Vortec Max 6.0 Oil Pressure?

07VMax · December 29, 2010

on my 07 nnbs Vortec Max when the engine is at normal operating temp and at idle the oil pressure Gauge is just above 20 and cruising at 60mph it is just under 40. is this normal for a 33k mile truck?? every one of my other silverados have had just over 40 at idle and around 50 cruising

jro909 · December 29, 2010

you need 10 psi per 1000 rpms....are you running synthetic?

oldscsc · December 29, 2010

The newer trucks don't run as high oil PSI as the older ones do.

07VMax · December 29, 2010

synthetic blend. i just dont like seeing the guage that low, i have an old jeep cherokee with 360k and it has better pressure lol

desrtrat · December 29, 2010

i would put a mechanical gauge on it and see what it is reading. your dash gauge may be having issue..

good luck

steemerboy2007 · February 8, 2011

my truck has never went past50psi running synthetic or reg oil... I have put over 125000 on it without any issues

Kingpj · November 29, 2016

New to this group. I jus bought an 07 vmaxx with l76 engine. Was wondering if the low oil pressure with bad pump or a stock pump going out could cause a lifter collapse

Chuck Henry · November 12, 2019

I have a 07 silverado 1500.vortec max.on cold start oil pressure is 40.gets hot drops to bout 12psi at idle.is this normal.6.0 engine

Edited November 12, 2019 by Chuck Henry

Jeffery Porter · November 22, 2019

I have a 04 that does the same thing. Idle hot 500 rpm and gage drops to about 10 psi, touch the gas and goes to 20. Only thing left to replace is rod bearing.. No noises, Hot or Cold, I'm stumped. Any ideas out there..??

Jeffery Porter · December 31, 2019

Same issue on my 04 5.3. I was told rod bearing won't help the low pressure @ 500 rpm. I'm thinking rod and main bearings, I don't have any more ideas.

swathdiver · December 31, 2019

46 minutes ago, Jeffery Porter said:

Same issue on my 04 5.3. I was told rod bearing won't help the low pressure @ 500 rpm. I'm thinking rod and main bearings, I don't have any more ideas.

What about your pickup tube o-ring? They usually fail around 160K miles. Quick way to check is to overfill motor with an additional 2-3 quarts of oil to submerge o-ring. If pressure rises, you have identified culprit.

The OP in this nine year old post, that's normal for an aluminum engine.

Jeffery Porter · December 31, 2019

New o ring, new oil pump, new sender unit. No noise, just low pressure at idle.

Driving I have 20/30 1500 to 1800 rpm.

swathdiver · January 2, 2020

On 12/31/2019 at 10:54 AM, Jeffery Porter said:

New o ring, new oil pump, new sender unit. No noise, just low pressure at idle.

Driving I have 20/30 1500 to 1800 rpm.

Well, you are above minimums, you can check the pump spring, maybe run a slightly thicker oil or just drive it until you schedule an engine overhaul/replacement.

Jeffery Porter · January 2, 2020

I just switched to Rotalla 15w40. Helped a little on pressure. My only problem is sitting at a red light and my pressue is about 2/4. 195k on engine. Thinking of meling 296 hv oil pump, seems to help the idle issue. I have a new meling 295 pump now, didn’t help much over stock pump.