My oil pump bad?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,119
Likes: 156
From: Huntington tx
My oil pump bad?
I don't think my oil pump has much more life left. It's running 23lbs at hot idle and a little ticking comes off the valve train. When it's cold it's at 38lbs at idle and almost 50lbs at 3500rpm, and no ticking. After it's hot it's at 28-29lbs at 1500rpm. The engine has 100,000 miles on the clock and runs really strong. a year ago I installed a new 228R cam and lifters, BUT NO OIL PUMP or Timing chain. I tried to keep the costs down. I also had a valve job done on the heads in January. I pulled the valve cover and checked the rockers for trunnion bearing damage and any pushrod slop.
I'm going to call TSP and order a new higher flow Melling oil pump and a new LS7 Timing chain next Monday.
Does that sound like a plan? I'm thinking last year my stock oil pump was like 45-50lbs at idle?
Anyway, it's coming apart in the next couple of days. After all my experience on the car, it's a piece of cake.
Youtube of idling oil pressure.
http://youtu.be/AbokjJ6O8AQ
I'm going to call TSP and order a new higher flow Melling oil pump and a new LS7 Timing chain next Monday.
Does that sound like a plan? I'm thinking last year my stock oil pump was like 45-50lbs at idle?
Anyway, it's coming apart in the next couple of days. After all my experience on the car, it's a piece of cake.
Youtube of idling oil pressure.
http://youtu.be/AbokjJ6O8AQ
Last edited by sfc rick; Apr 25, 2012 at 08:30 PM.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
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From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
I agree 100%! Looks fine to me. My 2011 GS Vert has simular HOT pressures.
If you have valve noises, look at the trunions , springs rockers ect.
That engine sounds great!!
Bill
If you have valve noises, look at the trunions , springs rockers ect.
That engine sounds great!!
Bill
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,119
Likes: 156
From: Huntington tx
Thanks Bill for looking..... You are the guy in the know. I suspect something in the valve train is trying to go out , maybe. It's the ticking that drives me insane at a hot idle. I will pull the valve covers and rockers to inspect a little closer as well as make sure all the spark plugs are tight(once it happened a couple years ago). I've been told that LS engines have a noisy valve train with cam and valve work, but don't buy into it much.
Anyway...something is amiss and the oil pump was just a suspect cause of the oil pressure concern.
Thanks,
Rick
Anyway...something is amiss and the oil pump was just a suspect cause of the oil pressure concern.
Thanks,
Rick
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,320
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From: Kyle TX (Because Mojo Made me fill it in)
Try to use a stethoscope to isolate where the ticking is coming from before you pull the valve covers. If it is the valvetrain you may be able to determine which valve it is and look more closely at it when you have the valve cover off.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
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From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Rick
Before you close everything up,, try this:
I use a stethoscope but, a 4 foot length of fuel line will do just as good. Start the engine and when the TICKING starts, hold one end of the rubber hose to your ear and POINT the other end at each rocker.
As you run by each rocker you will hear each valve move thru its complete cycle and any ABNORMAL noises. That will help you pin point the noise to a specific valve and the specific part of the valve train thats making the noise.
You should be able to hear the EXACT source of the noise/s
Before you close everything up,, try this:
I use a stethoscope but, a 4 foot length of fuel line will do just as good. Start the engine and when the TICKING starts, hold one end of the rubber hose to your ear and POINT the other end at each rocker.
As you run by each rocker you will hear each valve move thru its complete cycle and any ABNORMAL noises. That will help you pin point the noise to a specific valve and the specific part of the valve train thats making the noise.
You should be able to hear the EXACT source of the noise/s
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Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,119
Likes: 156
From: Huntington tx
Ok I took it apart this morning and couldn't see anything really wrong with the rockers or trunions. I put it back together to try Bill's advice on oil weight to see what would happen.
Anyway after all was done I cranked it up and the ticking is gone....I HATE IT when a problems goes away and you DON'T know what you actually did IF ANYTHING to make it run better!!!!!!
http://youtu.be/CSxFfVkJpdg
Anyway after all was done I cranked it up and the ticking is gone....I HATE IT when a problems goes away and you DON'T know what you actually did IF ANYTHING to make it run better!!!!!!
http://youtu.be/CSxFfVkJpdg
Team Owner
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From: Here
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I believe in the Beer Fairy
2 things....
when you install that Melling you will crank up the car and see the pressure gage pegged
I can also tell you that oil pressure below 20 at idle will get you the chance to build a new motor.....I suffered a low PSI issue that eventually revealed itself to be a broken roller on a lifter...on the girlfriends 02 low oil pressure cost her a set of cam bearings and a cam....and...and....
after 100K anything is possible especially on a modified car.
Good luck
when you install that Melling you will crank up the car and see the pressure gage pegged
I can also tell you that oil pressure below 20 at idle will get you the chance to build a new motor.....I suffered a low PSI issue that eventually revealed itself to be a broken roller on a lifter...on the girlfriends 02 low oil pressure cost her a set of cam bearings and a cam....and...and....
after 100K anything is possible especially on a modified car.
Good luck
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 174,312
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From: Here
Pilot of Beer Force 1
Tampa Regional Coordinator
CI 4-5-6-7-8 Veteran
Organizer St. Jude Fundraiser
I believe in the Beer Fairy
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