Oil Pressure Dropped To ZERO

[lumberjack890]

Was driving along and my oil pressure gauge dropped to zero.

At idle the needle only goes up about a quarter. It does fluctuate back and forth.

What could be the problem? My guess is the oil pressure sensor went bad.

Any advice is greatly appreciated

2001 GMC Yukon 5.3 V8

 

[swathdiver]

Was driving along and my oil pressure gauge dropped to zero.

At idle the needle only goes up about a quarter. It does fluctuate back and forth.

What could be the problem? My guess is the oil pressure sensor went bad.

Any advice is greatly appreciated

2001 GMC Yukon 5.3 V8

Add two more quarts and see if the pressure comes up, if it does, it's time for the pick up tube o-ring to be replaced. One guy on here has driven around like that for a while until he could fix it.

 

[lumberjack890]

Add two more quarts and see if the pressure comes up, if it does, it's time for the pick up tube o-ring to be replaced. One guy on here has driven around like that for a while until he could fix it.

Just checked the oil level after letting it sit for a few hours. It's damn near full. Turned it on and the pressure is flirting around 20psi. Wouldn't it be the Oil Switch?

 

[iamdub]

Just checked the oil level after letting it sit for a few hours. It's damn near full. Turned it on and the pressure is flirting around 20psi. Wouldn't it be the Oil Switch?

Best to check with a mechanical gauge.

Adding two quarts as James mentioned isn't to fill it, it's to OVERFILL it. This is to test the O-ring. Adding two quarts brings the oil level in the oil pan high enough to submerge the O-ring. If it's split and leaking, the oil pump sucks in air, causing aeration and loss of pressure. Submerging it keeps it from sucking in air. If adding the oil returns the pressure to what it was before or higher, then you need to replace the O-ring. Some people park the vehicle in a nose-dive, like with the front wheels in a ditch, to ensure the oil submerges the O-ring.

 

[BG1988]

Was driving along and my oil pressure gauge dropped to zero.

At idle the needle only goes up about a quarter. It does fluctuate back and forth.

What could be the problem? My guess is the oil pressure sensor went bad.

Any advice is greatly appreciated

2001 GMC Yukon 5.3 V8

also tell us how dirty/clogged the screen is once it's cracked open there is a BIG debate on this
here
https://www.tahoeyukonforum.com/posts/1448405/

more then likely the screen got clogged and broke the oring (path of lest resistance)

(should replace the sensor while you're in there)

another thing with the gmt800 is the needle goes bad

 

[lumberjack890]

also tell us how dirty/clogged the screen is once it's cracked open there is a BIG debate on this
here
https://www.tahoeyukonforum.com/posts/1448405/

more then likely the screen got clogged and broke the oring (path of lest resistance)

(should replace the sensor while you're in there)

another thing with the gmt800 is the needle goes bad

Got the sensor and going to replace it tomorrow. Hopefully that fixes it.

I've seen videos on the O-ring change and it looks like a pain in the ass, so fingers crossed

 

[swathdiver]

Best to check with a mechanical gauge.

Adding two quarts as James mentioned isn't to fill it, it's to OVERFILL it. This is to test the O-ring. Adding two quarts brings the oil level in the oil pan high enough to submerge the O-ring. If it's split and leaking, the oil pump sucks in air, causing aeration and loss of pressure. Submerging it keeps it from sucking in air. If adding the oil returns the pressure to what it was before or higher, then you need to replace the O-ring. Some people park the vehicle in a nose-dive, like with the front wheels in a ditch, to ensure the oil submerges the O-ring.

Thanks Chris! Stated the why better than I!

 

[JonnyTahoe]

Add two more quarts and see if the pressure comes up, if it does, it's time for the pick up tube o-ring to be replaced. One guy on here has driven around like that for a while until he could fix it.

The guy your talking about drove with a bad O-ring for thousands of miles I drove mine for maybe five hundred. You will have some pressure at cold start for only a few minutes and then it will drop down to zero. With normal driving the pressure will seem ok for awhile until you have to stop in traffic. I use to have to put mine in neutral at stop lights to keep the rpm's around 2000 till the light turned green. This will happen all the time not just once in a while.

 

[JonnyTahoe]

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[JonnyTahoe]

Was driving along and my oil pressure gauge dropped to zero.

At idle the needle only goes up about a quarter. It does fluctuate back and forth.

What could be the problem? My guess is the oil pressure sensor went bad.

Any advice is greatly appreciated

2001 GMC Yukon 5.3 V8

I would agree with your diagnosis. Mine had normal oil pressure while ''Driving Along''. If your pressure drops to Zero and your Lifters start making noise which mine did that's your O-ring.