🔧 Technical Vortec 5.3 (LH6) Low Oil Pressure

[1998gpgt]

So my 2006 Saab 9-7X with the 5.3 LH6 just started giving the “Oil Pressure Low” light for a few seconds upon start up. Once the engine is running, the oil pressure seems to stay in a healthy range.

The car is still under a 3 Month/3K Mile warranty from the dealership I bought it from. I already had in there once and they replaced the oil pressure sender after saying the oil pressure was reading good. The light is still coming on at startup right now even after the sender replacement.

I reached back out to the dealership and they are now trying to tell me that this is normal for a 5.3 with higher miles (180k). I’m not buying this, as it was not happening when I first bought it a couple months back. So I’ve continued to escalate it while still under warranty.

Thoughts? Should I be worried about this?

I’m also curious if anyone else has had a similar issue with a 5.3.

Video of dash at startup is below.

Click to read more...

 

[Kizzlebizz]

I gotta ask, have you checked oil level? Cheap test for you would be swap a cheap filter in it and see if it improves. The cheap filters flow very well cause they don't filter worth a damn lol. There's also an oil bypass in some (most/all) filters that can get stuck.

 

[DEEZUZ]

Outlaw didn't you fix this by running ATF through your 355k 5.3?

 

[sktchy]

If there's a little screen under the sender take it out and throw it away. Also change the oil filter, I've seen cheap ones collapse and cause the light to pop.

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

Or it’s the pickup o-ring.

 

[1quick]

Just see what filter is on it first could be a shit filter with too much restriction, my aluminum block 5.3 burned oil like a mother fucker and had less than 100k miles, I went to Michigan once and the lifters started clattering it was so low, I put 3 quarts in and it still wasn’t on the stick, I had a tuner tune turn off the dod and I did a top end clean and it went down to a couple quarts per oil change

 

[smug]

I’d change the oil and filter. Make sure some one didn’t put in some 20w50. Obviously make sure it not low on oil first.

 

[SpeedSpeak2me]

Just see what filter is on it first could be a shit filter with too much restriction, my aluminum block 5.3 burned oil like a mother fucker and had less than 100k miles, I went to Michigan once and the lifters started clattering it was so low, I put 3 quarts in and it still wasn’t on the stick, I had a tuner tune turn off the dod and I did a top end clean and it went down to a couple quarts per oil change

A couple of quarts between oil changes?

I must have a unicorn 5.3 (LY5). Mine doesn’t even go a quart low over the course of 5,000 miles, and the DoD/AFM is enabled and I use it as much as possible. Just rolled 190,000 on it.

 

[sktchy]

I was gonna say mine doesn't use a full quart in 5k at 240k. I've seen em drink a quart every thousand when the dod actuator starts doin it thing tho.

Bout as bad as a 2.4 lea with bad rings

 

[1quick]

A couple of quarts between oil changes?

I must have a unicorn 5.3 (LY5). Mine doesn’t even go a quart low over the course of 5,000 miles, and the DoD/AFM is enabled and I use it as much as possible. Just rolled 190,000 on it.

Most of the aluminum block 5.3’s burn a shit load of oil

 

[1quick]

My buddy had some oil pressure issue in his 2011 that had a recall on it something with oil drain back

 

[1998gpgt]

Thanks for all the ideas so far!

I ended up topping off the oil about a half quart or so to get back to full. The light did not come on afterwards, but it was also a little warmer this afternoon than it has been in the mornings. I’ll report back once I start it up again in the morning.

I’m going to be super happy if this light was just the result of being a little down on oil.

I honestly didn’t realize the higher mileage 5.3’s were so thirsty for oil. I’ll have to keep a closer eye on the oil level in between changes.

 

[boostedguy05]

Dod are worse on oil consumption, but I thought that was common for 5.3 to stop every 300 miles, top off the oil and check the gas.

 

[SpeedSpeak2me]

Dod are worse on oil consumption, but I thought that was common for 5.3 to stop every 300 miles, top off the oil and check the gas.

During the winter I'd be happy to go 300 miles on a tank (26 gal)

 

[1998gpgt]

During the winter I'd be happy to go 300 miles on a tank (26 gal)

The MPG definitely hurts me a little bit haha. Prior to this, my DD for the last year was an 2008 Sentra. Ungodly slow, but 33 MPG was nice. Now I get half that.

 

[DEEZUZ]

What's the blow by look like hot and cold? Remove the oil fill cap while running, is there alot of steam?

 

[boostedguy05]

During the winter I'd be happy to go 300 miles on a tank (26 gal)

Warming that bitch up a lot are ya. Or filling up at half a tank.

 

[1998gpgt]

And… the light still came on this morning at cold start in 46 degree weather.

What's the blow by look like hot and cold? Remove the oil fill cap while running, is there alot of steam?

I’ll take a look at this tonight.

Also will pick up oil change supplies and give that a try.

 

[SpeedSpeak2me]

Warming that bitch up a lot are ya. Or filling up at half a tank.

My truck averages about 13-14mpg in the winter with city driving, mostly due to traffic not knowing how to maintain a constant speed. I'll use the remote start, but it is a factory installed one, so max run time is 7 minutes, and can only do it twice before you need to cycle the ignition. At idle it is only burning like 0.4/gph. I'll usually fill up about 1/4 tank (18-20 gals burned), and have only covered about 250-280 miles.

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

My truck averages about 13-14mpg in the winter with city driving, mostly due to traffic not knowing how to maintain a constant speed. I'll use the remote start, but it is a factory installed one, so max run time is 7 minutes, and can only do it twice before you need to cycle the ignition. At idle it is only burning like 0.4/gph. I'll usually fill up about 1/4 tank (18-20 gals burned), and have only covered about 250-280 miles.

No different than any 5.3 I’ve owned. Summer I could squeak out like 16mpg around town. I’d get just over 20 on pure highway.

 

[SpeedSpeak2me]

No different than any 5.3 I’ve owned. Summer I could squeak out like 16mpg around town. I’d get just over 20 on pure highway.

20 on the highway for me is a pipe dream. With the 4L60 and 3.73's it'll average about 17.5 holding 70mph.

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

20 on the highway for me is a pipe dream. With the 4L60 and 3.73's it'll average about 17.5 holding 70mph.

Literally what my Yukon had, also had full time 4wd.

 

[sktchy]

If you added oil and the light shut off it makes me think that it's more likely the pickup tube o ring. The added weight of more oil essentially helping to push it up the tube. Just a thought though.

 

[1998gpgt]

What's the blow by look like hot and cold? Remove the oil fill cap while running, is there alot of steam?

Just tried this. I didn’t see any steam when I removed the oil cap.

 

[1998gpgt]

If you added oil and the light shut off it makes me think that it's more likely the pickup tube o ring. The added weight of more oil essentially helping to push it up the tube. Just a thought though.

Light still came on this morning. I checked the oil level again and it looked like she is still thirsty for more. I’m going to top off a little bit more and try again in the morning.

Without doing a search, how annoying would replacing the o-ring be? Pretty straight forward once the oil pan comes off?