Lost oil pressure today
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2014
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Lost oil pressure today
I got in my car today to leave the house, started the engine, then the car chimed, followed by a low oil pressure message on the display. The oil pressure read zero psi.
I promptly shut off the engine. I just bought this car not even 3 months ago. The dealership where I bought it has a 3 month powertrain warranty on all certified used cars. They better stand behind that warranty when I call them tomorrow, 'cause I'm not happy right now.
2008 velocity yellow base C6 with 75,000 miles.
I promptly shut off the engine. I just bought this car not even 3 months ago. The dealership where I bought it has a 3 month powertrain warranty on all certified used cars. They better stand behind that warranty when I call them tomorrow, 'cause I'm not happy right now.
2008 velocity yellow base C6 with 75,000 miles.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2013
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From: Chirper Island
You were smart and shut it right off. Hopefully, no permanent harm done, whatever the diagnosis is.
Don't all wet sumps have a low oil level warning on the DICs? One would think that it would have given you some warning (with that message) if you didn't have something catastrophic. If you did have a catastrophic failure, I would think you would have the evidence on the garage floor.
You didn't mention any odd running or sounds. The reason I bring this up is that I had an oil pressure sending unit go bad a few years ago, but mine was pegged at max; I don't know if they all fail at max, though. It ran normally, and I was told it didn't hurt anything to run it, I just had no way of knowing what was actually happening (oil pressure-wise).
Good luck getting this repaired under the warranty!
Don't all wet sumps have a low oil level warning on the DICs? One would think that it would have given you some warning (with that message) if you didn't have something catastrophic. If you did have a catastrophic failure, I would think you would have the evidence on the garage floor.
You didn't mention any odd running or sounds. The reason I bring this up is that I had an oil pressure sending unit go bad a few years ago, but mine was pegged at max; I don't know if they all fail at max, though. It ran normally, and I was told it didn't hurt anything to run it, I just had no way of knowing what was actually happening (oil pressure-wise).
Good luck getting this repaired under the warranty!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 105
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You were smart and shut it right off. Hopefully, no permanent harm done, whatever the diagnosis is.
Don't all wet sumps have a low oil level warning on the DICs? One would think that it would have given you some warning (with that message) if you didn't have something catastrophic. If you did have a catastrophic failure, I would think you would have the evidence on the garage floor.
You didn't mention any odd running or sounds. The reason I bring this up is that I had an oil pressure sending unit go bad a few years ago, but mine was pegged at max; I don't know if they all fail at max, though. It ran normally, and I was told it didn't hurt anything to run it, I just had no way of knowing what was actually happening (oil pressure-wise).
Good luck getting this repaired under the warranty!
Don't all wet sumps have a low oil level warning on the DICs? One would think that it would have given you some warning (with that message) if you didn't have something catastrophic. If you did have a catastrophic failure, I would think you would have the evidence on the garage floor.
You didn't mention any odd running or sounds. The reason I bring this up is that I had an oil pressure sending unit go bad a few years ago, but mine was pegged at max; I don't know if they all fail at max, though. It ran normally, and I was told it didn't hurt anything to run it, I just had no way of knowing what was actually happening (oil pressure-wise).
Good luck getting this repaired under the warranty!
Usually, if the sending unit goes bad, the pressure reads around 80 psi all the time. I got zero pressure. I drove the car for 2 hours earlier in the day with no issues whatsoever. No signs that anything was wrong. I'm just glad it didn't happen when i was driving it on the highway. It happened in my driveway. No leaks, no noise from the engine, nothing catastrophic to the engine.
I arranged to have it towed to the dealer. They are going to look at it tomorrow.
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Lewisville TX
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
Probably the relief valve in the oil pump.
Not as common as it used to be, but they will stick from time to time and cause an internal oil leak...giving you no oil pressure.
Should just need a new oil pump as long as no damage was done to the engine.
Could be the sensor, but typically on the C6's they will just read XX if the sensor dies.
Not as common as it used to be, but they will stick from time to time and cause an internal oil leak...giving you no oil pressure.
Should just need a new oil pump as long as no damage was done to the engine.
Could be the sensor, but typically on the C6's they will just read XX if the sensor dies.
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Instructor
Joined: Aug 2014
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2014
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Probably the relief valve in the oil pump.
Not as common as it used to be, but they will stick from time to time and cause an internal oil leak...giving you no oil pressure.
Should just need a new oil pump as long as no damage was done to the engine.
Could be the sensor, but typically on the C6's they will just read XX if the sensor dies.
Not as common as it used to be, but they will stick from time to time and cause an internal oil leak...giving you no oil pressure.
Should just need a new oil pump as long as no damage was done to the engine.
Could be the sensor, but typically on the C6's they will just read XX if the sensor dies.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 21,502
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From: Southern Utah
When my sensor went bad, it read 120 and also zero, so they can fail to zero. If the pressure is actually zero, the valve lifters will start clattering very quickly...this is what I was waiting for when mine went to zero. After a couple of minutes with no change in engine sound, I knew it was the sensor. The lifters will start clattering long before engine damage, so it is a good test. From what I have read on here, many more sensors have failed than oil pumps, so that's my bet.
Race Director
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From: Las Vegas NV
Team Owner
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From: Southern Utah
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2008
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From: Green Bay Wisconsin
When my sensor went bad, it read 120 and also zero, so they can fail to zero. If the pressure is actually zero, the valve lifters will start clattering very quickly...this is what I was waiting for when mine went to zero. After a couple of minutes with no change in engine sound, I knew it was the sensor. The lifters will start clattering long before engine damage, so it is a good test. From what I have read on here, many more sensors have failed than oil pumps, so that's my bet.
But it's more exciting to have the car towed to the dealer.
Douglas in Green Bay
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Instructor
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No engine noise at all.
I had a 2010 camaro ss before this car and accidentally started it up after draining the oil out of it. Now THAT made some chatter, but still didn't damage anything. Same engine as the corvette.
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From: Hudson WI
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