Low oil pressure at idle, pulling my hair out, looking for any and all options.

[Foggy]

I'm in the same boat as you with my 07 with 230k. I've been battling a P0011 code. My oil pressure is actually pretty great and the truck honestly runs phenomenally. 80% of the time its Stabilitrak/Traction lights only that come on. 20% of the time it triggers a CEL. Either way, a P0011 code is stored intermittently (when only ST/TC lights come on) or fixed code when it triggers the CEL also.

As it relates to attempts to solve the P0011, I've replaced the VVT magnet, the actuator, camshaft position sensor, and that 5-pin harness for the CPS and magnet. The phaser is the one part I have not. I can either take one more $125 gamble -- and the hassle of pulling the water pump off yet again -- and put in a new phaser.

Or say screw it and get rid of VVT for the cost of a VVT delete kit ($150-250 depending on how much of the timing set I want to do "while you're in there") plus the cost of a non-VVT camshaft (and thus new valve springs and tuning in all reasonable cases).

Because of the good oil pressure in the engine, I'm not too concerned just yet about the root cause being the camshaft bearings. So I'll start with 1 of the 2 paths above.

Sounds like you are in the same train of thought right now too. Keep us posted and I'll share my findings as I progress.

As for the behavior of my P0011, it comes on like clockwork. I regularly make a trip where I start the truck and drive about 5 miles at 35mph, 5 miles at 50mph, then 25 miles at 80mph on the interstate, then 2 miles at 35mph at my exit. It is like clockwork that my Stabilitrak/Traction light will come on during that final 2 mile 35mph drive.

IF it runs fine... you could just have those codes/cel tuned OUT with HP tuners and then
just change the VVT tables while your there... That would most likely get rid of those issues.
And you could do a bit more too to make it a better 'driving' truck...

 

[drseth]

If you decide to go the cam replacement route, it’s a great time to upgrade to a little bigger cam. If you choose one designed specifically for the 6.2, you can see gains of 50 HP + torque, still keep a smooth idle and not miss VVT. I did this in my 2012 and am very happy with the results.

Did making the change hurt your gas mileage to any great extent?

 

[Geotrash]

Did making the change hurt your gas mileage to any great extent?

No. If anything, I gained a little in mileage while not towing and it's about the same when towing. Hard to know whether to attribute that to the Blackbear tune or the cam, but I'm happy.

 

[Levin37]

So the crank relearn changed nothing. Didn't get to drive very far end of last week but did get it upto temp for awhile on Fri and it ran terribly. My last stop of the day it wouldn't even restart, it would like half start, rumble and die. Gave it 5-10, finally restarted and got it home. Bought some of that Lucas stabilizer that zissou suggested, will get that in today. Talked to a couple local LS rebuild shops and as soon as I mentioned an 07 6.2 they said cam bearings. And since I've changed all the VVT parts I have I am strongly leaning that way. Found this thread by 07 Esky owners all experiencing the same thing; https://www.cadillacforums.com/threads/2007-escalade-esv-service-stabilitrak-service-traction-control-lights-code-p-0011.261727/ Getting quotes on a rebuild, will swap in a non-VVT cam, they are recommending BTR. They cant get it in until beginning of Feb so will run with the additive until and report any changes. If/when I get the rebuild I will have the shop report on the findings, cam bearings etc.

 

[zissou]

So the crank relearn changed nothing. Didn't get to drive very far end of last week but did get it upto temp for awhile on Fri and it ran terribly. My last stop of the day it wouldn't even restart, it would like half start, rumble and die. Gave it 5-10, finally restarted and got it home. Bought some of that Lucas stabilizer that zissou suggested, will get that in today. Talked to a couple local LS rebuild shops and as soon as I mentioned an 07 6.2 they said cam bearings. And since I've changed all the VVT parts I have I am strongly leaning that way. Found this thread by 07 Esky owners all experiencing the same thing; https://www.cadillacforums.com/threads/2007-escalade-esv-service-stabilitrak-service-traction-control-lights-code-p-0011.261727/ Getting quotes on a rebuild, will swap in a non-VVT cam, they are recommending BTR. They cant get it in until beginning of Feb so will run with the additive until and report any changes. If/when I get the rebuild I will have the shop report on the findings, cam bearings etc.

