Low To No Oil Presure !!!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 183
Likes: 0
From: Corpus TX
Low To No Oil Presure !!!
What ever it is i know it cant be good anybody have any ideas as were to start looking ! Engine ran fine till a few days ago started losing oil presure slowly all the way down to 20 psi. When i broke in the engine i changed the oil and filter everything was great 60 psi. at idle and when i gave it sum throtle up to almost 80 psi. And now i get 20 psi. at idle and sum times it will drop to 0 psi. when i give it a little throtle and then back to 20 . I have the oem gauges so i was hoping for the best so i tried a mechanical one and i had worse presure !!!!!!
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,682
Likes: 3
From: League City TX
Has the engine started making any wierd noises or running poorly?
Its behaving a lot like what happens when the oil pump pick-up comes out of the pump.
Was it tacked to the pump when the engine was rebuilt?
Its behaving a lot like what happens when the oil pump pick-up comes out of the pump.
Was it tacked to the pump when the engine was rebuilt?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 183
Likes: 0
From: Corpus TX
Yes it is making a rattling noise every so often , i thought it was the exhaust pipe rattling on the cross member since i have duels and one side is really close to one side of the wall . And no it wasnt tack on !
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,682
Likes: 3
From: League City TX
Well hopefully the noise is just the exhaust, and you havent done any real damage yet.
I assume you have done the easy stuff, like check the oil level and spin on a new filter.
Have you drained the oil to look for metal in it or cut open an oil filter since the problem started?
The fact that your pressure ever goes above zero tells us that the pump is still spinning. So you either have a supply issue (pick-up) or you have huge clearances somewhere. I'm betting that you will have to drop the oil pan to figure it out.
Hopefully someone else will chime in with something I'm not thinking of.
I assume you have done the easy stuff, like check the oil level and spin on a new filter.
Have you drained the oil to look for metal in it or cut open an oil filter since the problem started?
The fact that your pressure ever goes above zero tells us that the pump is still spinning. So you either have a supply issue (pick-up) or you have huge clearances somewhere. I'm betting that you will have to drop the oil pan to figure it out.
Hopefully someone else will chime in with something I'm not thinking of.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
Is the engine recently rebuilt? If so, perhaps one of the block orifices got blown out...that would dump oil pressure at an idle condition. Normally, 5-15 psi at idle is not unusual for a stock 350 when warmed up. But "0" is NOT good. Are you sure there is not a small leak in the oil pressure gauge plastic line? Check at the back of the intake manifold where it connects; or look for oil on the pavement below that same area; or see if you get the smell of oil in your cockpit. Any of those conditions would indicate a leak in that oil line.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 183
Likes: 0
From: Corpus TX
No i havent changed the oil filter yet going to do that tonight when i get home from work ! This all started Sun. after i put my p/s pump on so i gave up for the day !Anybody have some feedback on a oil filter thats longer than the pf-454 iwas looking for a overall bigger oil filter since the pf-454 is tiny how about wix filters !
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,319
Likes: 0
From: Stamford Ct
I had a big block do the same thing, I would slow down for a traffic light and would lose all oil pressure, the pick-up fell off
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Racer
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 320
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From: Upstate New York
If the engine was recently rebuilt I've seen times when the rebuilder uses too much silicone sealer and the excess gets caught in the oil pick up screen causing low oil pressure at higher speeds and a little better (but not great) pressure at idle.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 121
Likes: 2
From: Middletown Delaware
In an older engine I have seen where there is sludge in the oil pan. As the motor ran the pick up would clog. If you shut it of and it sat for a short while it would have pressure when restarted until it sucked up the sludge again. It would drop to 0.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,682
Likes: 3
From: League City TX
The oil pressure dropping when you rev it up makes me think its a problem with the pick up. Either its plugged, or laying in the bottom of the pan. I would still change the filter first, but if that doesnt fix it, I would go ahead and pull the pan ASAP.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 14,112
Likes: 28
From: Florida
Pull out the dist and use an oil primer tool on a heavy duty drill amd see what your mech gauge says.
You should be able to feel a fair amount of resistance too.
Sounds like the pan off is next after that.
