2005 GMC Sierra 1500 4x4 5.3 Oil Pickup Tube O-ring Replacement

jmpidgeo · March 18, 2013

Hello all,

2005 GMC Sierra 1500 4x4 L33 5.3 with 208k miles.

I did some research, and found that my oil pickup tube o-ring is most likely causing my oil pressure 'issues'

The 'issue' is that in the morning during the first start up of the day, the oil pressure registers low enough to trigger the low oil pressure warning. At idle in PARK it will usually stabilize (when cold) between 5 and 20 psi, but it will drop below that when idling in DRIVE as well, during the first few minutes of operation.

Asthe engine warms up, the oil pressure increases, and generally driving down the road when cold it reads 20 psi, when warm its 30-35 psi.

Like I said, I believe the culprit is the pickup tube o-ring.

My question is, what is involved in dropping the oil pan to replace this $5 part? Do I HAVE to remove the front diff and everything associated with it?

Edited March 18, 2013 by jmpidgeo

gmtech4 · March 19, 2013

yes

bossier62guy · March 19, 2013

This may help....if you need any other info let me know.

oilpan.pdf

jmpidgeo · March 19, 2013

Man that looks like a whorish job. What's the book time if I were to have a shop do it?

gmtech4 · March 19, 2013

3.0 hrs for an oil pan ,add .5 for the o ring for giggles

bossier62guy · March 19, 2013

I told you Rob would probably have the answer to that question....lol

gmtech4 · March 19, 2013

i have 2 online service manuals at my disposal lol

jmpidgeo · March 19, 2013

Damn, 3 hours isn't bad at all. Probably would take me at least 3 times that to get the job done assuming nothing went wrong! Whaddya have access to? Alldata or something like that? I wish I could still access alldata. Would be amazing.

bossier62guy · March 19, 2013

I think that is one of his sources....

txab · March 19, 2013

Damn, 3 hours isn't bad at all. Probably would take me at least 3 times that to get the job done assuming nothing went wrong! Whaddya have access to? Alldata or something like that? I wish I could still access alldata. Would be amazing.

You can buy a 1 year subscription to Alldata for about $26. Multi year subscription is less per year

Edited March 19, 2013 by txab

gmtech4 · March 19, 2013

i use mitchell on demand and another one .....

jmpidgeo · March 20, 2013

Brought it to the shop today. Hopefully they come up with the same explanation to my oil pressure issues, the low pressure when cold that gradually increases with oil temperature just seems to make this repair make sense. I'll gladly pay 3 hours of labor for the fix to save me the headache of dropping the pan. If they want me to replace the oil pump for some reason...I won't be very happy LOL.

At least my loaner 2013 GMC 1500 truck with 800 miles on it is freaking sweet!

Edited March 20, 2013 by jmpidgeo

gmtech4 · March 20, 2013

a salesman usual haunt is the service dept for people having issues as yours and a loaner is close to a deal as ever lol,,,,,

i took a sales course once for giggles and ya ,,,they go there for a sale

jmpidgeo · March 21, 2013

turns out that the tech, lead engine tech, shop foreman, and GM think that the oil pump is the culprit since the seal at the pump and pickup tube was 'good'...so its getting a new oil pump. oh well, its only money LOL

edit: I would rather spend the money now rather than toasting my engine later, even if the pump may not be 'bad'

Edited March 21, 2013 by jmpidgeo