98SilveradoZ71

Well I have 171K on the truck now, and I haven't really paid much attention to the oil pressure in the past. However I was using my brothers 2005 2500 Silverado with the 6.0 gas engine. Well noticed that his oil pressure was 40psi at idle and up to 60 psi during drive.

My question is, At cold start my oil pressure is about 60psi, after warming up, it is at 20 psi at idle and right at 40 psi when driving. Should I start looking to replace the pump. Because the Haynes manual says that minimal oil pressure for the 5.7L at 1000rpm is 8psi and at 2000 it is 18 psi.

Any thoughts would be nice, and I haven't really done much looking around the oil pan other then to remove the drain plug. Is it able to drop down with out all the work the manual calls out?

mudmaniac

Your oil pressure sounds up to par with mine. 40 to 60 at a cold start, then between 20 and 30 at idle but it will shoot up to 80 a 5,000 rpm.

therewolf

I'd run that engine till it drops. Doesn't make sense to drop a pump into her now, just to have her quit on you soon up the road anyways Save your money, and put it towards a brand new engine in 80K or so miles from now.

The oil pump seems to be wearing at about the same rate as the rest of the engine. Remember those Haynes specs. are probably referring to a new(er) engine anyway. I wouldn't panic over this, or put a couple new parts in a high mileage engine.

lukemoore646

close your eyes

MDTAHOE

Most of the time at that age lower oil pressure is cause by wear in the engine not pump failure. The pump is not necessarily what creates the pressure, the clearance in the bearings is what does most of it (kind of like a fuel pressure Regulator per say) as the engine wears the clearances get bigger and the oil pressure lowers. It is similar to putting your finger over the end of a garden hose the more you cover it the more the pressure, start moving your finger so the end opens and the pressure goes down. As far as your pressure it is well with in spec and no indication of a problem or engine failure. Just keep your oil changed regularly with the correct weight and it could still last a while.

therewolf

Yeah, what MDTAHOE said!

(Did I ever mention that's a boss lookin' Tahoe, MD,?)

You may easily get a few more good years out of that well-worn engine. It can't hurt to start putting some cash in the bank for when the one you're running now quits on you, howsomever.