40psi at idle warmed up to 180° like every other ls1 ever. But about a week ago it suddenly dropped to 20psi at idle warmed up, and I couldn't get it to make above 40psi at any rpm. I changed the oil in it about a month ago and it made great oil pressure after that. I know 20psi should be fine but since the drop in pressure, there is now a noticeable knock at idle ans any rpm.and I know its not from the lifters, its more then a tick and its never had a problem with piston slap once it warms up. Any help would be appreciated.

 

Is the noise louder towards the top or bottom of the motor?

 

I'm not quite sure, tonight I'm going to take a closer look at it, I haven't touched the car for 5days

 

Yeah if it's coming from the bottom that's probably not good lol

 

Bottom end knocking would be rod bearings? Its got 147,000 on it never knocked, had the lifter tick, but now with loss of oil pressure its pretty bad. Also, about 3 yes ago the car had spray and made quite a few passes down the track, other then that its never been ran very hard

 

Does it have the factory oil pump still in it? I would probably go ahead and change it out

 

yep, its a 98 with stock pump, i think im gonna try to get a ls6 pump in this weekend. i just got done driving it for the first time in about a week, it sounds more like the lifters ticking but really exaggerated compared to when it runs normal pressure, so its not so much a knock i guess. is there iny simple fix to stop lifter tick? or do i need new springs?

 

Videos might help

 

Something blocking oil galley not allowing it to get to the top end?

Need video to tell.

 

How many miles on this 1998 car? What oil & oil filter is currently used?

 

A knocking engine is never a good think.

Try to isolate where the knock is coming from maybe take to a professional to help diagnose.

 

Last night I got underneath the hood while it was running and I revved it up, its sounds nothing like a knock just sounds like the lifters are dry and ticking loudly. I guess I was kinda exaggerating the knocking cause i didn't know what it was in the beginning. I'd still like a tip on how to get them to quit ticking so loudly.

 

You said your oil pressure dropped.

Sounds like a oil pump.

 

147,000, and k&n oil filter with Napa 10/30 weight. Oil got changed a month prior to this oil pressure issue

 

is knock going half engine speed or full? does it follow rpm increases? push on your push rods to see if there is a collapsed lifter. you shouldn't be able to push them in by hand.