5.3 Liter question - Lateral-g Forums

**Ummgawa** · #1 02-18-2010, 11:49 AM

I have a 5.3 Liter in my Chevrolet truck, best vehicle I have ever owned. I was driving it today and out of the blue the valves started clattering and the oil pressure dropped. I whipped into a parts store, checked the oil level, perfect. Got back in the truck, refired, quiet as a church mouse.

Driving it home, did it again. pressure dropped, clatter, stopped, refired, nothing.

Motor about to take a dump? 250K miles, I have put every mile on it. I like it better than my other truck and hate to see it crap out. It has been meticoulously maintained, but I guess every dog has it's day.

Anyone here have a same LS based problem like this?

Vegas69 · #2 02-18-2010, 12:17 PM

I'd put my money on a sticky relief valve. Fix it before you ruin the engine.

**WSSix** · #3 02-18-2010, 02:12 PM

x2 on the oil pump. It's on the front of the crank snout. Not the most fun thing to go at but not terrible.

70rs · #4 02-18-2010, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vegas69

I'd put my money on a sticky relief valve. Fix it before you ruin the engine.

Bingo. Many(6 in 3 mos time) of these came into the dealership I worked at. All high mile rigs. My own truck has 178k on it now and has not done that yet, but I almost expect it to. The 5.3s are great, I love mine. If you take care of it soon you should get a lot more miles out of it.

**Ummgawa** · #5 02-19-2010, 01:52 PM

Had the oil changed and that did the trick! Thanks guys. I went on ahead and purchased the oil pump just in case.

Preciate it fellas.

Vegas69 · #6 02-19-2010, 03:44 PM

For now.....

rjsjea · #7 02-19-2010, 06:54 PM

I'd be stoked if my Tahoe's 5.3 lasts 250k.....

deuce_454 · #8 02-20-2010, 04:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ummgawa

Had the oil changed and that did the trick! Thanks guys. I went on ahead and purchased the oil pump just in case.

Preciate it fellas.

when you change out the oilpump.. be sure to change out the pickup-tube o-ring.. even if it looks fine it can be alittle leaky allowing air into the oil.. giving all sorts of funny noises..

and its not a small deal to change out the pump btw... the ballancer is press on, so you need a puller and installer.. and the ballancer bolt is torque to yield.. and when you are in there anyway install a new ls6 chain...

**Ummgawa** · #9 02-24-2010, 06:22 PM

Thanks for all the input. I purchased a used 5.3 for $300.00 plus a 72 SS hood (GM piece) off a 67k mile wrecked tahoe JUST IN CASE.