6.0l Troubleshoot Oil Pressure

Walt1 · October 28, 2008

Hello all,

My first post here. I have a 2000 Silverado with the 6.0L. The truck is great! 240,000 miles and the engine is still about 150 compression. The rig has never had a brake job!!! I replaced the trany at 220,000 but expected to sooner because we use it pretty hard. The truck runs like new but one problem...

When cold the oil pressure gauge does not pop up for about 10 seconds and the light comes on. A little throttle moves the pressure needle but not much (ususaly under 20 psi). Untill hot the needle pops up and down from 20 to 40. When hot at hiway RPMs it runs about 60psi. Hot idle it holds a steady 35 psi with no bouncing around. The motor has great compression and runs real good, any advice on how to improve the cold oil pick up?

Thanks

Walt

dewfpo · October 28, 2008

Hello all,

My first post here. I have a 2000 Silverado with the 6.0L. The truck is great! 240,000 miles and the engine is still about 150 compression. The rig has never had a brake job!!! I replaced the trany at 220,000 but expected to sooner because we use it pretty hard. The truck runs like new but one problem...

When cold the oil pressure gauge does not pop up for about 10 seconds and the light comes on. A little throttle moves the pressure needle but not much (ususaly under 20 psi). Untill hot the needle pops up and down from 20 to 40. When hot at hiway RPMs it runs about 60psi. Hot idle it holds a steady 35 psi with no bouncing around. The motor has great compression and runs real good, any advice on how to improve the cold oil pick up?

Thanks

Walt

That's better pressure then my '05 8.1L. I have 25 psi hot/idle and 50 hot/h'way and that's with 5W40 instead of 5W30. But my oil pressure comes up almost instantly on a start. I use synthetic oil, that may help a little. It is possible it is your OP sending unit being gummed up and being a little lethargic when cold. You could pull it and clean it and see if it helps.

DEWFPO

Walt1 · October 28, 2008

Hello all,

My first post here. I have a 2000 Silverado with the 6.0L. The truck is great! 240,000 miles and the engine is still about 150 compression. The rig has never had a brake job!!! I replaced the trany at 220,000 but expected to sooner because we use it pretty hard. The truck runs like new but one problem...

When cold the oil pressure gauge does not pop up for about 10 seconds and the light comes on. A little throttle moves the pressure needle but not much (ususaly under 20 psi). Untill hot the needle pops up and down from 20 to 40. When hot at hiway RPMs it runs about 60psi. Hot idle it holds a steady 35 psi with no bouncing around. The motor has great compression and runs real good, any advice on how to improve the cold oil pick up?

Thanks

Walt

That's better pressure then my '05 8.1L. I have 25 psi hot/idle and 50 hot/h'way and that's with 5W40 instead of 5W30. But my oil pressure comes up almost instantly on a start. I use synthetic oil, that may help a little. It is possible it is your OP sending unit being gummed up and being a little lethargic when cold. You could pull it and clean it and see if it helps.

DEWFPO

I will try that. We are pulling the pan and looking for restrictions in transfer lines and such. By the looks of the oil pump design they are bullet proof.