About 4-5 months ago I went through the ordeal of replacing a bad oil pump (stuck pressure regulator valve). Due to misdiagnosis by a couple of dealers (they said it was a sensor, or could not diagnose it at all) I drove the car for about 2,000 miles with this problem, getting the 'low oil pressure' warning on startup (pressure would come up after about 10-30 seconds).

After Chevy finally admitted to needing a new oil pump, I argued that I should get a new motor because it was likely that some damage had been done during the no pressure startups. I relented on this demand, but to be on the safe side I am now doing oil analysis.

Here’s a link to a scan of the first one since the new oil pump went in: http://www.c5tech.com/graphics/OilAnalysis102201.gif

In summary, almost all values are normal or better, the only exception is the silicon reading which is purported to be from the work that was done. The copper seems higher than average but apparently not alarmingly so (see the analysis guidelines at http://www.blackstone-labs.com/report_explanation.html). BTW, the report shows the make-up oil as 3 qts. but it was actually 1.5 qts.


[Modified by TLaverty, 5:41 PM 10/26/2001]

 

Would it not make more sense to open up the motor and inspect it for damage then to anaylse the oil? FYI I've been the the "low oil pressure" light on cold starts for 3 months now. I need to get a new oil pump in eventually. :D

-Jeremy

 

I just backed my C5 into the garage for the 1st time in 23 days. It's been at the dealer finally getting the "low oil pressure" problem taken care of.

Because of misdiagnosing (actually it was GM trying to avoid the inevitable) I 1st only got the lifters replaced even though I told them I thought it was a bad oil pump/OPRV. The next time they pulled the oil pans off to find burnt oil coating the pans and clogging the oil pickup tube.

I was fit to be tied when I found out they had not replaced the oil pump. Never did they solve the "low oil pressure" at start up. I took the car back and told them I wanted a new engine or buy back.

I explained that the wear to the engine over the 3-4 months of misdiagnoses had surely damaged the engine. I told them that when they pulled the oil pump out they would find the OPRV stuck open. I told them (the GM rep was on hand when I brought the car in this time) that I thought the main bearing furthest from the pump was getting so hot, from lack of oil pressure, that it was why the oil was burning.

Then we got into the discussion about the oil consumption. When the conversation went to problems with the LS1 piston rings the GM rep said that they would bore the engine and replace the pistons and while they were doing that they would tear down the engine and check things out.

They found the the oil pump OPRV was stuck open with loctite and that the #8 main bearing was "scratched" I asked if the #8 bearing was the furthest from the oil pump...yes!

They put in new pistons with the napier rings and all new main & rod bearings, new oil pump, rod bolts, head bolts, etc., etc...an engine rebuild.

All covered unders warranty, except for the 2002 clutch I had put in while it was apart.

If you are having a "low oil pressure" warning at start up...it's a stuck open OPRV, and in my cast damage my bearings.

GM must have given the go ahead to fix these issues because I've seen 4-6 engine teardowns on the forum over the last 23 days.

I'm soo glad it's back :yesnod:

 

Hey Gary,
Which dealer did you take your car to? Sounds like they started to give you the run-around. I'm glad you stuck to your guns and forced them to fix it right.:yesnod:

Mike

 

In the long run I think things came out O.K. But yes it was an ordeal.

The rebuild (bottom end) was done at a speed shop and the dealer, Jim Trenary, did everything else.

Trenary has a new Service Manager that got involved with the pulling of the oil pans and then the teardown. He seems to be a good guy.

Keep in mind Trenary is the 3rd dealer that I've been to since I began to have warranty issues (not the engine oil pressure issue). I was very unimpressed with the large Chevy dealer in St. Peters and I was totally disapointed with the large Corvette dealership in your area on Manchester Road.

Trenary does have a great Service Writer, Greg, that intitally gave me the peace of mind and comfort level to bring the car to them.

Trenary is small enough where I can sit down with the SM and discuss issues.

I'm not 100% happy with some things that happened with the service there but it is the best Chevy dealership I've found, when you put all the good and bad crap on the scales...at least of the 3 I tried.


[Modified by Gary2KC5, 9:55 AM 10/27/2001]