no oil pressure shutoff?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,456
Likes: 173
From: San Jose Ca
no oil pressure shutoff?
Does the 2014 C7 ECU have shutdown ability if it sees zero oil pressure? I suppose one could disconnect the oil pressure sender while the engine is running, but I don't have that option right now.
Anyone who has dealt with ECU tuning know the answer?
Also, is there a separate oil cooler in the front below the radiator? This is a 2014 Z51 M7
Thanks!
Anyone who has dealt with ECU tuning know the answer?
Also, is there a separate oil cooler in the front below the radiator? This is a 2014 Z51 M7
Thanks!
Last edited by Red86Cfour; May 26, 2026 at 09:49 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 2,040
Likes: 928
From: near philly
I don't think anything shuts down at zero pressure.
Think of the danger if you were on the highway or something and the ecu just shuts down the engine?
Z51 is dry sump right?
If so I'm pretty sure the cooler is right next to the secondary drain plug. That stacked brick type thing.
Think of the danger if you were on the highway or something and the ecu just shuts down the engine?
Z51 is dry sump right?
If so I'm pretty sure the cooler is right next to the secondary drain plug. That stacked brick type thing.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,456
Likes: 173
From: San Jose Ca
I don't think anything shuts down at zero pressure.
Think of the danger if you were on the highway or something and the ecu just shuts down the engine?
Z51 is dry sump right?
If so I'm pretty sure the cooler is right next to the secondary drain plug. That stacked brick type thing.
Think of the danger if you were on the highway or something and the ecu just shuts down the engine?
Z51 is dry sump right?
If so I'm pretty sure the cooler is right next to the secondary drain plug. That stacked brick type thing.
I'm not debating whether its a good idea or not. For more of the story, my car was stolen and got to participate in a side show. The police showed up before they could torch it, which is apparently sop for events like this. It appears that they hit something up front, maybe a curb or something low, because there are streaks of what look like coolant (but could be oil) coming from below the radiator air inlet. It apparently overheated (I'm assuming) and actually blew the coolant reservoir cap off and the escaping steam blew off the under hood insulation pad. There are also drips of what look like oil under the radiator, and more importantly, the dry sump tank is empty. When I got the car back, not knowing the tank was empty, I tried to start it, which it didn't. It just cranked over, very easily. So I'm just trying to piece together what might have happened, so knowing that it has no oil pressure I'm wondering if thats why it won't start. Hell, it could be outta gas, I haven't checked that as the car is stored at the bodyshop.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
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From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
IIRC, our 2001 owner manual said that the engine would shut down if oil pressure got below 5 (?) psi. Don't recall seeing that on our later C6/C7, but that doesn't mean much. GM Owner Manuals are written by the summer intern on his last day there.
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Joined: Sep 2013
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From: Cape Coral, Florida
Does the 2014 C7 ECU have shutdown ability if it sees zero oil pressure? I suppose one could disconnect the oil pressure sender while the engine is running, but I don't have that option right now.
Anyone who has dealt with ECU tuning know the answer?
Also, is there a separate oil cooler in the front below the radiator? This is a 2014 Z51 M7
Thanks!
Anyone who has dealt with ECU tuning know the answer?
Also, is there a separate oil cooler in the front below the radiator? This is a 2014 Z51 M7
Thanks!
No !!!...and disconnecting the sensor won't do anything as far as shutting the car down.
Last edited by C5 Diag; May 26, 2026 at 12:10 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 2,040
Likes: 928
From: near philly
maybe even worse that they didn't torch it and now you have that nightmare to deal with
did you get no insurance money out of it and just a trashed car handed back?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,456
Likes: 173
From: San Jose Ca
The insurance process hasn't gone the full distance yet, so I'm still waiting to hear what their verdict is, or what I want to do to go forward.
Last edited by Red86Cfour; May 26, 2026 at 03:09 PM.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,456
Likes: 173
From: San Jose Ca
Thats the kind of info I'm looking for. So its probably a sure thing that it ran with no oil for who knows how long. Since it still turns over, its just a matter of determining why it won't start, even with the high probability of trashed bearings. It should still run I'd think.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 2,040
Likes: 928
From: near philly
Thats the kind of info I'm looking for. So its probably a sure thing that it ran with no oil for who knows how long. Since it still turns over, its just a matter of determining why it won't start, even with the high probability of trashed bearings. It should still run I'd think.
but you don't see any damage that could have lost all the oil right? Like no smashed pan or cut oil lines?
where did the oil go?
If it's in your possession and you think there's major legit internal damage maybe get the thing running (with no oil) and let it seize up and just say that's how you got it back
Last edited by rtv900; May 26, 2026 at 03:19 PM.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,456
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From: San Jose Ca
yeah it could easily run with major damage, short term
but you don't see any damage that could have lost all the oil right? Like no smashed pan or cut oil lines?
where did the oil go?
