LT1 Based Engine Tech 1993-1997 LT1/LT4 Engine Related

HELP, Oil pressure less than 10!!!

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Old 10-31-2004, 05:09 PM
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HELP, Oil pressure less than 10!!!

So my oil pressure is at about 10 or less at idle, and cruising or high rpms it never goes over 30....and it even got down so low that the "check gages" light came on. It just did this when i got my car back from having the heads ported and put back on.... I am at a complete loss. If anybody can tell me why it would do this, or have any ideas i would surely appreciate it. Must be time for a rebuild?


Chris

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Old 10-31-2004, 05:11 PM
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Re: HELP, Oil pressure less than 10!!!

Start saving for a rebuild. Sounds like a bearing's about to go.
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Old 10-31-2004, 05:13 PM
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Re: HELP, Oil pressure less than 10!!!

Originally Posted by Spinner
Start saving for a rebuild. Sounds like a bearing's about to go.

Is an oil pump a possibility?
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Old 10-31-2004, 05:21 PM
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Re: HELP, Oil pressure less than 10!!!

I think your F***ed
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Old 10-31-2004, 05:29 PM
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Re: HELP, Oil pressure less than 10!!!

Originally Posted by Z95m6
I think your F***ed

sweeeeeet. Well my dad said he can give me 3 grand to fix it... Is it possible to do a rebuild for 3 grand?
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Old 10-31-2004, 06:15 PM
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Re: HELP, Oil pressure less than 10!!!

3 grand for a rebuild?....maybe a new engine with that much unless your gonna do some mods to the engine while rebuilding it..at least thats how much i have gotten estimates for...
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Old 10-31-2004, 06:48 PM
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Re: HELP, Oil pressure less than 10!!!

yeesh guys.... why not give him a death certificate....

You say the oil pressure is less than 10, have you seen any other bad signs... hiccups at higher rpms, knocking, rough starts, metal to metal sounds. I'm not going to warranty your engine or anything, but jeeez check some stuff out before you bury the engine.

Some things to check would be your oil pressure sending unit. Maybe it got bumped during the install on the heads.... The oil pump may be going out. You could take off your valve covers, rev the engine a bit and see if your getting oil flow to the top of the engine. Don't run it long as is until you verify that you are getting oil flow, or the engine WILL be kaput. Have you done oil changes recently? Any time an engine is torn down it needs to have it's oil changed QUITE frequently for the first few thousand miles, i recommend once immediately after it's first and second run times, then at 500, and then again at 1500. But that's just my personal opinion.

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Old 10-31-2004, 06:48 PM
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Re: HELP, Oil pressure less than 10!!!

what weight oil do you use? you might want to thicken it up a bit if you use 5-30
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Old 10-31-2004, 07:04 PM
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Re: HELP, Oil pressure less than 10!!!

Check the sendng unit, when I broke mine it did very similer things to what you descibe.
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Old 10-31-2004, 07:51 PM
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Re: HELP, Oil pressure less than 10!!!

worst case scenario you can get a corvette LT1 shortblock from scoggin dickey for $1800.
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Old 10-31-2004, 09:04 PM
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Re: HELP, Oil pressure less than 10!!!

What was your oil pressure at before the head swap? I too think the sending unit got bumped or there might even be a little dirt or sludge that's lodged against the sending unit and preventing it from reading right. If the bottom end is silent with no knocks and no ticks from the lifters, I think you're fine. With just a head swap, the oil pump shouldn't have been touched so it should be fine. Just don't get on it until you figure this out though.

Jason
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Old 11-01-2004, 12:52 PM
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Re: HELP, Oil pressure less than 10!!!

My LT1 scanmaster shows some knock sometimes, and no knock other times... I guess it could be the oil pressure sending unit but i had slowly been seeing the oil pressure go down on me in the last 6 months... Since i got the car back after the heads the car misses under load and pops at wide open throttle... And the oil pressure is really low, it raises with RPM's but never really goes over 30 psi.

I guess I will just start looking into a rebuild. I have 3grand to play with. What should i do? New crank, rods, pistons? And if so, what brand and kind??? I guess what i am trying to say is i would feel better if i went ahead and rebuilt it... I just need to know what to buy, Should i go 355? What all is involved in it? Thanks guys, sorry for so many questions.



Chris
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Old 11-01-2004, 01:26 PM
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Re: HELP, Oil pressure less than 10!!!

for 3 g's i do either stock displacement if cylandars are ok or 355 if not
get forged crank pistons and connecting rods ($1500)
bareings and gaskets and stuffs($250)
and then a 250shot of spray just for show LOL(700) optional
and then you gotta little leftover for little other things you might need
but with the forged internals you will be able to hit that motor with alot and itll keep on truckin
if your doin the work yourself you should have some cash left over but if not then you might run overbudget
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Old 11-01-2004, 04:44 PM
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Re: HELP, Oil pressure less than 10!!!

Summit sells forged rebuild kits for ~$600 with nice budget forged pistons, all new bearings and rings. Add in $200 main and rod bolts and you have a nice, strong, cheap $800 rebuild.
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Old 11-01-2004, 07:19 PM
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Re: HELP, Oil pressure less than 10!!!

pm sent. ttt for ya'. let me know plz. later.


-Daniel
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