Oil pressure drops bad - Page 2 - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Oldrocker · 11-10-2009, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wetodd

Its back at the dealer I bought it from. Their mechanic is supposed to be looking at it. I know its not the sending unit, because the new one did the same thing as the old one mentioned above. I told them if it were me I would hook up a manual oil pressure gauge the don't lie. I hate that its probably a worn out block as I really like the car. Strange that it still runs strong, no smoke, no unusual noises. Cross my fingers, wishful thinking, but if they gave me half or so of my money back and I kept the car, hello new crate motor!!!!

Wishful thinking alright!

Iroc-z86 · 11-10-2009, 04:44 PM

its an old chevy. its normal. my brand new motor with a high volume oil pump is only just above the red line when hot and idling at 900rpms. the second you touch the gas it shoots to 60psi and stays there.

i dunno if there is a problem i have seen many many chevy 8cyls at idle with very little oil pressure many of them with over 200k on the motor and they ran like a champ.

2Tightwads · 11-10-2009, 04:54 PM

Most 4th gens. I've owned hold in the range of 20-40psi at idle and 45-60psi at WOT. You should be okay at 10psi/1000rpm but at 0psi? NFW! Park it and get it repaired first. Hope you know something about cars...this isn't an easy fix for a DIY without specialized tools for removing/installing the harmonic balancer. Atleast a min. 2hr job for a DIY guy.

BlackinBlack · 11-12-2009, 09:58 AM

I had a small block V8 Ford that had the exact same issue. It was a bad oil pump. The bypass valve in the pump was sticking/leaking/had a weak spring. (Did not go through the trouble of testing the exact reason once I removed it.) I replaced the pump and the car was fine. Now one thing I would recommend before going through that trouble is to put a "real" oil pressure gauge on the motor to test. (If you don't want it permanent you could put in under the hood. It will just be a PITA to check.) Factory gauges are notoriously inaccurate. In my 65 Stang with this trouble I had an Autometer so I knew the pressure numbers were on. My 94 Stang had a built motor so I had Autometer gauges in it. The factory gauge always just floated around in the middle but the Autometer moved accurately with RPM.

Huggerorange73 · 11-12-2009, 01:51 PM

Make sure the pickup is still attached to the pump....

Mr Smith · 11-12-2009, 01:59 PM

Stock guage? Most likely its not very accurate. If it doesnt knock when you fire it up in the morning you are most likely ok. Throw some thicker oil in it 20-40wt and some stp oil treatment or the like and drive it!

S8ER01Z · 11-12-2009, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Huggerorange73

Make sure the pickup is still attached to the pump....

This... I lost my first LT1 after this happened. Similar symptoms... used the old 10psi per 1000rpm saying and the engine seized on the way home. Had more than 10psi per 1000rpm according to the gauge.

Black5thgen · 11-16-2009, 01:36 PM

I had the same problem with my 96, a couple months later it spun a bearing.

Mr_Draco · 11-16-2009, 02:25 PM

My '97 Z28 does this too ever since I bought it almost 5 years ago, roughly 10 psi at idle and 30-40 psi under load. Have yet to have a problem, and all the mechanics and Camaro nuts I've talked to have said it's typical for the LT1's.

Super83Z · 11-16-2009, 03:42 PM

It is quite normal for LT1's. I would run a thicker oil and just pay attention to it a bit.

Legend17 · 11-25-2009, 04:38 AM

same problem in my bros 5.7 '99 tahoe with vortech engine. touch the gas and it shoots back up. but almost all his guages are messed up

WCFB-Russ · 11-25-2009, 05:48 AM

any updates on this? my 3.4 is doin somethin similar and it doesnt have that many miles on the motor (rebuilt).

Would love to know what was fixed on your car so i know where to look on mine..

thx.

