Yet another oil pump failure. 2010 ls3 with 15.5k miles.

[Matt8892]

I was getting ready to leave work last night at 10 pm and usually every night I start the car and hop right out and let it run for 10 minutes and go back into work to finish up. Well l, for some reasonast night I didn't let it idle (thank God) . I started it, let it run for about 30 seconds and went to neutral roll it down the slight incline and got the warning that there was no oil pressure and to shut the engine down. So I ended up waiting a couple hours for a tow truck and it was a late night.

The only frustrating thing is I was planning on a new cam at the beginning of June which is when I was planning on a new oil pump anyways. So naturally it had to give out a month before the planned upgrade. So now the car sits in front of my house for 2 weeks until my custom cam comes in, and then I need to get it towed 98 miles to the shop to have the work done.

[deweyg63]

That sux. Oil pumps are a problem on 5th gens?

[Hetfield03]

No reason to let a car idle even in cold weather. I know thats not the point of this but still...

[camguynj]

Originally Posted by Matt8892

I was getting ready to leave work last night at 10 pm and usually every night I start the car and hop right out and let it run for 10 minutes and go back into work to finish up. Well l, for some reasonast night I didn't let it idle (thank God) . I started it, let it run for about 30 seconds and went to neutral roll it down the slight incline and got the warning that there was no oil pressure and to shut the engine down. So I ended up waiting a couple hours for a tow truck and it was a late night.

The only frustrating thing is I was planning on a new cam at the beginning of June which is when I was planning on a new oil pump anyways. So naturally it had to give out a month before the planned upgrade. So now the car sits in front of my house for 2 weeks until my custom cam comes in, and then I need to get it towed 98 miles to the shop to have the work done.

DAM these pumps! You probably caught it in time not to do any damage ...don't know if there's a way tell ? Maybe when doing cam remove heads a inspect heads, pistons & cylinder walls as best as possible. Not sure what has to be removed to look at crank? I would check everything as last thing you want is to install the cam & pump get it on the dyno and have it blow. I saw a newly cammed '14 blow on the dyno and it wasn't pretty First dyno after install was good. 2nd dyno a month later after retune is when it blew.

BTW what cam & pump are you putting in and who's doing the install ?

[HyperV117]

Originally Posted by deweyg63

That sux. Oil pumps are a problem on 5th gens?

From what I remember reading, the LS3 pumps on early models sometimes had metal shavings that would get stuck inside the pump causing it to seize or something like that.

[Avenging Orange]

Wish I would have compiled some info early on in all these failures. Would like to know how many were using synthetic oils compared to those who used dino.

[two_wheel_mayhem]

Originally Posted by Avenging Orange

Wish I would have compiled some info early on in all these failures. Would like to know how many were using synthetic oils compared to those who used dino.

More like how soon did ya change your break in oil? I went 500 miles and my oil filter had aluminum shavings in it, they didn't clean or deburr the aluminum engine very well, production engine I guess that's how it goes since I've never seen any again.

[nosmr2]

Originally Posted by Avenging Orange

Wish I would have compiled some info early on in all these failures. Would like to know how many were using synthetic oils compared to those who used dino.

Isn't everyone running synthetic?

[NC_SS]

Originally Posted by deweyg63

That sux. Oil pumps are a problem on 5th gens?

2012 with 53K no problems at all

All cars have problems, but yes there is a TSB out for oil pump failures on the early LS3's iirc

[blakjak55]

2010 LS3 here built in December of 2009. 58k miles and change on it and no oil pump issues or leaks yet at all.

Sorry to hear it Matt. Hope the new cam install and results are worth the wait.

[christianchevell]

I would look the ls3 dampener over as it may be the culprit also throwing plastic at the pick up tube that's just above the bottom of the pan if right. Also make sure you get the right O ring for the pick up tube on it.

[EMB135Driver]

Any idea on what "early production" is considered to be......mine is a Sept. 09 build....46565 off the assembly line.......wondering if I'm in for a big repair.....only have 14k miles on it

[Matt8892]

I'm having complete street performance do the work I'm West Chester PA. I just had them tune the car a month ago for my headers.... I'm looking at having them put in a melling pump. I just sort of assumed that 30 seconds of running at no oil pressure didn't do any damage.... I wasn't really concerned about it. The engine sounded totally normal I'm those 30 seconds. No tapping or anything.

[ron123]

Matt8892 I noticed your SS is a 2010 ... Have you seen this? :

PIP4158C: Low Oil Pressure Due To Seized Oil Pressure Relief Valve - (Dec 29, 2009)
Subject: Low Oil Pump Pressure due to Seized Oil Pressure Relief Valve

Models: 2008-2009 Buick Lacrosse, Allure (Canada Only)
2007-2010 Cadillac CTS-V, Escalade
2007-2010 Chevrolet Avalanche, Corvette, Silverado, Suburban, Tahoe
2007-2008 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS
2007-2009 Chevrolet Impala SS, Trail Blazer
2009-2010 Chevrolet Colorado
2010 Chevrolet Camaro
2007-2010 GMC Envoy, Sierra, Yukon
2009-2010 GMC Canyon
2008-2010 Hummer H2
2008-2010 H3 Alpha
2008 Pontiac Grand Prix GXP
2008-2010 Pontiac G8 GT <~~~LOL @ the typo!
2007-2009 Saab 97x
with the Following Aluminum V8 Engine RPOs:
L76, L77, L92, L94, L99, L9H, LC9, LH6, LH8, LH9, LS2, LS3, LS4, LS7, LS9, LSA, LZ1

The following diagnosis might be helpful if the vehicle exhibits the symptom(*) described in this PI.
Condition/Concern:

Some customers may complain of low oil pressure, no oil pressure, and/or engine noise, which may be the result of a sticking oil pump pressure relief valve. In some instances, this may occur intermittently if the valve frees up when the engine cools down.
Recommendation/Instructions:

If SI diagnosis isolates low mechanical oil pressure at the oil filter housing and oil pressure sensor, replace the oil pump, flush the oil cooler lines (if equipped), clean the inside of the oil pan, change the oil and filter, and re-evaluate the concern.

Ron