Oil Pressure Low Stop Engine (replaced sensor)

[YukonCrazy]

Check engine light came on and the audible warning telling me there is low oil pressure and to stop the engine. The oil level is fine so that's not the actual issue. I just changed the oil pressure gauge/sensor that is located on the back end of the motor just in front of firewall. That didn't fix it.

After changing the oil pressure sensor/gauge, I started the car and let it idle for 10 minutes. T he oil pressure gauge was just a hair under 20. I then went for a drive and it slowly dropped until after 10 minutes of driving around my streets the audible alarm started to beep and the gauge is just a tine bit above 0.

The engine sounds fine like it normally does. What is the next thing to check or replace?


2008 GMC Yukon SLT 2WD 5.3L

 

[swathdiver]

What codes are you getting Scott?

 

[Dillon2222]

Have you changed the O-Ring on your oil pick up tube. Look on youtube a lot of people had the same problem and it ended up being the oring on the oil pick up tube.

 

[David Smith]

Any update on this? I am looking to buy a wrecked 2011 Avalanche and am having the same issue. 117k on the dash. Oil pressure was fine until it warmed up. Dropped down to zero. Shut off engine. Restarted in about 10 mins. Was at about 25 and slowly dropping. Helped the engine at 2k rpms. Oil pressure went up a bit, but then inevitably fell back to zero.

Trying to find things to look for in it next week. It was in a decent front end collision. Maybe the oil cooler line(s) got pinched?

Any other suggestions on what I need to check?

Thanks!

 

[CobraKing]

If you're certain the oil pump is functioning correctly, you replace the O-Ring at the oil pickup line and the oil pressure sensor.

 

[David Smith]

I just read a lot of stuff online about a filter under the oil pressure sensor. Apparently it tends to get clogged. I think I will replace that first, then if that does not work, I will pull the pan and check the o ring

 

[CobraKing]

I personally would do both. If the Avalanche is RWD the job should take you about 2-3 hours maximum with an impact driver. About 6-7 hours if you have 4WD as you need to disconnect the front axles.

 

[David Smith]

I personally would do both. If the Avalanche is RWD the job should take you about 2-3 hours maximum with an impact driver. About 6-7 hours if you have 4WD as you need to disconnect the front axles.

I do not own the truck yet, so I am trying to see if I can get the issue resolved cheaply before I purchase it. If the filter fixes it, I will buy it and replace the few body parts that it needs to be roadworthy (hood, fender, bumper grill). After I get it going 100% I will probably do a major tune up on it, replace all fluids, and probably knock that o'ring out while I am at it.

 

[David Smith]

By cheap I do not mean cut corners, I just mean I do not want to spend a bunch of money on parts until I know the oil pressure is good. I really think that it is the filter though. After the pressure dropped to zero, there was no tapping/ticking/knocking for the few short time I left it running at zero.

 

[Doubeleive]

cross your fingers and hope that it's just a o-ring or pump, mine was a chunk of metal stuck in the pump inlet, guess where that came from.....$9,999.00 later, luckily I had insurance.

 

[David Smith]

cross your fingers and hope that it's just a o-ring or pump, mine was a chunk of metal stuck in the pump inlet, guess where that came from.....$9,999.00 later, luckily I had insurance.

Yeah, I don't intend on spending more than about $200 to see if I can resolve the issue.

 

[Warriorpluto]

Yeah, I don't intend on spending more than about $200 to see if I can resolve the issue.

I would pass on it. My friend just purchased an 2011 Tahoe with 163k miles at an dealer auction and we replaced everything . Oil pump, the oil pump oring, pickup tube, the valve on the oil pan and the oil pressure switch and screen. It's not giving a warning any more at a stop but the check engine light is still on for the oil pressure sensor. Still have low oil pressure. My friend says he will drive it until it breaks. That's been about two months ago and it's still running. I imagine if it were something serious the engine would've started tapping by now or locked up. If I were you I wouldn't get it unless it was super cheap like about _2k and under. My friend payed almost six grand at the auction for his

 

[David Smith]

I would pass on it. My friend just purchased an 2011 Tahoe with 163k miles at an dealer auction and we replaced everything . Oil pump, the oil pump oring, pickup tube, the valve on the oil pan and the oil pressure switch and screen. It's not giving a warning any more at a stop but the check engine light is still on for the oil pressure sensor. Still have low oil pressure. My friend says he will drive it until it breaks. That's been about two months ago and it's still running. I imagine if it were something serious the engine would've started tapping by now or locked up. If I were you I wouldn't get it unless it was super cheap like about _2k and under. My friend payed almost six grand at the auction for his

Yeah, I hope to find a fix for this before I really buy it. I will spend the $75 on a new pressure sensor and filter to see if that fixes it. I intend to replace those things today after work.

 

[David Smith]

I need to upload a video, but it won't let me. Anyone know how I can upload a 3 min video on here?

 

[David Smith]

Maybe this will work!

 

[David Smith]

Ha! Success!

So, after watching the video, you can see that the gauge responds to engine RPMs. Once the gauge reaches zero for a few second, even revving the engine does nothing. There is no tapping or anything once the gauge hits zero. I have let it run for a few mins at zero with no change in engine sound at all.

If the Oil Pressure Sensor were bad, would it still be responding like it is?

If the o-ring were bad in the pan, once the gauge hit zero, wouldn't the engine start tapping or something due to the lack of oil?

Are these gauges prone to going back like previous models?

The gauge only seems to start dropping once the engine has warmed up. Also, once it gauge hits zero, if I turn off the truck, wait 10 second and restart, the gauge goes back up to 30-35, and slowly begins to fall again.

Suggestions?

 

[David Smith]

Forgot to mention that I replaced the oil pressure sensor filter yesterday and that did not solve the issue. I did not change the sensor yet, because nobody had it in stock and I was too impatient to wait 2 days for it to get here. The filter did not fix the issue, although the original one did have some crud in it.

 

[kbuskill]

What does the oil look like?

If it is nasty, there is a good chance it will just plug the new screen/filter and cause the same problem.... which is what it sounds like.

I would still change the sensor just because.

Maybe pull the screen/filter off while your in there again and see if it's got chunky stuff in it again.

 

[David Smith]

What does the oil look like?

If it is nasty, there is a good chance it will just plug the new screen/filter and cause the same problem.... which is what it sounds like.

I would still change the sensor just because.

Maybe pull the screen/filter off while your in there again and see if it's got chunky stuff in it again.

I am going to order a new sensor and screen. I think that I may run some cleaner through the engine, drain oil, replace with fresh oil and oil filter, then install new sensor and sensor filter. Probably just go with cheaper oil for now, just because I do not own this truck yet. Just trying to find out what is wrong with it. If it fixes it, I will replace all fluids once all repairs have been made.

 

[David Smith]

Airtex/Wells or Standard Motor Products for the sensor? There is no option for AC Delco on Rock Auto.