Frustrated SS ......HELP ! - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Carolina_Camaro · 03-26-2019, 04:04 PM

Good evening everyone !

Hoping to get some help here. I have a 2011 Chevy Camaro SS. I continue to have issues with oil pressure. Here is the history: I encountered the problem the first time so I changed the oil pressure sensor switch, changed the oil and flushed the old oil(not in that order). Worked fine with no issues for weeks. Oil pressure warning comes on again ! Replaced the oil pressure sending unit AGAIN and replaced the oil pressure filter underneath. Still having the oil pressure sensor warning to occur. Now it doesn't just immediately drop. The car will run for 20 to 30 minutes before decreasing to the point to cause sensor alarm. I thought it may have been the EFI connector to the oil pressure sensor but when disconnected it reads 0 but when I connect it back it reads to the 30 PSI but again decreases over time. There is no knocking or engine noise and oil levels are fine. I PRAY its not the oil pump ! Anybody encountered this before or can offer any advice. So frustrated at this point.

Pluto · 03-26-2019, 04:10 PM

I know you don’t want to hear it, but it may be the oil pump. You’ve changed the sensor twice and have gotten the same result. The only other way to diagnose would be tapping in an oil pressure gauge to see if it is in fact low pressure. If so, it’s the oil pump. They really aren’t bad to change and would be a great time to do a ls2 timing chain tensioner. I would rather do the oil pump than do the damn blend door I’m going to have to pull my dash to do. There really isn’t any other culprit involved unless it was a cluster issue, which I HIGHLY doubt. I would start getting an oil pump on order before you ruin something by running it with low pressure.

pyroguy · 03-26-2019, 05:15 PM

First things first, welcome to the forums!

Did you have a manual transmission or an automatic? I hate to say it, but LS3 cars (manual transmission cars) have been prone to oil pump failures. If you've already replaced the sensor a couple times I'm guessing you probably have a failing oil pump.

hillshooter · 03-26-2019, 05:25 PM

What does it get down to when hot? how many miles are on the engine?

BAH2SS · 03-26-2019, 05:37 PM

How many miles, i would suggest checking the oil pressure manually. I know of 2 ways to do that.
Removing the oil filter and installing the gauge using a adapter found on eBay or disconnecting the oil cooler and connecting the pressure gauge using ad adapter also found on eBay.

A total of 3 sensors showed low oil pressure so i guess also it's a pump failure or the O-Ring (seal) on the pick up tube is damaged.

Laat question, which oil grade you use?

BandRcAMARO · 03-26-2019, 06:07 PM

Throw a manual gauge on it, may end up saving your motor.

granatl · 03-26-2019, 07:08 PM

When you did the flush, by chance, did you remove the oil pan?
IDK all the specifics, but there were certain LS motors where it was easy to bump the pickup tube and unseat it. I think you would always have low pressure though.
Or maybe the flush dislodged some gunk and it's building-up on the pickup screen?
What oil temps are you seeing when the pressure is ultra low?

gringo · 03-26-2019, 07:21 PM

The LS3 has been proven to have problems with the oil pump and lifters. Not the
most reliable engine. So, if you have that engine, I'd at least change out the oil pump since that sounds like the culprit.

Good luck!

ORANGA2D · 03-26-2019, 07:33 PM

Oil pump is or has failed. My 2011 LS3 failed twice...first with around 65-70k (replaced and covered under warranty), second time at 93k and was "catastrophic failure". But the good news was I got a brand new motor covered under the extended warranty I had.

At any case, shut it down and dont drive it until you get it figured out.

03-26-2019, 04:04 PM	#1
Carolina_Camaro Drives: Chevy Camaro SS 2011 Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: North Carolina Posts: 1	Frustrated SS ......HELP ! Good evening everyone ! Hoping to get some help here. I have a 2011 Chevy Camaro SS. I continue to have issues with oil pressure. Here is the history: I encountered the problem the first time so I changed the oil pressure sensor switch, changed the oil and flushed the old oil(not in that order). Worked fine with no issues for weeks. Oil pressure warning comes on again ! Replaced the oil pressure sending unit AGAIN and replaced the oil pressure filter underneath. Still having the oil pressure sensor warning to occur. Now it doesn't just immediately drop. The car will run for 20 to 30 minutes before decreasing to the point to cause sensor alarm. I thought it may have been the EFI connector to the oil pressure sensor but when disconnected it reads 0 but when I connect it back it reads to the 30 PSI but again decreases over time. There is no knocking or engine noise and oil levels are fine. I PRAY its not the oil pump ! Anybody encountered this before or can offer any advice. So frustrated at this point.

