2009 Yukon 5.3L - Is the oil pressure sensor screen still in the hole?

[Hodmjstone]

Hey everyone. I just changed my oil pressure sensor because of low oil pressure readings, and I am questioning my own eyes right now.
Can you look at these pictures down the hole and tell me if the little filter screen is still trapped down in there, or if it is already out?
I’m asking because I’ve been in there with several different picks. Sometimes I feel like there’s something there, but nothing‘s coming out. I take a picture and it looks like something is down there, but then I don't know. Maybe someone didn't put a new one in when they previously changed the sensor. I actually found another old oil pressure sensor sitting under the intake when I removed everything! They must’ve dropped it and couldn’t get it out.
Any second opinions help. Also, if it turns out the screen is still down there, what are your best suggestions for getting it out besides just using standard picks? Thanks!

 

[rdezs]

That little bit of orange you see is the VLOM plate gasket, so I would say it looks like there's no filter there. (It would be covering that up)

That said.... That's a horrendous amount of crud down the hole. Looks like an extremely high mileage engine that did not get regular oil changes throughout its life? Stuff like that creates problem for oil pressure relief valves. (Both the one on the oil pump itself, as well as the one in the oil pan)

How many miles on the engine and what kind of oil pressure are you getting with the engine fully warmed up?

 

[Joseph Garcia]

Your motor did come with a screen out of the factory. But, many folks do not replace it, when changing the oil pressure sensor. It is a personal choice.

 

[rdezs]

That screen came with AFM/DOD equipped engines. Supposedly to protect the solenoids in the VLOM. Considering it's not much of a filter, did GM expect large particles to go past the oil filter? It would seem that even if oil bypassed the filter because it became clogged.... I suppose that screen might catch something 50 microns in diameter. But if you have something like that floating around in your oil, you've got bigger problems. So I lean toward the crowd that says it is rather pointless.

On another note, if that screen becomes plugged and results in the oil pressure sending unit not functioning properly... That would mean there's large particles floating around in your oil going through your rod, main main and cam bearings. A much bigger problem than an oil pressure sending unit.

The fact that GM installed this sort of means they expect this to happen. That's not very comforting. I'm tempted to think they are aware of this outcome if you go with the extended oil change intervals you end up with by following the display on the dash. (Possibly higher than expected deposits lining the oil passageways, flaking off periodically?)

A good reason to change your oil every 3500 to 5,000 miles depending on how many miles are done in the city versus highway, or towing....