Sorry if this has been covered before. I am extremely inept at searching forums 🤦‍♂️

I have a 2013 Suburban LTZ with 120k on it. I’ve always had routine maintenance done on time along with 3k mile oil changes.

Today the instrument cluster alert went on for ‘low oil pressure turn off engine’. I noticed the oil pressure gauge was reading zero. There is no knocking or oil coming out of the exhaust. Also, I looked for the better part of an hour and was not able to find any leaks. Oil level is good.

I let it cool down for a few hours and started it again. Oil pressure gauge immediately went to 40psi. Drove it and the gauge would range between 40psi to about 65psi when on the gas. Again, no weird noises or knocking

After about 10 minutes of driving, the pressure gauge started dropping at about 10psi every 30 seconds until it flatlines again. By this point the engine was fully up to temp.

Any ideas on where to start? I prefer to do my own work. I am hoping it’s a sensor issue, but fear I may have to drop the oil pan.

Also, no codes have been thrown.


thanks in advance

 

the oil pressure sensor has a mesh screen under it. either the screen is plugged and needs to be cleaned or the pressure sensor is bad. 20minute repair for a skilled tech. intake manifold does not need to come off.

 

Thanks tech2! Oil pressure sensor was the issue. Probably the filter screen too, had some debris on it and was probably 5% obstructed.

After swapping the sensor the cold idle oil pressure is 42psi, fully hot engine idle at 32psi, driving at even speed is at 38psi.

Replaced the sensor and filter screen. Took about 40minutes. Couldn’t get the top of my wobble extension to clear the top of the noise baffle at the back of the engine. Ended up trimming the top of the noise baffle a bit so my wobble extension had enough clearance for the flex ratchet to attach. Other than that, it was only moving two vacuum hoses out of the way. To get the old filter screen out I just threaded a lag bolt into it enough to grab it.

AC Delco thinks highly of their oil pressure sensors, dang thing was $52 and that was the lowest out of all the nearby parts stores.