Generation III Internal Engine 1997-2006 LS1 | LS6
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Oil Pressure issues

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old May 21, 2019 | 02:45 PM
  #1  
TBSS317's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
 
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Kansas City
Default Oil Pressure issues

I have put together an LQ4 bored out to a 6.2L. I have a melling 295 oil pump on it, I have replaced the oil sending unit twice, replaced the oil, all of the pick up tube pieces, all o rings are new, the engine has less than 20 miles on it. When it gets warm, i lose all oil pressure. At start up, I have 30 psi no problem and up to 45/50 under acceleration. When I lose oil pressure (it doesn't just drop, it hits zero on the stock gauge) if i give it a little gas, it will jump up to 10/15/20 psi. I am upgrading the pump to see what affect that has. Crank and rods are stock/used L92, cam is aftermarket. All clearances are stock and checked. All bearings brand new. I did not do the rebuild myself so if anyone needs any more information that think might help figure out a possible route to take, let me know and I will check into it. HELP PLEASE.
Reply
Old May 21, 2019 | 03:57 PM
  #2  
Che70velle's Avatar
ModSquad
10 Year Member
Community Builder
Liked
Loved
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 7,828
Likes: 5,176
From: Dawsonville Ga.
Default

I saw this once, and the build thread is on here. Guy bought a nice, new 434 short block and the barbell wasn’t installed. Had very similiar symptoms as yours. Do you have the correct tool to cut your oil filter open and inspect the media?
Reply
Old May 21, 2019 | 07:49 PM
  #3  
Floorman279's Avatar
TECH Junkie
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Liked
iTrader: (11)
 
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 3,699
Likes: 168
From: Wilmington, DE
Default

Originally Posted by Che70velle
I saw this once, and the build thread is on here. Guy bought a nice, new 434 short block and the barbell wasn’t installed. Had very similiar symptoms as yours. Do you have the correct tool to cut your oil filter open and inspect the media?
is there a way he could jack the car up, remove the filter, and stick something up the oil galley to see if you feel barbell? i dont remember what mine looked like apart if this would be possible
Reply
Old May 21, 2019 | 08:12 PM
  #4  
mjackson92rs's Avatar
Teching In
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
From: SE PA
Default

http://www.superchevy.com/how-to/eng...l-parts-guide/

see the plug behind the timing cover and barbell in this article. make sure both are installed
Reply
Old May 21, 2019 | 08:17 PM
  #5  
Floorman279's Avatar
TECH Junkie
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Liked
iTrader: (11)
 
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 3,699
Likes: 168
From: Wilmington, DE
Default

yes but his motor is in the car. a hell of a lot of work to do only to find out the barbell is there
Reply
Old May 21, 2019 | 08:22 PM
  #6  
mjackson92rs's Avatar
Teching In
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
From: SE PA
Default

well he's upgrading the oil pump so he can at least check the front plug under the timing cover while in there. not sure about an easy check for proper barbell installation. another note is the barbell needs to be put in the correct way
Reply
Old May 21, 2019 | 08:57 PM
  #7  
01CamaroSSTx's Avatar
11 Second Club
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 5,995
Likes: 2,286
From: Conroe, Texas
Default

Originally Posted by TBSS317
I have put together an LQ4 bored out to a 6.2L. I have a melling 295 oil pump on it, I have replaced the oil sending unit twice, replaced the oil, all of the pick up tube pieces, all o rings are new, the engine has less than 20 miles on it. When it gets warm, i lose all oil pressure. At start up, I have 30 psi no problem and up to 45/50 under acceleration. When I lose oil pressure (it doesn't just drop, it hits zero on the stock gauge) if i give it a little gas, it will jump up to 10/15/20 psi. I am upgrading the pump to see what affect that has. Crank and rods are stock/used L92, cam is aftermarket. All clearances are stock and checked. All bearings brand new. I did not do the rebuild myself so if anyone needs any more information that think might help figure out a possible route to take, let me know and I will check into it. HELP PLEASE.
I personally don't like electronic oil pressure gauges. I was out cruising one evening and looked down and saw zero oil pressure. I though my heart stopped for a moment but it turned out to be just a bad connection to the sender. I've since installed a hard line off the sensor location on the valley cover which allows me to run a mechanical gauge and my blood pressure has been doing much better.
Reply
Old May 29, 2019 | 08:20 PM
  #8  
spy2520's Avatar
12 Second Club
20 Year Member
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 3,513
Likes: 1
From: Waldorf, MD
Default

I don't see how you'd have any oil pressure at all without the barbell.
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-5

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-9

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
Old May 29, 2019 | 09:18 PM
  #9  
G Atsma's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 22,291
Likes: 3,616
From: Central Cal.
Default

I think the barbell makes sure the oil goes thru the filter before going to the bearings, etc.
Reply
Old May 30, 2019 | 07:02 AM
  #10  
spy2520's Avatar
12 Second Club
20 Year Member
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 3,513
Likes: 1
From: Waldorf, MD
Default

Originally Posted by G Atsma
I think the barbell makes sure the oil goes thru the filter before going to the bearings, etc.
It also stops oil from just shooting out the back of the galley into the rear cover right? I don't think there is alot of clearance between the barbell and the rear cover, but it is the barbell that seals that hole.
Reply
Old May 30, 2019 | 10:56 AM
  #11  
G Atsma's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 22,291
Likes: 3,616
From: Central Cal.
Default

Originally Posted by spy2520
It also stops oil from just shooting out the back of the galley into the rear cover right? I don't think there is alot of clearance between the barbell and the rear cover, but it is the barbell that seals that hole.
TRUE!! lol. If it's missing that's exactly what will happen. I was speaking mainly about its actual function.
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:50 PM.

story-0
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-2
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-5
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-6
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE