Normal exhaust/catalyst temp?*Update* Oil pressure

[Brandon2489]

Hey everyone. While looking through the torque app I stumbled upon the catalyst temps for my 2011 Tahoe with 5.3. Bank 1 and bank 2 are reading 990 degrees fahrenheit. Does any one know the normal temp for this? Those numbers seem really high. I have no check engine light and seems to be running fine. Thanks for the help.

 

[swathdiver]

Hey everyone. While looking through the torque app I stumbled upon the catalyst temps for my 2011 Tahoe with 5.3. Bank 1 and bank 2 are reading 990 degrees fahrenheit. Does any one know the normal temp for this? Those numbers seem really high. I have no check engine light and seems to be running fine. Thanks for the help.

They get a lot higher than that! Idling they'll cool down into the 700-800 degree range. Mine will hit 1600-1800 degrees accelerating onto the highway.

Note that these are not actual readings, it's a calculated number but can obviously be relied upon. Nothing to get concerned over.

 

[wsteele]

I agree with swathdiver, 1200-1600 is normal operating temp for the CC's.

 

[Brandon2489]

Ok good deal. Thanks for the fast replies. I also have another question if any of you all can give some insight. Normally I don't pay much attention to the oil pressure gauge but I did notice on a 90 degree day that the oil pressure gauge is sitting on the first line. I'm assuming this is 20 psi. This is is at idle. It never drops below this. When I drive around the pressure will increase. I thought the gauge was usually higher than that but like I said. I normaly don't look at it. While driving it reaches 30 psi and if I floor it will reach 40 or above. This is all seen in the torque app. What are the normal oil pressure levels while it's hot out and at a norm5 operating temperature? When it's cooler in the morning (65 degrees) it will idle at almost 30 and drop to around 25-30 psi while driving normal. Oil change has about 3k miles on it at the moment and I use either Mobile-1 5w30 or Pennzoil Platinum 5w30. Here are some pics of idle and driving on highway. Let me know if anything looks out of place. Again thank you all for the help. It is much appreciated.
Brandon

 

[Foggy]

Your oil pressure is fine and normal !! There isn't an oil temp sending unit that
I'm aware of, so the oil temp is a "calculated value"...
Drive On !

 

[Brandon2489]

Isn't there an oil pressure sender located between back of block and the firewall?

 

[Geotrash]

Isn't there an oil pressure sender located between back of block and the firewall?

Yes, but to my knowledge it only provides pressure data and not temperature.

 

[Brandon2489]

Correct. The oil pressure is what is in question.

 

[wsteele]

Ok good deal. Thanks for the fast replies. I also have another question if any of you all can give some insight. Normally I don't pay much attention to the oil pressure gauge but I did notice on a 90 degree day that the oil pressure gauge is sitting on the first line. I'm assuming this is 20 psi. This is is at idle. It never drops below this. When I drive around the pressure will increase. I thought the gauge was usually higher than that but like I said. I normaly don't look at it. While driving it reaches 30 psi and if I floor it will reach 40 or above. This is all seen in the torque app. What are the normal oil pressure levels while it's hot out and at a norm5 operating temperature? When it's cooler in the morning (65 degrees) it will idle at almost 30 and drop to around 25-30 psi while driving normal. Oil change has about 3k miles on it at the moment and I use either Mobile-1 5w30 or Pennzoil Platinum 5w30. Here are some pics of idle and driving on highway. Let me know if anything looks out of place. Again thank you all for the help. It is much appreciated.
Brandon

Here is a clip from my GM Shop manual about minimum oil pressures when hot.

6 psig at 1,000 engine RPM
18 psig at 2,000 engine RPM
24 psig at 4,000 engine RPM

Your's sound fine.

 

[Brandon2489]

Here is a clip from my GM Shop manual about minimum oil pressures when hot.

6 psig at 1,000 engine RPM
18 psig at 2,000 engine RPM
24 psig at 4,000 engine RPM

Your's sound fine.

Thanks wsteele! Those numbers do match what I'm getting so that's good. I just could have sworn it used to idle around 30 psi but then again I rarely look at the oil pressure gauge and the last time I noticed the pressure was higher was probably months ago so it wasn't as hot out. It does idle higher on cold start which it is supposed to and climbed with throttle response. So I think I'm ok. Thanks again everyone. So far I am enjoying this place. Lots of good people and info.

 

[Geotrash]

Thanks wsteele! Those numbers do match what I'm getting so that's good. I just could have sworn it used to idle around 30 psi but then again I rarely look at the oil pressure gauge and the last time I noticed the pressure was higher was probably months ago so it wasn't as hot out. It does idle higher on cold start which it is supposed to and climbed with throttle response. So I think I'm ok. Thanks again everyone. So far I am enjoying this place. Lots of good people and info.

You could be looking at a downward trend of oil pressure over time, which is common on these engines and has multiple potential causes. The most common is the oil sender screen getting plugged up, with the remedy being to remove and replace the sender and screen beneath it. The second most common is an o-ring on the oil pump pickup tube that hardens over time and starts having trouble maintaining a tight seal. The solution is to drop the oil pan and replace the o-ring. Other causes that are less common include cam bearings, oil pressure relief vales getting weak, etc. My advice would be to keep an eye on it and if it drops below spec, start with the sender and screen. Can be done with the intake manifold in place but it's a PITA and you'll be laying on top of the engine for a while

 

[Brandon2489]

I'm going to replace the sending unit along with the screen just to do it and see where it takes me. I have done one on a friend's Tahoe bit his was due to no oil pressure at all. I did it with the intake manifold on. Was about a 15 minute job. Used a 3/8 wratchet with a snap on extension with a permanent swivel and a sending unit socket. Thanks for the suggestions and I will keep an eye on it. I may eventually do the pick up tube oring only if the "fill with 2 extra quarts of oil and see if pressure goes up" method shows it's a problem. Thanks again everyone.

 

[Brandon2489]

Just a little update. It occurred to me that the previous oil changes I have done I have used PP 5w30 with AcDelco PF48 oil filter. This time I used the same oil but could only find the AcDelco PF48E filter. I now know that this filter has a plastic core. I know at 2 months ago I had higher oil pressure numbers when I changed the oil before a trip to Florida and now with 3k miles on this oil change I'm having oil pressure issues. Is it possible for this plastic core to have somewhat collapsed resulting in a lower oil pressure. I know the oil pressure is read after it has gone through the filter. Has any one heard of any issues with the PF48E filters? I'm still waiting on the oil pressure sending unit and screen to arrive so I will try to find a PF48 filter or use a K&N/Wix filter. I will try to change just the oil filter first to see what happens so I can keep all other variables the same.

 

[CaptainAmerica1]

Mine does the same thing. Fresh filter 35hot idle and 50 driving around, when I’m due for an oil change, 20hot idle and 42ish driving around. I change my oil every 3000 religiously.

 

[Brandon2489]

Well I changed just the filter to a K&N HP-2011. My oil pressure numbers have returned to normal. I have roughly 3000 miles on the oil. The oil still has a brown color to it. I usually go 5000. I may start to do them at 3500 and use the K&N from this point forward. I will not be using the AcDelco PF48E anymore. This is the first time I have had a vehicle where the oil filter has caused a drop in oil pressure. Thanks for the help. I will keep you posted on anything else.