Oil pump keeps blowing out
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 15
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Oil pump keeps blowing out
So i need to figure out what is going on with my oil pump. One day my oil pressure was running low and than later my oil pump blew while i was at stop. Towed it to my house took it apart cleaned it out and put in a new oil pump in and it blew again which blew my timing chain and bent my push rods and intake/exhaust valves. I replaced everything got everything fixed put the timing back right and bought a new pump....... started it and blew again and took the timing shain cover with it. Replaced both cleaned it out and cleaned out the oil pick up tube and oil pan to make sure nothing was getting pushed in the pump and yet again the oil pupp blew again i ran out of ideas to what could possibly be the problem. Does anybody have any idea. THE CAR HAS ONLY 49K mile and im running 5w-30 mobile 1
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2011
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From: Boise, ID
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
C5 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
How do you know the oil pump has failed? Has your oil pressure hit zero? Could be a spun bearing. When fixing the valves any chance you looked at the cam shaft to make sure it was worn on any of the cam bearing lobes to possibly rule out spun cam bearing.
When you pulled the pickup tube I'm assuming you were able to blow compressed air through easily. Did you replace the oil pickup tube o ring while pulling it and verifying it wasn't pinched or torn?
When you pulled the pickup tube I'm assuming you were able to blow compressed air through easily. Did you replace the oil pickup tube o ring while pulling it and verifying it wasn't pinched or torn?
Last edited by tommypenguin; May 16, 2016 at 11:25 AM.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
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From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Im at a LOSS. What do you mean that you BLEW THE OIL PUMP OUT?
What evidence do you have that the oil pumps are BLOWN?
Can you take pictures of the damaged pumps. What do you see in them that's failing?
What evidence do you have that the oil pumps are BLOWN?
Can you take pictures of the damaged pumps. What do you see in them that's failing?
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,599
Likes: 399
From: Boise, ID
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
C5 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
If the pump is getting starved for oil from a lack of pressure caused elsewhere that is causing it to be damaged. It sounds like based on your troubleshooting the oil pump failing is the result, the cause is obviously something else.
After installing new oil pumps have you hooked up a mechanical gauge to see if you do get oil pressure? Does the pump failing immediately after installing?
After installing new oil pumps have you hooked up a mechanical gauge to see if you do get oil pressure? Does the pump failing immediately after installing?
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Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
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From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Well I guess that the PUMPS have really been blowing up. 
What pressures were you seeing at the first start of each new pump??
The only thing that would cause that is the pump being dead headed and the pressure relief valve not functioning.
Here is the oiling path for the C5 LS engine:
Pull off the oil filter adapter on the side of the block and see if there is anything in there that blocking the flow out of the pump!
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
In the pump that is still in some what of one piece,,,, examine the pressure relief valve and see if it is able to be moved by hand or is it not able to move.
It should have relieved WELL before that much pressure was generated!
You should also be able to BLOW COMPRESSED air into the oil supply hole in the front of the block and it should be able to come out of the pipe that the oil filter screws on to. Before you take the oil filter adaptor off the block, give that a try and see if you get air flow out of the center oil filter pipe.
Bill
It should have relieved WELL before that much pressure was generated!
You should also be able to BLOW COMPRESSED air into the oil supply hole in the front of the block and it should be able to come out of the pipe that the oil filter screws on to. Before you take the oil filter adaptor off the block, give that a try and see if you get air flow out of the center oil filter pipe.
Bill
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 2,347
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From: MI
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Hello, did you align the oil pump during install?
Also, did you pull the oil filter to see if it collapsed on the inside?
http://www.powernationtv.com/two-minute-tech/2min-402/how-to-align-an-ls-oil-pump
There are also a few youtube videos on this practice of aligning LS Oil Pump>
Cheers,
Goose
Also, did you pull the oil filter to see if it collapsed on the inside?
http://www.powernationtv.com/two-minute-tech/2min-402/how-to-align-an-ls-oil-pump
There are also a few youtube videos on this practice of aligning LS Oil Pump>
Cheers,
Goose
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
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From: South Western Ontario
If you are installing and aligning it correctly then I at this point I would suspect something is wrong with the crank, block or the front bearing. At the very least, put a dial indicator on the crank snout and check runout.
1/4 mile/AutoX
Joined: Jun 2014
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From: Buffalo Texas
