Oil Pressure
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 6,460
Likes: 16
From: hamilton alabama
Oil Pressure
I have a built forged ls2 that was built about 1000 miles ago. When its 1st cranked cold it holds 60 plus pounds of oil pressure and when at temp it dropped down to about 27lbs in the beginning and steady dropped more and more as the miles were put on it to where it is when i sent it back to the builder it was at like 8 or 9lbs at temp at idle. I had a similar issue with my head cam ls1 and it was the cam bearings that caused the oil pressure to drop more and more . the shop that did the engine work is saying that the ls2 motors are known for oil thinning which causes the oil pressure drop which is whats causing it. this is the 1st i have ever heard of oil thinning easy on a ls2 engine. I believe its the cam bearings. Any opinions on this?
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 228
Likes: 2
From: California
My first thought is to change the oil and filter and see if that brings the pressure back up. And no I have never heard of the oil thinning. I did the heads-cam on my other LS1 and the oil pressure was higher after that. I figured the clearance of cam to cam bearing must have been less.
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,100
Likes: 17
From: Somers, CT and Clermont, FL
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Your builder is trying to feed you BS with his oil thinning story. There are thousands of LS2 engines on the road that are running with 5W-30 oil in them, and they don't have your problem.
Your engine most likely has loose clearances in the cam bearings, main bearings, or rod bearings. Heavier oil may help, but it's not the cure for the low oil pressure in your LS2.
Your engine most likely has loose clearances in the cam bearings, main bearings, or rod bearings. Heavier oil may help, but it's not the cure for the low oil pressure in your LS2.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 2,507
Likes: 9
Your builder is trying to feed you BS with his oil thinning story. There are thousands of LS2 engines on the road that are running with 5W-30 oil in them, and they don't have your problem.
Your engine most likely has loose clearances in the cam bearings, main bearings, or rod bearings. Heavier oil may help, but it's not the cure for the low oil pressure in your LS2.
Your engine most likely has loose clearances in the cam bearings, main bearings, or rod bearings. Heavier oil may help, but it's not the cure for the low oil pressure in your LS2.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,582
Likes: 137
From: SoCal CA
^^
I agree as well, sounds the tolerances are way too loose. Either that or they were too tight and were damage now causing low pressure issues, which Ive seen happen. My old motor had a damaged main bearing which did the same, started cold with decent pressure and then shot down as it got warm, 8-9psi at idle. Drain the old, pass it through a magnet and check the filter as well. If it looks like youre paning for gold then you got a problem. Good luck.
I agree as well, sounds the tolerances are way too loose. Either that or they were too tight and were damage now causing low pressure issues, which Ive seen happen. My old motor had a damaged main bearing which did the same, started cold with decent pressure and then shot down as it got warm, 8-9psi at idle. Drain the old, pass it through a magnet and check the filter as well. If it looks like youre paning for gold then you got a problem. Good luck.
