Oil pressure?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 899
Likes: 18
From: Austin Texas
Oil pressure?
Im about to do a cam install and am replacing my oil pump at the same time. I have a gm high flow oil pump which comes with 2 springs, a high pressure and low pressure spring, which one do I use. It comes with the high pressure spring installed already but im not sure what they consider "high" pressure. How much is too much? With the low pressure spring doesnt it make it a high volume pump that can suck the pan dry? Will i be ok using this pump? Any info will be helpful.
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2,843
Likes: 16
From: Howell Michigan
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11
What's wrong with the oil pump currently in the engine? What oil pressures are you seeing with the current pump at idle, and cuise 1800 to 2000 rpm?
What part number pump do you have?
What part number pump do you have?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 899
Likes: 18
From: Austin Texas
I was planning on using the gm high flow pump p/n L200135297
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2,843
Likes: 16
From: Howell Michigan
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11
Nate,
By the oil pressure numbers you have posted your current oil pump has enough volume. If it didn't you would have a significantly lower pressure readings. Your current pump not only supplies enough oil, you know it is a good pump. Putting on a new one has some risk. It could supply more oil then the engine needs, there is a chance it could have an internal problem you would not find until after the first start. LSx engine oil pumps are one of the most reliable part on the engine. Unless you are installing something that needs to use engine oil, like a turbo charger or some of the superchargers, there is no reason to install a higher volume oil pump.
What cam are you going with?
Hope the cam install goes smooth,
By the oil pressure numbers you have posted your current oil pump has enough volume. If it didn't you would have a significantly lower pressure readings. Your current pump not only supplies enough oil, you know it is a good pump. Putting on a new one has some risk. It could supply more oil then the engine needs, there is a chance it could have an internal problem you would not find until after the first start. LSx engine oil pumps are one of the most reliable part on the engine. Unless you are installing something that needs to use engine oil, like a turbo charger or some of the superchargers, there is no reason to install a higher volume oil pump.
What cam are you going with?
Hope the cam install goes smooth,
Pro
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 679
Likes: 4
From: TremontonUT UT
An old and I mean old rule of thumb for modified street engines was 10 PSI for every 1000 RPM. I have never heard this disputed on any of the forums I visit. Sucking the pan dry is an old wives tale that also goes back a long way and had nothing to do with the pump. If you put straight 20 weight oil in and engine where the temp dropped to 0 degrees at night you can pump the pan dry. The reason is the oil passages were too small to allow the oil to get back to the pan fast enough to keep up with the pump. I haven't heard of this problem for a long long time. Later! Frank
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 2,288
Likes: 1,856
From: Oregon
I used the high volume pump on one of my motors, can't say it was any better, and it was really hard to fit under the cover with a double roller chain. I have a ported LS6 on my new motor. I would only use high volume if I was building an exotic high HP motor.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 899
Likes: 18
From: Austin Texas
Thanks for all the input. I think im going to stick with the stock pump for now because it seems to be working fine. If i run into any problems i will do a ported pump. I hope this is the right move 
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