Keep us posted. Lights are still all off for me with just the Lucas.

All my VVT delete parts will be here by Friday. VVT delete kit, Cam Motion Stg 2 low-lift 6.2 truck cam, BB Autocal tune. I'll be tackling it this weekend.

 

[Geotrash]

So the crank relearn changed nothing. Didn't get to drive very far end of last week but did get it upto temp for awhile on Fri and it ran terribly. My last stop of the day it wouldn't even restart, it would like half start, rumble and die. Gave it 5-10, finally restarted and got it home. Bought some of that Lucas stabilizer that zissou suggested, will get that in today. Talked to a couple local LS rebuild shops and as soon as I mentioned an 07 6.2 they said cam bearings. And since I've changed all the VVT parts I have I am strongly leaning that way. Found this thread by 07 Esky owners all experiencing the same thing; https://www.cadillacforums.com/threads/2007-escalade-esv-service-stabilitrak-service-traction-control-lights-code-p-0011.261727/ Getting quotes on a rebuild, will swap in a non-VVT cam, they are recommending BTR. They cant get it in until beginning of Feb so will run with the additive until and report any changes. If/when I get the rebuild I will have the shop report on the findings, cam bearings etc.

I’m my opinion, skip the BTR cam. I had their stage 2 truck cam and it wasn’t great because it’s not optimized for the 6.2. I’m much happier with the Cam Motion stage 2 truck cam. I have the high lift version.

 

[Dustin Jackson]

Show us what those cam bearings look like, I remember when I swapped my cam there was a bit of controversy with the condition of my cam bearings but ultimately I just wanted to squeeze the rest of the life out of a 180,000 mile engine without breaking the bank. She still running good!

 

[Levin37]

Ran the Lucas stabilizer for 2 days and my truck did not like it at all. Engine codes galore, surging idle from 500-700, almost undrivable. Had it flushed out yesterday for conventional oil and it runs way better/the same it did last week and I will prob just run that until I pull the engine. My rebuilder (ex) is adamant that the Cam Motion stage 2 is the exact same as the BTR Truck Norris, or so close that they would perform exactly the same. Pushed him to the back burner and talking to my other engine guy. He talked me completely out of rebuilding, says crate engine all the way and I can recoup almost half back easily selling the L92. 6.2s are in super high demand, says I can get 4K easy and it will sell in a day. Apparently what everyone is doing, because the 6.2s are impossible to get new or used, at least around here is buying up all the NOS GM L76/L77 engines, that are made in Ontario, removing all the AFM/DOD adding a LS3 cam/springs, turning it into essentially the export only L98 and is then sold as a LS364/425. Its the aluminum 6.0l Gen IV LS with L92 heads. Same engine that Holden used exclusively in Australia for the Commodore UTE SS. They are easy to get and fairly cheap, less than the cost of my quoted rebuild, and I still get to keep/sell my engine. So now I'm shopping cams for the 6.0L, might still go for the Cam Motion as they are only 1.5 weeks out instead of the 4 weeks listed on the site, but leaning towards the new(er) version Summit Racing 8720R1 Stage 2 truck cam(218/227 112+2, .600/.600 High Lift version). Awaiting local stock confirmation on the new motor, hoping to have everything together by the 10th and swapping it that weekend.

 

[swathdiver]

@Levin37 Did you put a scan tool on this and command the actuator to 20 degrees?

Seems to me you either have a wiring issue or a bad ECM at this point if your oil pressure is good. What is your hot idle oil pressure?

 

[Levin37]

Ok, truck was still warm so I took the tech2 out and put it through the paces. Still cant get XP installed on my spare laptop so no luck with the PC software for plotting, so Ill have to pic dump some screenshots. Tech 2 screenshots, sorry, they are all over the place, Ill try to name them to make better sense. Hot idle oil pressure is way down since last week/month, it was usually straight up , 275-300 kPa, now its 100-120. Its still recovering from the additive and the conventional oil, or its just finally giving up on me. CMP results are a mess as you can see, ask it to do 20 and it does 3, 51, 9, 12, 6, 14, 7, 17, 18,2. I posted these first 10 frames. Also posted the first 125 plotted frames and the CMP is all over while the oil pressure is pretty steady 280-284 kPa. Not sure how to interpret further, any help/insight welcome.