-R

305pride · 11-25-2009, 08:38 AM

my oil pressure gauge doesnt even work, probably because i have a leak. hopefully i could get it fixed soon "/

11-12-2009, 09:58 AM	#18
BlackinBlack Drives: 2016 Corvette Z06 Blade Silver Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 822	I had a small block V8 Ford that had the exact same issue. It was a bad oil pump. The bypass valve in the pump was sticking/leaking/had a weak spring. (Did not go through the trouble of testing the exact reason once I removed it.) I replaced the pump and the car was fine. Now one thing I would recommend before going through that trouble is to put a "real" oil pressure gauge on the motor to test. (If you don't want it permanent you could put in under the hood. It will just be a PITA to check.) Factory gauges are notoriously inaccurate. In my 65 Stang with this trouble I had an Autometer so I knew the pressure numbers were on. My 94 Stang had a built motor so I had Autometer gauges in it. The factory gauge always just floated around in the middle but the Autometer moved accurately with RPM. __________________ 2016 2LZ Z06 Blade Silver 2013 ZL1 BLACK on BLACK <SOLD> Roto-Fab CAI 2010 2SS/RS BLACK on BLACK <SOLD> 3" MBRP 304 Stainless Exhaust Roto-Fab CAI

11-12-2009, 01:59 PM	#20
Mr Smith Born again Hot Rodder Drives: Black 1SS/RS LS3 M6 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Cartoon City, Nevada Posts: 680 View My Garage	Stock guage? Most likely its not very accurate. If it doesnt knock when you fire it up in the morning you are most likely ok. Throw some thicker oil in it 20-40wt and some stp oil treatment or the like and drive it! __________________ Black 1SS RS MT: Powder Coated Bow Ties, Blacked out windows, Debadged, 4 Pack gauge cluster. Pure perfection.

11-16-2009, 03:42 PM	#24
Super83Z Drives: 1999 Z28 1983 Z28 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: City of Champions,MA Posts: 615 View My Garage	It is quite normal for LT1's. I would run a thicker oil and just pay attention to it a bit. __________________ Current cars: 99 Z28 06 Silverado 14 Silverado

11-25-2009, 05:48 AM	#26
WCFB-Russ Drives: ????? Join Date: May 2007 Location: Wandering the Earth Posts: 264	any updates on this? my 3.4 is doin somethin similar and it doesnt have that many miles on the motor (rebuilt). Would love to know what was fixed on your car so i know where to look on mine.. thx. -R __________________

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11-10-2009, 04:44 PM	#16
Iroc-z86 Drives: 86' Iroc-z 14' Camaro SS 98' Jimmy Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: NJ Posts: 264 View My Garage	its an old chevy. its normal. my brand new motor with a high volume oil pump is only just above the red line when hot and idling at 900rpms. the second you touch the gas it shoots to 60psi and stays there. i dunno if there is a problem i have seen many many chevy 8cyls at idle with very little oil pressure many of them with over 200k on the motor and they ran like a champ.

11-10-2009, 04:54 PM	#17
2Tightwads Banned Drives: 2002 LS1 swapped into a 1994 Z Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 386	Most 4th gens. I've owned hold in the range of 20-40psi at idle and 45-60psi at WOT. You should be okay at 10psi/1000rpm but at 0psi? NFW! Park it and get it repaired first. Hope you know something about cars...this isn't an easy fix for a DIY without specialized tools for removing/installing the harmonic balancer. Atleast a min. 2hr job for a DIY guy.

11-12-2009, 01:51 PM	#19
Huggerorange73 Banned Drives: The REAL C5 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Norridge, IL Posts: 1,830	Make sure the pickup is still attached to the pump....

11-16-2009, 01:36 PM	#22
Black5thgen Account Suspended Drives: 2007 C6 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: chicago Posts: 2,251 View My Garage	I had the same problem with my 96, a couple months later it spun a bearing.

11-16-2009, 02:25 PM	#23
Mr_Draco Drives: 2SS/RS Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 7,359	My '97 Z28 does this too ever since I bought it almost 5 years ago, roughly 10 psi at idle and 30-40 psi under load. Have yet to have a problem, and all the mechanics and Camaro nuts I've talked to have said it's typical for the LT1's.

11-25-2009, 04:38 AM	#25
Legend17 Army Bound Drives: 97 Camaro RS Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: South Carolina Posts: 123 View My Garage	same problem in my bros 5.7 '99 tahoe with vortech engine. touch the gas and it shoots back up. but almost all his guages are messed up

11-25-2009, 08:38 AM	#27
305pride Drives: 3.4l 1995 camaro Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: miami, fl Posts: 2,202	my oil pressure gauge doesnt even work, probably because i have a leak. hopefully i could get it fixed soon "/