LSGunZ28

iTrader: (8)

This is starting to concern me..

I have a 402 LS2 in my Camaro.. It is a 6 speed car, at full weight... The 402 has a stock F body oil pan and LS6 ported oil pump... Its at 11.1:1 CR or so and has PRC 5.3 heads.. Its a pretty mild setup and the rev limiter is set up at about 6700rpms..

My problem is that it seems like when the engine is at full temp and if I go WOT or heat the engine just a bit more than average driving conditions(even though the temp gauge says below 210), the oil pressure is dropping pretty low..., the oil pressure is dropping to about 20-22 psi at idle(IT has never went below 20 psi)...

So basically the oil pressure is at about right under 40psi and after Ill go WOT and do some spirited driving, I see the psi go to 20-22psi...

Now when the engine is at full temp, and relatively hot at idle the oil pressure is at 30 or so PSI... (which does not concern me as much)...


I know on my stock LS1 motor (before this 402), it was right around 40psi at full temp..


SO Im pretty sure this isnt normal and I cant distiunguish what is wrong here...

Is my oil too thick?? or too thin?

I have a TSP motor and I think somewhere between 5w 30 or 15w 40 si where I wanna be..

I have ran as thin as Rotella SAE 30 oil and as thick as 4qts rotella T 15w 30+ 2 qts of valvoline VR1 racing oil... it has done the same thing with these oils... I dont use the same oil, Ive switched to different oils and always run a good 6qt of oil in my pan.. should I change the brands of oil Im using?
(Ive used Shel Rotella T, Valvoline reg, ralvoline VR1, Castrol)... also Im gonna stop, but so far ive been also adding a pint of STP oil additive at every oil change..

I have just about 2000 miles only on this engine, maybe less...

I have changed my oil a lot... Probably the longest ive gone without changing it was 500 miles.. and that was just recently..

So, I dunno whats happening here... Also its consuming some oil too very little through the passenger side valve cover (But that cannot be the reason, because its always constantly the same oil thing... 40psi when cold and then when really hot 20 psi..)

anything I can do to fix this? I dont think any internals are getting damaged, because Im not finding any metal shavings in the oil...


Sorry, I know this post is unorganized, but hopefully It wont confuse you guys

Thanks for any help..

davidws6

iTrader: (36)

Your out there where it's usually warm so 15/40 oil should not be a problem.
When the engine is cold, how high does the press. go ? As I recall on my 402 it shots up to almost 60 when cold with a ls6 pump n round 40 > 45 when warm, just like ur ol ls1.

If the oil press has always been low on this engine, maybe your bearing clearance is a lil too much ?
You used the original oil press sensor that was on the old engine?
To verify, maybe you could pipe in a mechanical gauge into the port above the oil filter to verify press?
Did you contact the vendor to see if they'd do anything ? Might not be a bad idea as ya never know.

BigRich954RR

iTrader: (1)

First we nee more hard info. Do you have a mechanical oil pressures gauge? If not while installing that. Install a oil temp gauge.

Switch to a Good 15w 40 oil. What oil pump you using?

mikey

iTrader: (6)

When you give the throttle a blip, does the pressure jump up? Depending on who built the motor, sometimes builders use a little more clearance on high HP application to account for some block shifting under heavy load. If your pressure has always been like this then the clearances are just a little on the big side.

SOMbitch

iTrader: (8)

You might want to verify the actual temp your are running with a Tech II or Snap On diagnostic tool etc... As you know the hotter the oil the thinner it gets.

Might want to replace the oil pickup tube o-ring too....

If it drops initially before rising on WOT you have problems.

AKMac

iTrader: (4)

I had the exact same problem. It ended up being the oil pump o-ring on the pick up tube. It destroyed the block.

LSGunZ28

iTrader: (8)

I always have wanted to install a mechanical oil pressure gauge, how can I do that? I would like more info on this.. I would like to install both and some advice and instructions on how to and what the best way is, etc...



I only have a stock oil presure gauge


I believe I already mentioned what oil pump im using, but either way, its a Ported LS6 oil pump...

I will try and respond to everyone ASAP...

im not sure what the bearing clearance is.. the 402 is from TSP...

myws61

iTrader: (1)

I agree, my 402 is the same, only I run 10-30.

LSGunZ28

iTrader: (8)

Ok so I did a little driving...

when it was cold, at 2000 rpms its already at 55ish..


when it is hot,
a quick blip of the throttle still easily sends to 40psi...
but whether im at 2500rpm or 3500 rpm, it barely over 40psi when hot

davidws6

iTrader: (36)

If there was something wrong with the Oring on the pickup tube, I think you should have low press all around? Correct me if I'm wrong fellow LS1 people. ?

If you wanted to connect a manual pressure gauge, you'd have to tap into one of the ports on that little piece above the oil filter. I think 1 is before and 1 is after the Oil Filter.

AKMac

iTrader: (4)

In my case, I had about 50 on a cold start up, 40 cruising, and 20 at idle.

I slowly kept loosing pressure until I had about 10psi at idle. Shortly after this was discovered in the oil pan:

hyespeeder

I have the same problem .... 55-60 cold 40 when its a bit warmer all at idle

while driving around it stays around 40 but when its up to temp and its idling its 20-25 and there is a high pitch noise coming from the front of the motor during idle when its up to temp.

all sensors work i tested everything.

its a ls6 pump that i ported and polished myself

AKMac

iTrader: (4)

Yeah I forgot to add that my engine was making a whistle noise too. It almost sounded like a turbo. I'm guessing that this was the bearings frying.

99RTA

iTrader: (-1)

Were the lifters tapping?

AKMac

iTrader: (4)

Not too bad actually. They would only start to click when it was at full temp and at idle.

LSGunZ28

iTrader: (8)

Bearings frying? that doesnt sound too good!

OK!!! So how can I fix this?!

haha

SOMbitch

iTrader: (8)

http://www.ls1howto.com/index.php?article=4


It's in here^^^^^^

LSGunZ28

iTrader: (8)

Thanks.. I know how to change my oil pump.. I was asking, what can i do, to NOT further damage my motor(if that is what it has been doing)... But again, Im not sure if that is the case...

LS6427

iTrader: (2)

I guess I'll be the first to tell ya.......your pressures are exactly what they should be.

Cold....55psi...2,000 rpm

Hot......barely 40psi...2,500-3,500 rpm

Very hot at idle.......20 psi

What more do you want....because there's nothing you can do to get more pressure than that except tear down the engine and put new bearings everywhere.

You'll know you have a problem when you hit the pedal for a hard acceleration run and the oil pressure drops slightly then comes back up but doesn't really climb much more than where it was when you hit the pedal.

BTW...you know its perfectly normal for the oil pressure to decrease as temps increase. The oil gets MUCH thinner with heat. Almost like water. If you ever do an oil change to a cold engine, it will take an hour for the oil to come out and you'll leave alot behind. Do it when its hot and it pours out like water.


.

LSGunZ28

iTrader: (8)

If you feel this is credible advice, then I will take your word for it..

Im just wasnt sure.. But is it normal for the psi to remain at near 40-45psi at WOT even as high as 5000rpms? (when its really hot?)

what psi should I be seeing at 6500rpm, when really hot?