my oil pressure problem

**hutch1999** · 02-02-2008, 09:36 AM

I have an oil pressure problem as you can see in the pic. I was wondering if a Melling 10296 would help out with the problem. Any info would be much appreciated

**LETHALxLS1** · 02-02-2008, 09:46 AM

When the car gets hotter does the pressure go down even more? Before I replaced the pump I would replace the sending unit-my old z/28 was reading low like this but the gauge seemed fine-(the oil psi would start out higher and get lower as the car got hotter) -I replaced the sending unit and wallah! 55PSI. (If it doesnt work your out maybe 40 bucks-but hey-it worked for me) Now here comes the posts about how all Ls1s have shitty oil pumps blah blah blah. Good luck!

**hutch1999** · 02-02-2008, 09:48 AM

yes the pressure does go down whenever it get hotter

**LETHALxLS1** · 02-02-2008, 09:53 AM

How cold is it there? Whats the lowest the pressure has gotten? When you are driving 55mph with the car hot what does the oil psi read? What weight oil do you have in the car? How old is the oil?

**hutch1999** · 02-02-2008, 10:05 AM

20 degree when I took the pic heres another pic after a 20 mile highway trip at 60mph

**LETHALxLS1** · 02-02-2008, 11:25 AM

What weight oil you using? No doubt it should have a bit more pressure especially at that cold a temperature outside and on the guage but its not critically low. I would drive the car and see if you can get the temp up anymore. It might be so cold out that the sending unit is malfunctioning a bit.

**hutch1999** · 02-02-2008, 11:34 AM

im using mobile 1 10w-30, I think it might be do to the cold weather here lately

**LukesSpeedShop** · 02-02-2008, 11:34 AM

When you rev the engine, how high does the pressure go. Say around 3,000rpm? At that low of rpm that you are showing, you dont need gobs of oil pressure, and I wouldnt be worrying. How many miles are on your engine?

**hutch1999** · 02-02-2008, 11:38 AM

132,000 here a vid

**LETHALxLS1** · 02-02-2008, 02:32 PM

10PSI for every 1000 rpms is standard but shouldnt fall below 15-20 at idle. I will say that unless the cold weather has caused your sending unit to malfunction a bit or the sending unit is just going bad the oil pressure should be higher. In the winter here in Fl my car reads 15 more PSI then in summertime. One other way that you can get a accurate reading is to get a mechanical oil pressure guage and hook it up where the sending unit plugs in.

**hutch1999** · 02-02-2008, 03:01 PM

Originally Posted by LETHALxLS1

10PSI for every 1000 rpms is standard but shouldnt fall below 15-20 at idle. I will say that unless the cold weather has caused your sending unit to malfunction a bit or the sending unit is just going bad the oil pressure should be higher. In the winter here in Fl my car reads 15 more PSI then in summertime. One other way that you can get a accurate reading is to get a mechanical oil pressure guage and hook it up where the sending unit plugs in.

thanks for all the good info man!

**astyles** · 02-02-2008, 03:53 PM

i changed the type of oil i was using and it fixed my prob. i was using castrol syn. i changed to pennsoils syn and the pressure has been back to normal

**MdFormula350** · 02-02-2008, 04:32 PM

5w-30 would be a better choice IMO for really colder temps

the pressure seems to build with rpms so it seems to at least to be working.

it wouldnt hurt to put in a ls6 pump or a newer year ls1 with those higher miles on it to make sure you are getting full pressure to keep up though.

**LETHALxLS1** · 02-02-2008, 10:08 PM

Originally Posted by hutch1999

thanks for all the good info man!

No problem bud I hope everything works out for ya.

One more thing. Let the car idle in park with no ac or heat on until the car reaches a hot enough temp for the fans to kick on and see what the oil pressure is reading- in other words thats the lowest reading the car should have because the oil will be the hottest.