Smokeysvette

I added a C6 to my Corvette stable along with my two 92 C4's (a coupe w-55k and the other a hard top vert with 41k). I would just like to know what most peoples oil pressure is or whats the normal oil pressure supposed to be on the LS2 C6??? The car is a Le-mans blue 2005 Z-51 with a Manual tranny, 3LT, with about 70K miles on the clock.
Now.....When the cars at normal operating temp and at idle, the oil pressure runs 20 lbs. and going down the road it's at about 40 lbs. Just comparing it to my 2 C4's and they run 35-lbs idle and 50 lbs at driving speed at normal operating temps. I've had C6 car for about a year now and use it for primarily for weekend cruises. Other than some door button problems it's been great trouble free car. To me I would think that it would hold better oil pressure hot but I'm not that familiar with the LS2 as I am with the LT1. I have to say I love the power difference between the LT1 and the LS2 engines too! BTW, I do not drive the car hard and she gets treated well.

wayback

Sounds normal to me. Think GM said it could safely go down to 8 psi at idle.

Fyi don't be surprised if your pressure reading goes to xxx or 80, sending units are known to fail around the 10 yr mark. Mine did.

LMB-Z

Congrats on the C6 and welcome to our world. Just as an FYI, your car is not a 3LT...maybe 1SB...LT designation didnt start until 2006. 2005's are mostly either 1SA or 1SB. Look inside the glove compartment for a complete list of option codes. As far as your oil pressure, sounds good to me. What kind of oil is in it? Have you changed it since you bought the car?

Dman302

gn85

You said you just bought this car... have you checked/changed the oil? The previous owner may not be running the correct weight oil or oil that is overdue for a change.

marinablu67

I have an LS3, and sounds perfectly normal to me at operating temps.

Fly N Low

If you ever have the front of the motor apart (ie: harmonic balancer or cam) install a Melling 10296 oil pump. With 5w-30 Mobil One mine is 40 psi idle and 55 psi cruising perfect IMO.
To answer your question I think the psi numbers you are getting are about what I used to get. Which for a car thats not seeing any race track time should be fine. My car had 50k on the stock oil pump with no valve noise or problems.

Smokeysvette

Sorry for not getting back to you guy's earlier but had some family issues to deal with.
OK, when I bought the car at the Chevrolet dealer they had just changed the oil but I have no idea what weight or type they used. As I look at the oil now it seems very clean but I'm going to change it again anyway just to make sure. I know at the factory they used Mobil One so I guess I'll go with that. What do y'all suggest in the oil weight? Should I go with a heavier weight since I live in Texas with the temp's normally in the 100's? Or, again what do y'all suggest?

Thanks in advance,
Steve

cmonkey713

Sounds pretty normal to me too. Oil pressure will change some with RPM and tempeture of the oil.

LMB-Z

Does is not say on the oil filler cap what to put in it??? Do you have an owners manual? If not, download one online and please read it. Lots of good info there.

hrt vlv

Just curious , why would you do another oil change when it was just done. Can you ask dealer if they use Mobil 1? I do understand some dealers have quality control issues with work performed.

buckmeister2

Smokey, asking about oil pressure is like asking what are the best tires, etc. I personally think 20 is a tad low for idle at running temps, but if it stays 20 for the next 10K miles, it doesn't matter, as 20 is certainly safe. Check the oil level, put a couple thousand miles on it, and check it again, under identical conditions. If the level remains the same, or is down less than a 1/2 quart, there is not much to worry about. These engines seem almost impervious to wear, so whether the oil pressure is 28 or 20, not really an issue.

jonnyc

i've always been told you want at least 10 psi oil pressure for every 1k rpm's

owc6

FWIW, the '05 allows down to 6 psi as normal.

So, the OP has nothing to worry about.

Bruze

?? Engines are designed differently, some will have larger passages than others, pumps are different, etc. The old small blocks (as I recall) wouldn't go over 30 pounds when warm, old Studebaker V-8s (also as I recall) would run higher, maybe 40 or so (not sure about Ft. Morgan Al's proverbial "53 Buick"). Harleys are high volume-low pressure, and the worst thing you can do is put a gauge on them. At a stoplight in the summer with a warm engine -- it will read zero, freaking you out.

mcm95403

20 pounds at idle, plus ten for each 1K of rpm was the old rule of thumb.

mcm95403

Guess mine is in good shape - I get 28 at idle and ~45 at cruise. I haven't watched it all the way to redline as everything is passing by to fast to not look where I'm going

Jimmy W1

The dealer I use, (Voss Chevrolet in Centerville, Ohio) told me that they don't use Mobil One anymore. They use a Dexos oil that is made by/for AC Delco that is similar to Mobil One.

In fact, last year I bought a used 2011 Malibu from Joe Morgan (the baseball player) Honda in Monroe, Ohio and I noticed on the work sheet that Voss Chevrolet had done the inspection and changed the fluids. So when I asked them about it, that's when they told me that they probably didn't use Mobil One. Now it's due for an oil change and I don't know what to put in it. So I got the Mobil One extended oil for it. I hope it works out OK because it doesn't have an oil pressure gauge.

Jimmy W1

By the way, I later found out that Joe Morgan Honda is an affiliate of the Voss Automotive group. That's why the inspection was done by Voss.