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

20 psi oil? doesnt move? problems?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Aug 21, 2008 | 07:53 PM
  #1  
back in black's Avatar
Thread Starter
Launching!
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 223
Likes: 0
From: telephone tx
Default 20 psi oil? doesnt move? problems?

ok. I have vdo gauges and a brand new oil sender. when I crank the engine and its running the oil pressure is only about 20 psi cold but its doesn't change when I rev it.

it did this with stock sender so I thought it was bad. I got another and no change. there is slight valvetrain noice seems like. louder then I had in my ls1 and when I pull the oil filler I can't see oilflow on rockers. they are ''wet'' but no visible ''flow''

I used a 1 wire sender for a 2.2 4cyl. and had to adapt it. so sender is about 1.5in higher out of the block then stock. could that be it?
I don't want to drive it or even crank it again till I figure something out.

engine has only been idled and few slight revs below 3k before this ws noticed.

what do yall think?
Reply
Old Aug 21, 2008 | 09:40 PM
  #2  
back in black's Avatar
Thread Starter
Launching!
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 223
Likes: 0
From: telephone tx
Default

anyone? come on.
Reply
Old Aug 22, 2008 | 03:38 AM
  #3  
DaddySS's Avatar
TECH Addict
 
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 2,907
Likes: 1
From: Bergen County, NJ
Default

I would hook up a mechanical gauge and see what you really have.
Reply
Old Aug 22, 2008 | 06:13 AM
  #4  
Randy WS6's Avatar
TECH Addict
iTrader: (69)
 
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 2,755
Likes: 2
From: Baxter,KY.
Default

Im with DaddySS on that one.
Reply
Old Aug 22, 2008 | 06:34 AM
  #5  
blkbird's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
iTrader: (28)
 
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,678
Likes: 14
From: san antonio, tx
Default

X3 on the mechanical gauge. What was it before you rigged it??
Reply
Old Aug 22, 2008 | 10:02 AM
  #6  
bczee's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
iTrader: (12)
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,670
Likes: 6
From: Concord, CA
Default

Is this for your Z28 or ?

You can use the bypass plate above the oil filter to tap into the oil system to mount a Aftermarket Oil Gauge, just drill it out and tap it to 1/4" NPT or what every the Aftermarket gauge is threaded for.
Reply
Old Aug 22, 2008 | 06:27 PM
  #7  
back in black's Avatar
Thread Starter
Launching!
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 223
Likes: 0
From: telephone tx
Default

well I pulled the sender today and tried to pump oil into the hole. I got maybe half a cup in and ran over.

tried crankin on it with no ignition. it slowly got to about 8 to 10 psi.

so I secided to pull the front cover and look around.

I got to the pump and looked at the pickup tube. its setting flush with the pump and I can't see any seal stickin out or anything (installed hummer oil pan and tube).

I pulled the front cover off the oil pump and a good bit of oil drained out. the insides look good. only ''slight'' scuff on the front cover from the rotors.

the whole front of the engine was wet with fresh oil. what does this sound like?
Reply
Old Aug 22, 2008 | 06:53 PM
  #8  
back in black's Avatar
Thread Starter
Launching!
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 223
Likes: 0
From: telephone tx
Default

ok. put the pump back together and cranked on it with the front cover off. cranked for about 6 seconds and stopped. oil ran out of the front of the pump around the crank.

still only pumping about 7 to 8 psi.

so I pulled the passenger valve cover, and cranked on it. virtually no oil coming out on rockers. is it still a possibility that its the o_ring?
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 Aug 23, 2008 | 03:08 AM
  #9  
flyin ryan's Avatar
Staging Lane
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 92
Likes: 0
Default

What were the readings before you put the VDO's in the car ?

Sounds like a guage/sending unit problem

Go with a machanical gauge or stock guage before you do anything else.

Good Luck

Ryan
Reply
Old Aug 23, 2008 | 04:31 PM
  #10  
back in black's Avatar
Thread Starter
Launching!
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 223
Likes: 0
From: telephone tx
Default

i had none.

this is a conversion into a s-10.

i ordered a thunder racing ported ls6 pump from a member on the board, im gonna swap that in and see what happens.

can someone check their motor and see how much oil is circulating from the rockers while cranking over with starter. because there is none on my engine. only like 7 psi while cranking over.
Reply
Old Aug 23, 2008 | 05:21 PM
  #11  
84ls1_transam's Avatar
Launching!
iTrader: (11)
 
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 259
Likes: 0
From: gray maine
Default

Why didn't/ don't you try the mechanical gauge first before you take anything else apart? You ask for advise and then do what you want anyway.
Reply
Old Aug 23, 2008 | 05:34 PM
  #12  
cam75w/ls1's Avatar
TECH Apprentice
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 305
Likes: 0
From: Texas
Default

If your missing the hourglass shaped plastic plug in the back of the block it'll only have 20 psi of oil pressure. It's behind the plate that holds the rear main seal.
Reply
Old Aug 23, 2008 | 07:15 PM
  #13  
back in black's Avatar
Thread Starter
Launching!
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 223
Likes: 0
From: telephone tx
Default

ok. I will do the mech gauge first.

question. if the plunger wasn't installed would the pressure be at 20 and not fluctuate with rpm?

when I got this engine it was a pullout with flexplate still installed. so I didn't check.
Reply
Old Aug 23, 2008 | 07:54 PM
  #14  
cam75w/ls1's Avatar
TECH Apprentice
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 305
Likes: 0
From: Texas
Default

I was under the assumption that this motor was a fresh one. Hmmh, my bad.
Reply
Old Aug 23, 2008 | 11:17 PM
  #15  
back in black's Avatar
Thread Starter
Launching!
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 223
Likes: 0
From: telephone tx
Default

I still need to know if anyone else can check if they are getting oil circulation at the rockers while cranking with starter.
Reply
Old Aug 25, 2008 | 08:45 PM
  #16  
flyin ryan's Avatar
Staging Lane
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 92
Likes: 0
Default

You will NOT see a lot of oil from the rockers if any at all just by cranking with the starter.

You are going to create other problems by trouble shooting and changing parts which are probably not defective to begin with .

Like we have been saying,
First, put in a machanical gage and see what the readings are if they are not up to par then troubleshoot.

Good luck
Ryan
Reply
Old Aug 26, 2008 | 01:24 AM
  #17  
Hemi Killer's Avatar
14 Second Truck Club
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,343
Likes: 0
From: Bossier City, LA
Default

The hummer/truck oil pan will NOT work with the F-body O-ring with the pick-up tube. I would check to make sure you have the right one. What color was the O-ring? I think the ones for the truck oil pans are blue...
Reply
Old Aug 26, 2008 | 07:45 AM
  #18  
back in black's Avatar
Thread Starter
Launching!
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 223
Likes: 0
From: telephone tx
Default

i have hummer oil pan/pickup/o-ring. bought it all from dealer.

i cranked it yesterday and almost no oil from rockers while idling
Reply
Old Aug 26, 2008 | 01:32 PM
  #19  
CamaroSS22's Avatar
On The Tree
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 184
Likes: 4
Default

When you drain the oil does it have a lot of glitter in it or is there any in the oil? How many miles were on the motor when you pulled it? I had the same problem on my motor and the plug wasnt in the back of the block allowing the oil to go straight back to the pan and not up to the valvetrain. It cause some funny valvetrain noises for me. Use a mechanical guage, before you go any further.
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:55 AM.

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