Low oil pressure at idle, metal fuzz on drain plug, need advice
#1
Low oil pressure at idle, metal fuzz on drain plug, need advice
I have a 2003 Tahoe with 170k miles that has run like a top and has had Amsoil synthetic oil changed at 7-10k mile intervals. But I may have killed it...
My problems, in brief:
Added instructed amount (8oz) of ATP leak-stopper to oil to hopefully stop oil pan gasket leak (great Amazon reviews), ran for 200-300 miles and noticed slowly declining oil pressure at idle, but not concerningly low. Pressure increased with RPMs to about 35-40psi. Called their customer service, they said it was fine to run in the oil until the next oil change. One day, low oil pressure warning light came on, so changed the oil, expected pressure to return to normal, no luck, still low at idle.
Symptoms were and still are low oil pressure at idle once warm at about 15-20psi and the Oil Pressure Low light comes on
Replaced the oil pressure sender with genuine ACDelco, no change
Had the oil pan gasket and o-ring replaced, no change
Changed to a much thicker Rotella 15w-40 diesel oil, takes longer to warm up and pressure to drop, but Oil Pressure warning still came on during the 10 mile drive after change.
Upon that oil change, noticed a ferrous metal powder on the magnetic drain plug with only ~200 miles on previous synthetic oil, which has me very concerned. Truck has been parked for the last week since that 10 mile drive.
No sewing machine noise or lifter tapping during idle with the low oil pressure.
As the thicker oil didnt really change the oil pressure at idle, does that sound like a bad oil pump? Can bearings go bad that quickly with synthetic oil and only poor pressure at idle? Is there a way to determine if its bearings or oil pump?
I will be sending the oil sample to Blackstone for analysis to see if the metal is bearings or what. Will update with results.
My problems, in brief:
Added instructed amount (8oz) of ATP leak-stopper to oil to hopefully stop oil pan gasket leak (great Amazon reviews), ran for 200-300 miles and noticed slowly declining oil pressure at idle, but not concerningly low. Pressure increased with RPMs to about 35-40psi. Called their customer service, they said it was fine to run in the oil until the next oil change. One day, low oil pressure warning light came on, so changed the oil, expected pressure to return to normal, no luck, still low at idle.
Symptoms were and still are low oil pressure at idle once warm at about 15-20psi and the Oil Pressure Low light comes on
Replaced the oil pressure sender with genuine ACDelco, no change
Had the oil pan gasket and o-ring replaced, no change
Changed to a much thicker Rotella 15w-40 diesel oil, takes longer to warm up and pressure to drop, but Oil Pressure warning still came on during the 10 mile drive after change.
Upon that oil change, noticed a ferrous metal powder on the magnetic drain plug with only ~200 miles on previous synthetic oil, which has me very concerned. Truck has been parked for the last week since that 10 mile drive.
No sewing machine noise or lifter tapping during idle with the low oil pressure.
As the thicker oil didnt really change the oil pressure at idle, does that sound like a bad oil pump? Can bearings go bad that quickly with synthetic oil and only poor pressure at idle? Is there a way to determine if its bearings or oil pump?
I will be sending the oil sample to Blackstone for analysis to see if the metal is bearings or what. Will update with results.
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#9
How's the '02 Tahoe treating you? Still running well?