03-26-2019, 04:10 PM	#2
Pluto Drives: 2013 Camaro 2SS/RS Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: South Texas Posts: 1,191 View My Garage	I know you don’t want to hear it, but it may be the oil pump. You’ve changed the sensor twice and have gotten the same result. The only other way to diagnose would be tapping in an oil pressure gauge to see if it is in fact low pressure. If so, it’s the oil pump. They really aren’t bad to change and would be a great time to do a ls2 timing chain tensioner. I would rather do the oil pump than do the damn blend door I’m going to have to pull my dash to do. There really isn’t any other culprit involved unless it was a cluster issue, which I HIGHLY doubt. I would start getting an oil pump on order before you ruin something by running it with low pressure. __________________ 2013 VR Camaro 2SS/RS LS3 Small, but effective mod list: Roto-Fab Intake, TSP 2" Long tubes, TSP catless mids, MSD spark plug wires, stock catback, Elite Catch Can, APEX washer relocation and scoop, VMAX throttle body, Diablo InTune-Tuned by Matt@FSP, and a JacFab license plate bracket.

03-26-2019, 05:15 PM	#3
pyroguy Started#gottalovethatblue Drives: ABM #831 Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: TN Posts: 6,919 View My Garage	First things first, welcome to the forums! Did you have a manual transmission or an automatic? I hate to say it, but LS3 cars (manual transmission cars) have been prone to oil pump failures. If you've already replaced the sensor a couple times I'm guessing you probably have a failing oil pump. __________________ '10 Camaro 2SS/RS \| Aqua Blue #831 of 3,903 \| Silver Stripes Check out my build thread

03-26-2019, 05:25 PM	#4
hillshooter Drives: 2015 Camaro SS commemorative Join Date: May 2015 Location: Utah Posts: 425	What does it get down to when hot? how many miles are on the engine? __________________ 2015 Camaro SS, LS3 Stroker, PRC heads,CUSTOM CAM. AGP 68/68 with custom Hot and Cold side. Fore triple pumps, Holley terminator X. BMR drag suspension with carlyle brake kit. 15" ET drags and 17" skinnies. ZL1 3.73 gears , aluminum driveshaft. TH400 with circle D converter.

03-26-2019, 05:37 PM	#5
BAH2SS Stigs Bahraini Cousin Drives: 2015 Camaro 2SS 1LE Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Bahrain Posts: 222 View My Garage	How many miles, i would suggest checking the oil pressure manually. I know of 2 ways to do that. Removing the oil filter and installing the gauge using a adapter found on eBay or disconnecting the oil cooler and connecting the pressure gauge using ad adapter also found on eBay. A total of 3 sensors showed low oil pressure so i guess also it's a pump failure or the O-Ring (seal) on the pick up tube is damaged. Laat question, which oil grade you use? __________________ 2015 CAMARO 1LE

03-26-2019, 06:07 PM	#6
BandRcAMARO Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS/RS Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Michigan Posts: 229 View My Garage	Throw a manual gauge on it, may end up saving your motor. __________________ 2010 Camaro 2SS/RS

03-26-2019, 07:08 PM	#7
granatl Drives: 2SS RS ABM A6 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Pahrump, NV Posts: 273	When you did the flush, by chance, did you remove the oil pan? IDK all the specifics, but there were certain LS motors where it was easy to bump the pickup tube and unseat it. I think you would always have low pressure though. Or maybe the flush dislodged some gunk and it's building-up on the pickup screen? What oil temps are you seeing when the pressure is ultra low? __________________ Jack Bilger

03-26-2019, 07:21 PM	#8
gringo Account Suspended Drives: Camaro V6 Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: U.S. Posts: 1,722	The LS3 has been proven to have problems with the oil pump and lifters. Not the most reliable engine. So, if you have that engine, I'd at least change out the oil pump since that sounds like the culprit. Good luck!

03-26-2019, 07:33 PM	#9
ORANGA2D Drives: 2011 IOM 2SS/RS M6 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Temecula, CA. Posts: 568 View My Garage	Oil pump is or has failed. My 2011 LS3 failed twice...first with around 65-70k (replaced and covered under warranty), second time at 93k and was "catastrophic failure". But the good news was I got a brand new motor covered under the extended warranty I had. At any case, shut it down and dont drive it until you get it figured out.