Oil pressure gage irregularity
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 636
Likes: 28
From: South Eastern MI Michigan
Oil pressure gage irregularity
I have a 2014 Base 2LT and have been observing the oil pressure gage needle moving up and then down when the engine is first started. Does not matter if the its hot or cold. I noticed it again tonight after toping off the fuel.
Got on the road and once at speed I noticed the needle climb up and down about 2 divisions on the scale. Happened 3 or 4 times tonight with no change in engine RPM or load. When this happens, the gage misbehaves for 30 seconds or so then seems to goes back to working OK.
When the instrument cluster is set to display an oil pressure number I do not see this variation.
Am I alone with this?
Got on the road and once at speed I noticed the needle climb up and down about 2 divisions on the scale. Happened 3 or 4 times tonight with no change in engine RPM or load. When this happens, the gage misbehaves for 30 seconds or so then seems to goes back to working OK.
When the instrument cluster is set to display an oil pressure number I do not see this variation.
Am I alone with this?
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,013
Likes: 9,773
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
The analog gauge is moved by a stepper motor that is driven from the digital data feed that is used by the digital gauge. The system has to convert the digital data feed to pulsed signal that can drive the stepper motor. Your most accurate reading will be with the digital gauge since it can display the digital data without any conversion. How much does the pressure vary on the digital gauge? You can expect some variation while driving at constant rpms. The difference is in how much it varies.
Bill
Bill
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 636
Likes: 28
From: South Eastern MI Michigan
The analog gauge is moved by a stepper motor that is driven from the digital data feed that is used by the digital gauge. The system has to convert the digital data feed to pulsed signal that can drive the stepper motor. Your most accurate reading will be with the digital gauge since it can display the digital data without any conversion. How much does the pressure vary on the digital gauge? You can expect some variation while driving at constant rpms. The difference is in how much it varies.
Bill
Bill
Racer
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 416
Likes: 29
From: Whiteville NC
Oil Pressure gauge
My 2015 Z51 fluctuates between 35 and 45 pds and it happens only at steady rpms and I haven't noticed it except on Interstate and usually around 70 to 80 mph. I spoke to the GM tech in Carlisle last year and he said it was not an issue but it seems to do it more when it goes from V8 to V4. He explained that that was the reason???
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Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 48
Likes: 9
From: Wesley Chapel FL
I have a 2016 Base it fluctuates between 30-60 Psi only for the first few minutes/miles. I asked a tech and he said he hadn't heard of that issue. I read that there is an electronic component to the oil pump and that may be causing it and it wasn't an issue. Wish we could find out for sure though.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,960
Likes: 1,106
Somewhere in all of the information released about the engine this behavior was covered. The LT1 and LT4 use a dual range oil pump to provide needed pressure under high demand conditions while reducing the amount under normal operation to save fuel. The controller tests/calibrates itself and you will see the pressure jump up and down as it switches modes during this test process and what you are seeing is entirely normal. It mostly goes unnoticed because you aren't constantly watching the pressure gauge.
For safety the system defaults to high flow/pressure mode if there is a fault.
For safety the system defaults to high flow/pressure mode if there is a fault.