pt2285

LS3 swap, gm crate engine with cam swap, improved racing oil cooler adapter with oil cooler. running amsoil 5w30 but swapped to amsoil racing 10w30. no noises, no knocks, engine runs smooth. LOW OIL PRESSURE OF 13 at idle only, everywhere else pressure is 30-40. oil at idle low pressure only. checked my scan tool which goes off the sensor on the top of the block and my gauge is fed from a sensor off the oil cooler adapter and both are reading the same #. no leaks, etc.... never noticed this until last weekend i was running Big willow and my oil temps where getting 280F+ and i think it was because my front air dam was blocking the oil cooler air flow so i removed that today/ but as i was entering the pits last week i saw oil pressure was around same at idle but i figured its cause oil temp... right now oil temp up the middle and 13 on the gaugues. engine maybe has 1000 miles on it.

A.R. Shale Targa

iTrader: (2)

The factory wet sump will not handle Auto cross and/or road Racing for very long
Had a buddy with a 2008 Z51 Vette That had your symptoms before blowing up badly. His next Vette is a 2012 Grand Sport and since it’s a stick car has the dry sump oiling system and no problems

pt2285

Oil Pressure (Minimum, with hot oil):........ 6 psig @ 1000 RPM
.................................................. ................ 18 psig @ 2000 RPM
.................................................. ................ 24 psig @ 4000 RPM

so i guess im ok...

farmington

iTrader: (14)

I'm sorry, but you have a problem. That is too low.

LLLosingit

iTrader: (4)

What are your cold oil pressure values at idle and around 1400-1500rpm?
280+ is definitely hot.
All my LS based engines have a cold start oil pressure of around 40-45lbs at 700rpms and 50-60 at 1400-1500rpms.
At normal operating temperature they are 25-35lbs at 650rpms and 40-50lbs at 1400-1500rpms.
I do see a drop of 5-10lbs when I use my truck to tow on a hot day but I don't have a oil temperature gauge but I'm sure that is the main reason for the drop.

brandon6.0

iTrader: (32)

^^^^ thats the same psi i see on stock engines as well as my rebuilt ones.

OP the psi u are seeing is not normal. I think u may have eat a bearing from lack of oil. Best thing is change oil and inspect oil filter for any material. Copper means bearings!

pt2285

changed oil last night and no metallic color or metal flakes.

brandon6.0

iTrader: (32)

Did u open up filter?

A.R. Shale Targa

iTrader: (2)

brand F filters have been known to collapse the pleats.....seen this happen on stock car engines over the years but IMO this is not the case w/yours

pt2285

no as to i swapped oil 2 weeks ago and then swapped again. 5w30 to 10w30. im gonna swap the pump. prob should have done that from the start anyways.

LLLosingit

iTrader: (4)

Can you answer this from my earlier post....What are your cold oil pressure values at idle and around 1400-1500rpm?

pt2285

havent fired up the car today.. been at work.

pt2285

cold 30psi on idle and raises normally with throttle. so the pump works fine. i got the 10296 pump, but i may send it back.. talked to improved racing tech support and they said im fine and to swap the pump for more psi for piece of mind.

brandon6.0

iTrader: (32)

edited:

Bubba I hate to say it but if u have 30psi cold and 13 psi hot, something isn't right. Some times a diff filter does help the situation. If this motor was rebuilt bearing clearance is most likely opened up, so I would run 20w50.

01CamaroSSTx

iTrader: (3)

And if it's an old motor with worn out bearings it will be on the loose side and running a thicker oil will help with the oil pressure but it sounds to me like this is a newly built engine. Do you know what your clearances are on this motor? The clearances should be fairly tight and your pressure should be 40-60 psi even once you've reached operating temp. Sounds to me like you have an issue even though 5psi per 1,000 rpm is acceptable.

Lot's of things can cause you to have low oil pressure. Improperly installed o-ring on the pickup tube. Oil pan to pickup tube clearance, pressure relief valve hung open on the pump just to name a few.

01CamaroSSTx

iTrader: (3)

One other question: Is this an LS3 block and are you running the LS3 valley cover or have the DOD towers been filled in. This could also be the cause for low oil pressure.

brandon6.0

iTrader: (32)

^^^^ this is very possible.

LLLosingit

iTrader: (4)

Original post says "gm crate engine with cam swap"

BOLO

iTrader: (40)

Is this a common issue for all LS3 block with the DOD towers blocked off? And using an LS2/3 valley covers with appropriate O rings for those towers?

brandon6.0

iTrader: (32)

I personally have never blocked them off and just use a ls2 cover. But I have read that it is best to plug them. Added insurance!