Low Oil Pressure..
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,752
Likes: 62
From: New Madison Ohio
Low Oil Pressure..
Hey guys went for a drive today and noticed the oil pressure being low. I was driving at about 60mph and put oil pressure show how much it was and it showed 25lbs. I also noticed like lifter noise or something similiar to that. It was really noticeable at 2500rpms. I checked the oil even before I left and it was in the operating range. Would i be thinking right that it could possibly be an oil pump issues. With the oil pressure and the lifter type noise or day I say a metal to metal noise. I always see and get some good information from you guys. Would also like to add it drops to 21-23 lbs of pressure at idle. Even reving (slightly reving) it only gets to about 33.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 2,764
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From: Central Florida
What was it before? Some engines just run lower. Ask this in tech section. That is not that low and it does go up as you raise rpm. You sure you are not hearing something that was already there, some people think theses things sound like sewing machines.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
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From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
LS1 motor will lube the top end at 8 psi.. What oil, and what weight are you using.. when that oil is cold it should be 60 or 70 lbs in first gear, until it warms up.. 25 at idle is very normal, but it should go above 30 psi under load. First thing I would do is get a good oil filter and the proper oil and change them both. Using the wrong spec oil, or the wrong octane fuel can cause engine damage and low oil pressure is a sign of bearing clearance wear. These motors were tested to 200,000 miles using the right oil spec and the right filter, and after 200,000 miles every spec was still in tolerance.
Bill aka ET
Bill aka ET
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,752
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From: New Madison Ohio
LS1 motor will lube the top end at 8 psi.. What oil, and what weight are you using.. when that oil is cold it should be 60 or 70 lbs in first gear, until it warms up.. 25 at idle is very normal, but it should go above 30 psi under load. First thing I would do is get a good oil filter and the proper oil and change them both. Using the wrong spec oil, or the wrong octane fuel can cause engine damage and low oil pressure is a sign of bearing clearance wear. These motors were tested to 200,000 miles using the right oil spec and the right filter, and after 200,000 miles every spec was still in tolerance.
Bill aka ET
Bill aka ET
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2008
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From: New Madison Ohio
The sounds I am hearing was not there before. It is running about 10-15 less than what it was before.
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Team Owner
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St. Jude Donor '03-'04
how long have you owned it, and how miles and how many owners..? Some times a leased car is never maintained,,,, This all happened recently ? or was it a slow evolution. that motor should be seeing 60 / 70 lbs in the morning.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2008
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From: New Madison Ohio
I have owned it for 7 years. It had 72K plus when I bought it. It now has 100,000 miles on it. I am the 5th owner. No service records either. Just happened no slow evolution. I got it in this morning and the pressure was 45 lbs at start up. Also Evil-Twin it does not tick or make any noise at idle. I can bring up the rpms a little to about 3k sitting still and no noise. I broke a valve spring which was a double valve spring towards the end of '17 on #2 and broke another one on #7 about 6 mos. later.. I replaced them all when #7 let go. Didn't want to take a chance on breaking another. I know I should have replaced them when the first one broke. Work was done at Buds Chevy a local well recommended Corvette Dealer. Other than that no engine issues at all. thanks for your responses and to everyone else that has responded.
Team Owner
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From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
Its hard to say what the 4 previous owners did during that first 72K. When you broke the valve springs, under what circumstances did they let go? I have a feeling you push this motor at times to its limits.. which should be fine.. I have a feeling that the previous owners may have been less than care oriented ( it only takes one ) If you push this motor it will let go ( in my opinion ) its on its way out. it could last a months or a years. If you force it to break it will break. When You saw a specific drop in pressure, you lost something. these things usually become exponential. meaning that another failure is right around the corner.
Last edited by Vetteman Jack; May 6, 2019 at 01:15 AM.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,752
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From: New Madison Ohio
Its hard to say what the 4 previous owners did during that first 72K. When you broke the valve springs, under what circumstances did they let go? I have a feeling you push this motor at times to its limits.. which should be fine.. I have a feeling that the previous owners may have been less than care oriented ( it only takes one ) If you push this motor it will let go ( in my opinion ) its on its way out. it could last a months or a years. If you force it to break it will break. When You saw a specific drop in pressure, you lost something. these things usually become exponential. meaning that another failure is right around the corner.
Team Owner
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St. Jude Donor '03-'04
Not sure how much help I could be, with so many unknowns.. I just tried to work out some thoughts with you in an effort to help you understand what may be going on.. a valve spring and then a second one should never let go , especially when not at the rev limiter. Its obvious someone did some work to this motor, but who knows what and how capable they were.
Bill aka ET
Bill aka ET
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From: New Madison Ohio
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Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,752
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From: New Madison Ohio
Had the oil changed today. The pressure changed but according the guy I spoke with all the pressures I had were within spec. I believe it was ET who had the right specs. Spot on ET. I am still getting the odd sound of metal to metal sound. I do have a question on that though, could that sound be the exhaust system being loose or an exhaust manifold be loose? I will check this out tomorrow. Thanks guys for all your help. It was greatly appreciated.