If it's in your possession and you think there's major legit internal damage maybe get the thing running (with no oil) and let it seize up and just say that's how you got it back
but you don't see any damage that could have lost all the oil right? Like no smashed pan or cut oil lines?
where did the oil go?
If it's in your possession and you think there's major legit internal damage maybe get the thing running (with no oil) and let it seize up and just say that's how you got it back
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2016
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From: San Dimas CA
I didn't read everything, but you should know that, after sitting for just a few hours, the dry sump tank will appear to be empty.
Last edited by laserdude2215; May 27, 2026 at 10:23 AM.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,456
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From: San Jose Ca
I did wonder about that, and thanks for that suggestion. I actually never checked it to see where the level was after several hours of shutdown. I always followed the manuals guidelines for checking it five minutes after shutdown. Its possible the engine may be ok but still too many unknowns to want it fixed, and insurance didn't even give me that option. I have a buddy that can do body and paint himself, so I've requested a buyback price and maybe he will get it, and maybe even get lucky that the motor isn't fried. But for whatever reason, it won't start. It may be out of gas, I just never checked for that possibility. Didn't pull codes or even see if a check engine light was on.
Last edited by Red86Cfour; May 27, 2026 at 01:23 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2019
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From: near philly
otherwise it can be tricky because the value of the car will essentially be zero since it will have a salvage title.
And you can only insure it for liability for that reason too, so if you wrecked it you'd be out of a car, or worse yet if somebody nails you and is
100% at fault you will still get nothing paid to you because the value will be more or less zero when the persons insurance company finds out it's a salvage.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,456
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From: San Jose Ca
buying the salvage is a good idea if you just want to keep the car for yourself until you bite the dust.
otherwise it can be tricky because the value of the car will essentially be zero since it will have a salvage title.
And you can only insure it for liability for that reason too, so if you wrecked it you'd be out of a car, or worse yet if somebody nails you and is
100% at fault you will still get nothing paid to you because the value will be more or less zero when the persons insurance company finds out it's a salvage.
otherwise it can be tricky because the value of the car will essentially be zero since it will have a salvage title.
And you can only insure it for liability for that reason too, so if you wrecked it you'd be out of a car, or worse yet if somebody nails you and is
100% at fault you will still get nothing paid to you because the value will be more or less zero when the persons insurance company finds out it's a salvage.
Last edited by Red86Cfour; May 27, 2026 at 05:23 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 2,040
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From: near philly
but somebody who does their own body work and paint, and isn't afraid to change an engine if need be, could build a very nice car for themself. When youre filling it up at the gas station and it looks awesome, nobody asks if its a salvage, and you don't have to tell them. If done correctly, it will corner and accelerate just as well as one without a salvage title. I don't see a problem here.
Also why I said it's a good option for somebody who wants the car for themselves to keep and have a cool car that very well may operate totally fine
maybe I should have said drastically lower value rather than zero, obviously nothing made of steel ever goes to zero
If you don't believe me on the drastically lower value just list a vehicle side by side with other Z06's and toss in the title "rebuilt salvage title" and see how the sale goes.
I'd guess a 50% discount would be a bare bones starting point, maybe more like 60-70%
hell, even a highly modified car takes a hit on resale because of the turn off factor, and that's not even in the ballpark of a straight up salvage title
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,456
Likes: 173
From: San Jose Ca
I agree with all of this 100%. That's why salvages sell on Copart all day long
Also why I said it's a good option for somebody who wants the car for themselves to keep and have a cool car that very well may operate totally fine
maybe I should have said drastically lower value rather than zero, obviously nothing made of steel ever goes to zero
If you don't believe me on the drastically lower value just list a vehicle side by side with other Z06's and toss in the title "rebuilt salvage title" and see how the sale goes.
I'd guess a 50% discount would be a bare bones starting point, maybe more like 60-70%
hell, even a highly modified car takes a hit on resale because of the turn off factor, and that's not even in the ballpark of a straight up salvage title
Also why I said it's a good option for somebody who wants the car for themselves to keep and have a cool car that very well may operate totally fine
maybe I should have said drastically lower value rather than zero, obviously nothing made of steel ever goes to zero
If you don't believe me on the drastically lower value just list a vehicle side by side with other Z06's and toss in the title "rebuilt salvage title" and see how the sale goes.
I'd guess a 50% discount would be a bare bones starting point, maybe more like 60-70%
hell, even a highly modified car takes a hit on resale because of the turn off factor, and that's not even in the ballpark of a straight up salvage title
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2019
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From: near philly
Tech Contributor
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From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
If the car hit something, you may need to disconnect and reconnect the battery ground cable to get it to start. Have seen that happen to several C7s that had impacts at the track, including my own.
Bill
Bill