Generation IV Internal Engine 2005-2014 LS2 | LS3 | LS7 | L92 | LS9

Oil pump failure

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Aug 17, 2013 | 09:17 AM
  #1  
Beejis60's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
Default Oil pump failure

So I have a decimated oil pump. It looks like the gerotor decided to move forward and backward into the front cover and body and chew them apart. I thought the crank endplay might have been the problem, but it's well within spec. I'm extremely certain no foreign objects got into the oil/oil pump. Anyone have any thoughts?
Reply
Old Aug 17, 2013 | 10:13 AM
  #2  
Gunslinger09's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 714
Likes: 0
From: Tampa FL
Default

Unless there were excessive miles on the motor I would say it would have to be FOD. But since you say you have ruled that out it I'm going to guess just a general part failure. Sometimes **** will just go bad.
Reply
Old Aug 17, 2013 | 12:29 PM
  #3  
Beejis60's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
Default

Brand new motor; zero miles, zero run time at idle. It's not a 'sometimes **** goes bad' scenario. There's a reason for it.
Reply
Old Aug 17, 2013 | 01:09 PM
  #4  
CAMSTER's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (10)
 
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,023
Likes: 0
From: Miami gardens FL 33055
Default Hope this helps....

Something was wrong for an outcome like that, not sure whether is a double roller or not but the LS oil pump must be centered on the crank with filler gage all four sides the same before is tighten up so the pump is not destroyed by the gyrator attacking one side of the pump internal.

I always open the new oil pumps to inspect inside and clean up overcasting and porting for extra flow but especially the relieve valve area overcasting comes extra heavy and dangerously stuffed, play all my tricks use synthetic oil for is internal lubricant but the point is, I know is going to do what I spec it to (NO surprises)
Reply
Old Aug 17, 2013 | 02:28 PM
  #5  
Beejis60's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
Default

It was installed correctly. The pump was fine before install as I also took it apart. The gerotor was fine. No casting burrs, no cracks, nothing. The inlet is fine, the spring was fine, the valve was fine and moved freely in the valve "chamber". Everything was done properly to the T. Yes, even synthetic oil, though that doesn't matter in this case.
Reply
Old Aug 17, 2013 | 04:10 PM
  #6  
Anthony Phillips's Avatar
Teching In
 
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
Default

and now are there any broken pieces in the pump??? as stated something was wrong wrong no doubt..... maybe post pics of the damage?
Reply
Old Aug 17, 2013 | 08:50 PM
  #7  
Beejis60's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
Default

Originally Posted by Anthony Phillips
and now are there any broken pieces in the pump??? as stated something was wrong wrong no doubt..... maybe post pics of the damage?
Well, it was eating away at the cover and body, so essentially there are miniscule shards of aluminum and steel, but no major pieces of steel, iron, aluminum, etc. Oil analysis from the motor vs. the standard confirms that of fresh oil so nothing caustic or acidic or unusual is in there that may be eating at the surfaces...

Originally Posted by bozzhawg
Did you center the oil pump and make sure the gears were centered using feeler gauges?

Did you coat the pump gears with vaseline or assembly lube?
Yes, it was installed correctly, as aforementioned. Yes, assembly lube. The empirical evidence says it should be working other than the oil pressure drop, which prompted the teardown. Every single engineer I know and have questioned have come to the same conclusion, including a few GM engineers and that being "I don't know".

Last edited by Beejis60; Aug 17, 2013 at 08:55 PM.
Reply
Old Aug 18, 2013 | 06:33 AM
  #8  
RezinTexas's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,343
Likes: 8
From: Katy, TX
Default

got any pics?
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 19, 2013 | 10:34 AM
  #9  
BriancWS6's Avatar
10 Second Club
iTrader: (18)
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 3,910
Likes: 1
From: The Garage
Default

You haven't mentioned what pump this is.
Reply
Old Aug 19, 2013 | 11:24 AM
  #10  
VTC_WS6's Avatar
12 Second Club
iTrader: (9)
 
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 727
Likes: 1
From: Austin, Tx
Default

Pics would be helpful. Did the gerotor fracture/shatter at all? Did the drive sleeve on the crank snout move? How many miles did that pump accumulate?
Reply
Old Aug 19, 2013 | 03:13 PM
  #11  
Beejis60's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
Default

Originally Posted by RezinTexas
got any pics?
Pics really aren't needed... The cover is chewed up where the gerotor rotates. The body is chewed up also where the gerotor rotates.

Originally Posted by BriancWS6
You haven't mentioned what pump this is.
stock

Originally Posted by bozzhawg
Crank walk? I doubt it.

Sounds like to me, the gears/pump was not as centered as thought and the gears rubbed the pump case or cover, and it went down south after that.
It was centered and installed properly as aforementioned.

Originally Posted by VTC_WS6
Pics would be helpful. Did the gerotor fracture/shatter at all? Did the drive sleeve on the crank snout move? How many miles did that pump accumulate?
Drive sleeve is fine and also within spec according to the dial indicator. Outer gerotor is chewed up too where it was also chewing on the cover and body somehow. The pump now probably has one mile on it, give or take; it failed on engine dyno at 2k while slowly increasing revs. Pump was filled with oil and primed properly before starting the engine.
Again, everything was brand new from oil pan to intake to injectors and everything in between, not used or remanufactured. All oem fasteners were replaced with either ARP or A1 fasteners. Oil analysis shows the oil is fine. End play in the crank is less than half of OEM-spec. Drive sleeve is fine. Gerotor was fine prior to install. Housing casting was fine. The bypass moved freely in the sort of chamber. Intake tube is fine. All torques were fine. In fact, all tools used for measurements, like torques, weights, and 'distance' measurements were doublechecked with a different brand of the same tool at time of teardown just in case and all match my blueprint log.

I guess I'm just looking for any crazy thoughts as myself and everyone I know has zero clue what happened.
Reply
Old Aug 20, 2013 | 05:21 AM
  #12  
Quick Carl's Avatar
FormerVendor
 
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 250
Likes: 1
Default

Check that the damper hub clears the oil pump cover where it goes in and contacts the oil pump drive hub. On a few rare occasions I have had to turn the hub to clear.
Reply
Old Aug 20, 2013 | 10:42 AM
  #13  
Beejis60's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
Default

So you're saying the hub can sort of butt up against the pump cover causing it to perhaps compress a little bit? That might be the issue as that's probably the only thing no one has thought of or suggested, but there's no grinding on the cover unless the hub pushed the drive spline rearward. I know I didn't check that clearance; I've built many non-LS motors without ever checking for/blueprinting that. I cannot say if my partner checked it either nor is that in my specs for blueprinting. Everything has been torn down, cleaned and inspected so it cannot be checked now...
I will ask the GM engineer friends to see if they've experienced this in the past; if so, I'm gonna smack them for not suggesting it earlier. Thanks though.
Reply
Old Aug 20, 2013 | 11:34 AM
  #14  
Quick Carl's Avatar
FormerVendor
 
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 250
Likes: 1
Default

If the balancer or oil pump is aftermarket the GM guys wouldn't have the spec's for that, but something to watch out for.
Reply
Old Aug 20, 2013 | 12:56 PM
  #15  
Beejis60's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
Default

Originally Posted by Quick Carl
If the balancer or oil pump is aftermarket the GM guys wouldn't have the spec's for that, but something to watch out for.
That's a good point.
Pump is an oem unit but the damper is not. Should be rebuilding in the next few days but can't get to the dyno until this weekend, at the earliest.
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:13 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