jonhan

I have a 2003 Chevy 2500 HD (75k miles)and the "oil pressure low" chime comes on daily. I have changed the sending unit it didn't change anything. I have done a pressure test and I have about 8 psi @ 1000 rpms (the recomended minimum is 8 psi). There aren't any knocks or any other problems, but the pressure probably should be higher and the chimes are driving me crazy. Any ideas? The truck is also bifuel (cng), but I don't know if that makes a lot of difference.

Thanks!
Jon

desrtrat

sounds like your oil pum pump is going out. my 03 never goes below 40 psi..

nauticstar87

x2 on the oil pump.

mudmaniac

3 votes for the oil pump.

jonhan

Sounds like the oil pump is the obvious problem. Thanks guys!

jonhan

Had the oil pump replaced with no change in oil pressure. They said they checked out the crankshaft bearings while they had things torn apart and they looked ok. The truck still runs great and doesn't ever heat up. Any ideas?

desrtrat

if the rod/mains are good, then i would check for a spun/bad cam bearing(s)

good luck

wellmax

jon,

I am a card holding redneck, but after all you have done.

I would install a mechnical oil pressure gauge if you do not have one, accurate reading.

Then change oil, install a wix or napa gold oil filter, shell rotella 15w40 and 1 qt of lucas oil stablizer, that should increase the oil pressure some.
this fix will only cost you a oil change and you need the mechnical gauge anyway.

If the oil change does not fix your problem then you need to have another mech look at the problem, before you lose the motor.

Lack of oil pressure is the fastest way to ruin a good motor.
Good luck and let us know what you find.

weos

Having the exact problem with my 6.0 03 silverado what was the problem?

jonhan

I have had my truck to three dealers and a few other places and they all wanted to just tear the motor apart until they found something. I didn't want to do that so I finally paid someone to replace the oil pump-a pretty involved deal. It cost around $700. That didn't change anything. I finally got to the point that I couldn't worry about it anymore. I disconnected the wire to the front driver door speaker so it wouldn't ding anymore. I've been driving it for more than a year this way and haven't had any problems. I figured if the oil pressure really was low that the motor would have burned up by now. I'm convinced that it's just a glitch in the system somewhere. I had a mechanic tell me recently that he's dealt with this before. He said that he puts an oil additive in - the kind that you run through for a little while and then drain the oil. He said to do that twice in a row and it will clean out all the oil channels inside and that the oil pressure has gone back up to normal every time. That's what I'm going to try next. A pretty inexpensive solution if it really works. Sorry, I wish I had more answers. Good Luck!