Hey guys, this seems like a pretty simple question to me but figured i would start a discussion here to hear your opinions. I know the oil pickup on the LS engines is in the front, so it only makes sense that if you park on a hill facing forward you will risk a low oil pressure for a few seconds during cold start ups. I park on a hill in my driveway, and i've always parked facing forward, but after this mornings cold start, i think i'm going to start parking facing down the driveway instead. This was the first time i ever noticed it took at least 2-3 seconds after engine running for the oil pressure to come up and i heard some significant "rapping" from the engine. i'm afraid of how much damage i did to the bearings on this motor now.

edit, i'm talking about my new to me 2008 GMC Sierra 5.3

 

If you lay under the truck and look at how deep the sump is on your oil pan and imagine it on a hill, it would have to be a heck of a incline for the oil to leave the sump and be away from the pickup.. Also the engine is tilted back towards the rear of the truck which would cause oil to run towards the sump anyway.. I think you would have to be on a heck of a incline to worry about the engine picking up the oil properly.. I think i would be looking at your oil filter or oil viscosity for solving the problem you had recently with your cold start noise.

 

hey buddy, thanks for the reply, thats a good way to look at it and it didnt occur to me to look at it that way.

 

Any good quality oil filter has an anti-drainback valve in it to keep the oil system primed while the vehicle is parked.

 

Apparently, the dealer i purchased my truck from does not use those

 

You would have to be running nearly dry for the pickup not to be subrmerged. The truck pickup and pan is very deep.

 

No problem man, thats what we are here for.. what type of oil filter are you running?

 

The later model engines are known for developing a rattle on cold start beginning around 12-20K on the clock. It's way more prevalent in cold weather.n

 

Don't know, just bought the truck right after xmas and have not changed the oil yet.