Wix 51060 is the long filter for the sbc holding almost a quart and are as good or better than most.
Here are the specs.
Part Number: 51060
UPC Number: 765809510609
Principal Application: Chevrolet/GMC Trucks (91-05), Hummer (93-06)
Style: Spin-On Lube Filter
Service: Lube
Type: Full Flow
Media: Paper
Height: 5.178
Outer Diameter Top: 3.660
Outer Diameter Bottom: Closed
Thread Size: 13/16-16
By-Pass Valve Setting-PSI: None
Anti-Drain Back Valve: Yes
Beta Ratio: 2/20=17/41
Burst Pressure-PSI: 270
Max Flow Rate: 9-11 GPM
Nominal Micron Rating: 19
You should be able to feel a fair amount of resistance too.
Sounds like the pan off is next after that.
Wix 51060 is the long filter for the sbc holding almost a quart and are as good or better than most.
Here are the specs.
Part Number: 51060
UPC Number: 765809510609
Principal Application: Chevrolet/GMC Trucks (91-05), Hummer (93-06)
Style: Spin-On Lube Filter
Service: Lube
Type: Full Flow
Media: Paper
Height: 5.178
Outer Diameter Top: 3.660
Outer Diameter Bottom: Closed
Thread Size: 13/16-16
By-Pass Valve Setting-PSI: None
Anti-Drain Back Valve: Yes
Beta Ratio: 2/20=17/41
Burst Pressure-PSI: 270
Max Flow Rate: 9-11 GPM
Nominal Micron Rating: 19
Last edited by noonie; Jan 28, 2008 at 08:03 PM.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 549
Likes: 5
From: punta gorda florida
Pull out the dist and use an oil primer tool on a heavy duty drill amd see what your mech gauge says.
You should be able to feel a fair amount of resistance too.
Sounds like the pan off is next after that.
Wix 51060 is the long filter for the sbc holding almost a quart and are as good or better than most.
Here are the specs.
Part Number: 51060
UPC Number: 765809510609
Principal Application: Chevrolet/GMC Trucks (91-05), Hummer (93-06)
Style: Spin-On Lube Filter
Service: Lube
Type: Full Flow
Media: Paper
Height: 5.178
Outer Diameter Top: 3.660
Outer Diameter Bottom: Closed
Thread Size: 13/16-16
By-Pass Valve Setting-PSI: None
Anti-Drain Back Valve: Yes
Beta Ratio: 2/20=17/41
Burst Pressure-PSI: 270
Max Flow Rate: 9-11 GPM
Nominal Micron Rating: 19
You should be able to feel a fair amount of resistance too.
Sounds like the pan off is next after that.
Wix 51060 is the long filter for the sbc holding almost a quart and are as good or better than most.
Here are the specs.
Part Number: 51060
UPC Number: 765809510609
Principal Application: Chevrolet/GMC Trucks (91-05), Hummer (93-06)
Style: Spin-On Lube Filter
Service: Lube
Type: Full Flow
Media: Paper
Height: 5.178
Outer Diameter Top: 3.660
Outer Diameter Bottom: Closed
Thread Size: 13/16-16
By-Pass Valve Setting-PSI: None
Anti-Drain Back Valve: Yes
Beta Ratio: 2/20=17/41
Burst Pressure-PSI: 270
Max Flow Rate: 9-11 GPM
Nominal Micron Rating: 19
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 183
Likes: 0
From: Corpus TX
Well its a great day today 
. It was indeed the oil filter , i pulled it off and opened it up and it had sum goldish discoloreration to it ! I changed it out with a wix #51069 and waala 80 psi . and 50 psi. at idle on the elect gauage ! 
I guess my baby wasnt done getting ridd of all that molly lub the first oil change so i will probably change it again this weekend with another wix like stated above , thanks to all 
. It was indeed the oil filter , i pulled it off and opened it up and it had sum goldish discoloreration to it ! I changed it out with a wix #51069 and waala 80 psi . and 50 psi. at idle on the elect gauage ! I guess my baby wasnt done getting ridd of all that molly lub the first oil change so i will probably change it again this weekend with another wix like stated above , thanks to all