If you own a 2005-2007 Chevrolet Corvette with an LS2 engine, you may have experienced low oil pressure and are unsure of how to address it. Luckily, this guide will walk you through the steps of troubleshooting, identifying, and solving this issue in your early 2000s Corvette.
Common Problems and Easy Solutions
First of all verify the oil level in your car using the dipstick located on the passenger side of the block. be sure to let the oil temperature reach at least 175 degrees Fahrenheit (80C) as cold oil will not provide a accurate reading. take out the dipstick and wipe clean with a lint free rag then reinsert into the dipstick tube. pull it out once again and if your oil falls within the cross hatched area then your oil level is normal. if it is too low, add oil into the oil fill hole on the passenger side valve cover. If the oil level is too high remove any excess oil using the drain plug located on the oil pan. Verify there is no external leak by checking under the car, along the sub-frame, bottom of the oil pan, and the surface where the front and rear cover meet the oil pan. the Front and Rear cover must be aligned properly with the oil pan and the crankshaft, if this alignment is off then it is possible to have an external oil leak. another common culprit of an external leak in these engines is the rear oil galley plug commonly referred to as the Barbell plug due to its shape. This plug is essential as it blocks the flow of oil from simply flowing out of the block from a residual machining hole left from the manufacturing process.
Unfortunately to replace this part you will need to drop the transmission and remove the rear cover.
The last easy to check problem is the oil pressure sensor itself. On the LS2 corvettes this sensor is located on the drivers side behind the intake manifold
to check this problem remove the intake manifold and remove the old sensor. connect a mechanical pressure gauge then reinstall the intake manifold and run the car. If the oil pressure is significantly higher than the original one replace the sensor. Keep in mind the oil pressure between individual sensors is + or – about 10psi the main rule to keep in mind is 1psi per 100RPM.
Unfortunately to replace this part you will need to drop the transmission and remove the rear cover.
The last easy to check problem is the oil pressure sensor itself. On the LS2 corvettes this sensor is located on the drivers side behind the intake manifold
to check this problem remove the intake manifold and remove the old sensor. connect a mechanical pressure gauge then reinstall the intake manifold and run the car. If the oil pressure is significantly higher than the original one replace the sensor. Keep in mind the oil pressure between individual sensors is + or – about 10psi the main rule to keep in mind is 1psi per 100RPM.
Major Problems
If none of the solutions worked for you then unfortunately there is something that has gone wrong that has a time consuming and/or expensive fix. however the LS series of motors is well known to be relatively easy to work on so these are all jobs that can be done at home with the right tools and mechanical aptitude. This section has Two possible issues both isolated to the oil pump assembly.
The oil pump O-ring or the Oil pump itself. when installing a new oil pump the pickup tube uses an O-ring to seal against the pump, however there are two distinct designs for the oil pickup tube,One design has a uniform thickness along the tube however the other design slightly decreases the diameter of the tube along where the O-ring goes, this means that specific design of pickup tube calls for a slightly thicker O-ring. if the wrong type of O-ring is installed (or no o-ring) this will lead to a very significant loss in oil pressure as there is now a major internal leak. the same effect is possible if you pinch the o-ring while installing. Another possible issue is the pump itself, this can be caused by a variety of things such as improper lubrication while installing the pump, improper installation on the crank, a bad relief valve spring, or leftover assembly lubrication clogging the relief valve or gear. whatever the case may be it is best to replace the pump no matter the issue when you have the chance, its only about $150 but it takes many hours to reach, the process to reach the pump and the o ring is very similar as they are connected however to reach the O-ring you can drop the oil pan or remove the front cover while the oil pump is only accessible through the front cover.
The oil pump O-ring or the Oil pump itself. when installing a new oil pump the pickup tube uses an O-ring to seal against the pump, however there are two distinct designs for the oil pickup tube,One design has a uniform thickness along the tube however the other design slightly decreases the diameter of the tube along where the O-ring goes, this means that specific design of pickup tube calls for a slightly thicker O-ring. if the wrong type of O-ring is installed (or no o-ring) this will lead to a very significant loss in oil pressure as there is now a major internal leak. the same effect is possible if you pinch the o-ring while installing. Another possible issue is the pump itself, this can be caused by a variety of things such as improper lubrication while installing the pump, improper installation on the crank, a bad relief valve spring, or leftover assembly lubrication clogging the relief valve or gear. whatever the case may be it is best to replace the pump no matter the issue when you have the chance, its only about $150 but it takes many hours to reach, the process to reach the pump and the o ring is very similar as they are connected however to reach the O-ring you can drop the oil pan or remove the front cover while the oil pump is only accessible through the front cover.
Catastrophic Issues
if your issue still has not been addressed you most likely have a bearing issue and really should not be looking at a steam guide to help you so here are some useful resources
Main bearings[ls1tech.com]
And that wraps up our share on Peggle Deluxe: How to find and fix an oil pressure issue on your 2005-2007 Chevrolet Corvette. If you have any additional insights or tips to contribute, don’t hesitate to drop a comment below. For a more in-depth read, you can refer to the original article here by 𝕊𝕜𝕪𝕝𝕚𝕟𝕖, who deserves all the credit. Happy gaming!