2005 tahoe Oil Pressure Warning Keeps Coming On When Driving

[Jace Dellenbach]

Hey Everyone,

i just bought a 2005 chevy tahoe with 185000 miles on it last week, it runs and drives great but it has its issues, the most concerning is that when driving the oil pressure low warning keeps popping up and beeping every few minutes. it doesnt help that that only 3 of my gauges work (speedo, fuel, and temp) I have checked the oil levels and they are good. I've taken it to two mechanics and they don't know what to do about it.

has anyone had a similar problem or might have an idea of what the problem could be? thanks in advance.

 

[wjburken]

Welcome to the forum from Iowa.

When you took it to the two mechanics, did any of them put an analog gauge on your system to read what the oil pressure actually is? That would tell you if you have an actual drop in oil pressure or your pressure sensor is on the fritz.

When was the last oil change? What are you running for an oil filter?

Could very well be something like a cracked o-ring on your oil pick up tube where it goes into your oil pump.

 

[ivin74]

Welcome to the forum,
You need to fix the gauges to make sure the oil pressure sending sensor is reading the correct oil pressure. You can also find a mechanic that has a GM Tech 2 that can read live data, they can also tell you if the sensor is working correctly.

If the sensor is working correctly you have either a bad oil pump or the oil pick up tube seal might me bad.

If those two items are fine you have sludge plugage in the block. To rule this out you can remove one of the valve cover and inspect it for sludge build up.

 

[SnowDrifter]

My first steps:

If you think you truly aren't getting oil pressure, stop driving it immediately. Your next step should be to put a mechanical gauge on it and determine if there is an oil pressure problem.

If you believe it to be a sensor / cluster issue, you can check it with a scan tool. Might need a local shop for that one though, cheapies at the store don't like to read the oil pressure PID on our rigs.

 

[Fless]

^^^ THIS. Add to that if the sensor is bad, the scan tool reading will be inaccurate.

 

[Merc1973]

Do you have clattering lifters when at idle with no pressure? If so, do not drive it anymore until fixed.

 

[OR VietVet]

Welcome to the forum from Oregon.

Yea, get a mechanical gauge on it and get a readout. Those 2 techs should have suggested that, did they? May be a bad sender. Plus, what the hell did your gauge say the pressure was when the warnings started? You did not say.

 

[wjburken]

Welcome to the forum from Oregon.

Yea, get a mechanical gauge on it and get a readout. Those 2 techs should have suggested that, did they? May be a bad sender. Plus, what the hell did your gauge say the pressure was when the warnings started? You did not say.

Unfortunately, the oil pressure gauge on his dash isn't working either.

 

[OR VietVet]

Unfortunately, the oil pressure gauge on his dash isn't working either.

Ok, I read that wrong. I thought those were the gauges that were NOT working.

 

[dubyagee01]

If its low pressure I would put a mechanical gauge on it asap.

If its the low oil level sensor its on the passenger side of the oil pan. If someone was rough installing a starter the wires may be damaged.

 

[Jace Dellenbach]

UPDATE- Took it to another mechanic and he said my oil pressure is fine, he believes that the problem is in the wiring, maybe a short in the system. thank you all for your quick replies. much appreciated.

 

[wjburken]

UPDATE- Took it to another mechanic and he said my oil pressure is fine, he believes that the problem is in the wiring, maybe a short in the system. thank you all for your quick replies. much appreciated.

Sounds like you might be on the way to getting stuff resolved. Knowing the mechanical stuff is working means your motor will live to see another day.

To be honest - I consider hooking up an oil pressure gauge as Mechanic 101 level stuff when dealing with Oil Pressure warnings. I would put the third mechanic a little higher on your call list than the first two guys who said they were stumped.

 

[OR VietVet]

Sounds like you might be on the way to getting stuff resolved. Knowing the mechanical stuff is working means your motor will live to see another day.

To be honest - I consider hooking up an oil pressure gauge as Mechanic 101 level stuff when dealing with Oil Pressure warnings. I would put the third mechanic a little higher on your call list than the first two guys who said they were stumped.

Agree about the third tech. It is always basics first and those first two techs sound like they just scratched their heads unless something slaps them in the face. They are parts changers.

 

[RBT1789]

UPDATE- Took it to another mechanic and he said my oil pressure is fine, he believes that the problem is in the wiring, maybe a short in the system. thank you all for your quick replies. much appreciated.

Did you ever figure out the issue and resolution? I just purchased a 2005 Chevy Tahoe and am having the same issue.

 

[OR VietVet]

Did you ever figure out the issue and resolution? I just purchased a 2005 Chevy Tahoe and am having the same issue.

First, welcome to the forum from Oregon.

Second, would be best to post your concern in this section and you will get a better response for that. Inserting in to another thread gets you lost sometimes.

 

[MechanicMike]

These vehicles have oil sender issues. Sometimes it's the screen in the oil pressure sensor port that gets plugged and causes a "bad sensor". They don't all have the screen though. I've replaced a bunch of them. Also, cheap oil filters can lower the oil pressure. The GM filter is a good choice. And to reiterate, the oil pump pick up tube o-ring can also cause low pressure. I had one fail right after changing and oil pan gasket. Then I had to do the job again.

 

[Fless]

These vehicles have oil sender issues. Sometimes it's the screen in the oil pressure sensor port that gets plugged and causes a "bad sensor". They don't all have the screen though. I've replaced a bunch of them. Also, cheap oil filters can lower the oil pressure. The GM filter is a good choice. And to reiterate, the oil pump pick up tube o-ring can also cause low pressure. I had one fail right after changing and oil pan gasket. Then I had to do the job again.

There should be no screen under an NBS oil pressure sender. Screens started with AFM.

 

[OR VietVet]

These vehicles have oil sender issues. Sometimes it's the screen in the oil pressure sensor port that gets plugged and causes a "bad sensor". They don't all have the screen though. I've replaced a bunch of them. Also, cheap oil filters can lower the oil pressure. The GM filter is a good choice. And to reiterate, the oil pump pick up tube o-ring can also cause low pressure. I had one fail right after changing and oil pan gasket. Then I had to do the job again.

Recently did the rear main seal and oil pan gasket. While I was in there did a new pickup tube and seal, because I was in there. Not gonna go that far without doing that.