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If a new crate engine installed has a problem of no oil pressure and has been run at idle for 20-30 minutes on and off how long would it take for damage to occur? Problem is not sure when engine lost oil pressure in that period, assume it was there at start as lifters and valve train went quiet at initial start up and engine was quiet and smooth for most of that period. However lifter noise now present and oil pressure is zero. No unusual debris in pan, o-ring and oil pump checked and OK and oil pressure release valve not stuck open. Not checked barbell as engine is still installed and inaccessible against bulkhead. Assuming engine now needs to be stripped to assess true extent of damage. Any advice or pointers welcome. Thanks!
No unusual debris found in oil pan for a new crate engine to suggest bearing has spun. Can a barbell fail from new in that period (20-30 mins). Valley plate was changed out for a Holley LS3 version with oil sender tapped in. Both electric and subsequent mechanical pressure gauges (to rule out faulty sender) have both read zero. Can manufacturing debris block an oil channel?
No unusual debris found in oil pan for a new crate engine to suggest bearing has spun. Can a barbell fail from new in that period (20-30 mins). Valley plate was changed out for a Holley LS3 version with oil sender tapped in. Both electric and subsequent mechanical pressure gauges (to rule out faulty sender) have both read zero. Can manufacturing debris block an oil channel?
Anything can happen . Make sure your oil pump pickup tube has its oring . If it were my engine I would be pulling it and making sure it's all right.
Start with oil filter. Cut it open with correct tool and inspect for debris or maybe assembly lube has it stopped up. They are very small for what we are doing in my opinion. Either way, it looks like engine is coming out. If it’s a new crate, warranty should cover you here. Of course warranty dept will prolly buck the claim because you didn’t use loctite on the engine mount bolts or something stupid like that….
If a new crate engine installed has a problem of no oil pressure and has been run at idle for 20-30 minutes on and off how long would it take for damage to occur? Problem is not sure when engine lost oil pressure in that period, assume it was there at start as lifters and valve train went quiet at initial start up and engine was quiet and smooth for most of that period. However lifter noise now present and oil pressure is zero. No unusual debris in pan, o-ring and oil pump checked and OK and oil pressure release valve not stuck open. Not checked barbell as engine is still installed and inaccessible against bulkhead. Assuming engine now needs to be stripped to assess true extent of damage. Any advice or pointers welcome. Thanks!
First thing is: How was oil pressure monitored? If it was the OEM sender. Vladimir Putin's propaganda is more accurate than the GM sender. Second thing is, is the engine warrantied? Warranty is the main reason for considering a crate engine in the first place .....
Last edited by grinder11; Jun 15, 2022 at 07:03 PM.
First thing is: How was oil pressure monitored? If it was the OEM sender. Vladimir Putin's propaganda is more accurate than the GM sender. Second thing is, is the engine warrantied? Warranty is the main reason for considering a crate engine in the first place .....
New sender and double checked with mechanical gauge. Engine was purchased 5 years ago waiting for build so warranty would be an interesting discussion. Could O-rings on underside of Holley replacement valley plate cause an issue? Crank and bearing caps have been inspected from the underside and look still OK although engine was shut down immediately the ticking noise from a lifter was heard. They are trying a new oil pump first to rule it out. Journals, caps and bearings seem to have oil on them but pressure absent. The investigation goes on.
New sender and double checked with mechanical gauge. Engine was purchased 5 years ago waiting for build so warranty would be an interesting discussion. Could O-rings on underside of Holley replacement valley plate cause an issue? Crank and bearing caps have been inspected from the underside and look still OK although engine was shut down immediately the ticking noise from a lifter was heard. They are trying a new oil pump first to rule it out. Journals, caps and bearings seem to have oil on them but pressure absent. The investigation goes on.
Absolutely could be the problem. Easy experiment would be to try an Oem valley plate and see if there’s a difference.
So engine cranked with valley cover off - oil gets to the filter fine therefore oil pump working. Oil does not get from filter up to the top of the engine. Possibly then a barbell failure. Do the oil towers holes (not a DOD engine) need sealed off or does this not matter?
So testing with the valley plate off and oil towers open on a non DoD engine would mean oil would not make it up the back gallery to the oil pressure sender?
So testing with the valley plate off and oil towers open on a non DoD engine would mean oil would not make it up the back gallery to the oil pressure sender?
No. the holes in the towers are directly above the 8 lifters that get the DOD treatment…if it gets DOD lifters…doesn’t matter for oil flow. If you have oil pressure, you’d have 8 oil geysers squirting up into the air from these towers. The lifters get oil first in an LS platform, so you should definitely see oil shooting up out of the towers. Sounds like there’s no barbell in the engine, or the wrong block-off plate was installed above the oil filter, not allowing oil to flow up into the gallery above the filter. There are two holes above the filter, on the pan, that must either be blocked off with the correct block-off plate, or a cooler manifold installed, that sends oil out to a cooler. Which are you using here?
Firstly - thanks to everyone who has responded. This community is 👍. The car builder fitted a Holley valley cover at my request which had a flat underside and followed the instructions that Holley provided (which says nothing about o-rings, only about DoD deactivation). The replacement cover does NOT have O-rings on the underside so the oil has been geysering up the oil towers and hitting the underside of the cover instead of pressurizing the lifters and system. Luckily the engine has only been run for about 2-3 minutes with the replacement cover. So original back on and being tested later. Oil will get dropped again and filter changed and tested for metal. Camshaft and bearing caps have all been examined visually and all look good with no scoring. Fingers crossed as it is a brand new crate LS3 🤞. Thanks guys.
Firstly - thanks to everyone who has responded. This community is 👍. The car builder fitted a Holley valley cover at my request which had a flat underside and followed the instructions that Holley provided (which says nothing about o-rings, only about DoD deactivation). The replacement cover does NOT have O-rings on the underside so the oil has been geysering up the oil towers and hitting the underside of the cover instead of pressurizing the lifters and system. Luckily the engine has only been run for about 2-3 minutes with the replacement cover. So original back on and being tested later. Oil will get dropped again and filter changed and tested for metal. Camshaft and bearing caps have all been examined visually and all look good with no scoring. Fingers crossed as it is a brand new crate LS3 🤞. Thanks guys.
I hope you get this figured out. IDK about anyone else, but you're intake setup looks awesome to me!! Love to see some dyno numbers when you get this resolved. Brian Thomson once told me that his 441 cubic inch C6 Z06 race car picked up 50hp over a ported FAST intake with no other changes! 6.25hp/cylinder is a nice gain with no other changes. I know it's not cheap, but there are worse things to spend $$$ on!!!
Thanks 👍. Collaboration between Gardner Douglas & AT Power in the UK using a fly by wire controller and machined rods. Set up is tested at 480bhp and 520lbs/ft to the crank with free flow cats and side pipes. The power increase is nice but the induction noise is even better. 😁
Thanks 👍. Collaboration between Gardner Douglas & AT Power in the UK using a fly by wire controller and machined rods. Set up is tested at 480bhp and 520lbs/ft to the crank with free flow cats and side pipes. The power increase is nice but the induction noise is even better. 😁
Would LOVE to see video of this thing running when you get it right.
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No oil pressure 
