low oil pressure

[RedHot99T/A]

Ok so I just did a full rebuild on the car,and since then and even b4 the rebuild oil pressure seems low to me,when cold it idles a little bit above 40psi and rises with the rpms,when fully warm and driving around longer it idles a hair above the line b4 0 and drives a little below 40psi,idk why its doing it,I'm using 10w30 conventinal and also replaced the oil pump w/a new one,and replaced the o-ring also and made sure the pump was shimmed and I even put a new sending unit in it...I'm lost and somwhat nervous,any help would be amazing.I also did heads cam intake.ms4 cam.

[RedHot99T/A]

Anyone?just don't want to ruin a newly built engine?

[Smittro]

There could be something wrong someone will likely chime in here as I'm not overly familier with building an LSx engine..

On the flip side....

I would not put any stock in the factory guages accuracy..

Might try an after market external if for nothing more than to test to be sure the reading from the dash is even close..

Our temp and oil guages are not known for their high degree of accuracy..

Prolly spelled that wrong but my .02 anyways..

[RedHot99T/A]

Yea that's what I heard they arnt very accurat....it just makes me nervous

[JayTA98]

the only thing i heard that happens alot when you replace the oil pump o ring is that if you force it too hard it cracks and it causes oil pressure issues.

[Jay37]

Well brother there is a bunch of possibilitys,

but first try to tap into the engine with a manual oil gauge, like the guys said it might just be the gauge. I'm sure there is a write up on it some where. if it is legit low, go from there. I wouldn't run the engine either.

just my 2 cents.

Also did you use any gasket maker?

[RedHot99T/A]

Well brother there is a bunch of possibilitys,

but first try to tap into the engine with a manual oil gauge, like the guys said it might just be the gauge. I'm sure there is a write up on it some where. if it is legit low, go from there. I wouldn't run the engine either.

just my 2 cents.

Also did you use any gasket maker?

Where do I put a manual gauge? And it fluctuates whie driving couple people twll me the sending unit sucks and will never be accurate and my tuner has the car now he's gunna check it all out,and yes gasket maker

[Jay37]

Where do I put a manual gauge? And it fluctuates whie driving couple people twll me the sending unit sucks and will never be accurate and my tuner has the car now he's gunna check it all out,and yes gasket maker

Well, for the ls engine you could drill and tap a hole above were your oil filter connects,(you need to be right on, so if you do decide to go that route I'll have to get you more details) on the pan and then route the oil line to the gauge, you could have the gauge, in your cluster, or just have a manual/mechanical gauge under hood. I can't put pictures up so, can't help you on the visual. But the mechanical gauge is something that could save your ass. And whether you do it yourself or have a shop do it, it is pretty cheap insurance.

Also you might just have RTV on the sending unit clogging it. or you might have rtv clogging your vital supply lines.

I have heard of people rtv the oil pump surface and that doesn't help anything.

Hope that helps,

[Smittro]

Put a "T" fitting in where the oil presure sending unit is and then you can either run a guage under the hood or into the car through the fire wall..
If you go mechanical sweep..

[Jay37]

^^^^^^^

[RedHot99T/A]

Ok well got the car tuned,he said its reading low but its getting oil/running smooth said I need to run thickr oil and the gauge fluctuates so he said they sending unit is reading correctly...he told not worry about it but just watch it

[RedHot99T/A]

Thanks guys,I'm still going to put the gauge in the car fpr a better reading tho...also have fuel pressure gauge and coolnt temp,a/f so I have a lot of work to do to install oall of it