Oil pump failure LT1 only

Jonnydz · 03-02-2023, 06:15 AM

Ok guys I have a 17 1le and am 1 month from being out of cpo warranty. I just went down the rabbit hole of reading over 80 pages on the zl1 forum of nightmare stories related to oil pump failures. Most do seem to be with the Lt4, with a handful of Lt1s, but then again it was posted in the zl1 section. We share the same pump and there have been 7 different part numbers since 2017 with no apparent fix. Please chime in if u have had a problem with your oil pump on a ss and post your build date. If someone can create a pole with years that would be helpful. Thanks.

SSDan · 03-02-2023, 06:57 AM

Build date: 01/2016 - Owned since new - 39K miles - Zero issues with oil pressure.

Casper the friendly G · 03-02-2023, 09:03 AM

2017, Build fall 2016. Original owner. Over 61k miles....no issues.

Joshinator99 · 03-02-2023, 09:11 AM

2017 here, bought new and I am the only/original owner. Only 12K miles…but a good amount of it at 1130 BHP. No oil pump issues.

dmcmahan60 · 03-02-2023, 10:02 AM

2017 1SS here, bought used with 10,000 miles on it 4 years ago. I am at 109k now and still doing great

easttxss · 03-02-2023, 03:26 PM

Both my cars were/are higher mileage, 80K and the current 110K. No oil pump problems.

ctrlz · 03-02-2023, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonnydz

over 80 pages on the zl1 forum of nightmare stories related to oil pump failures. Most do seem to be with the Lt4, with a handful of Lt1s, but then again it was posted in the zl1 section. We share the same pump and there have been 7 different part numbers since 2017 with no apparent fix.

No oil pressure issues with my 2017 2SS (46,000 miles).

The oil pump failures are a bit of a mystery. The pictures with obvious damage typically show a stress crack in the inner chamber, where the rotary vanes rub. When cracked, the chamber leaks and the pump can't build pressure. This has blamed on cheap alloy, but does not really explain what causes the stress.
Katech offers a billet alternative, but I'm not sure their pump is 100% reliable either. There was never follow-up in this thread:
https://www.camaro6.com/forums/showt...=600789&page=5

My guess would be cavitation is causing the stress and cracking the housing. There have also been reports of timing chain rub causing wear, but I have not seen pictures. The pictures of the cracked inner housing suggest (to me, at least) that this is a problem originating within the pump.

LT4Greg · 03-02-2023, 04:17 PM

April 2017 the build date for my ZL1 and no problems yet. Keeping my fingers crossed though that the oil pump doesn’t go out.

N Camarolina · 03-02-2023, 11:17 PM

SS 1LE. I lost the engine while at the track, with 5K on the odo. Was told I had at least one spun rod bearing, but here may have been more. Unclear as to whether the oil pump was still good or not.

Looking at the PDR data, the oil temp increased to 300F (30F over the usual max track temp) 1/2 lap before the engine failure, while oil pressure was still good until about 5-10 seconds before the engine failure. Seems like the cause was something other than the oil pump, like either the pick-up tube or the pump got oil starved/aerated.

Casper the friendly G · 03-03-2023, 02:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by N Camarolina

SS 1LE. I lost the engine while at the track, with 5K on the odo. Was told I had at least one spun rod bearing, but here may have been more. Unclear as to whether the oil pump was still good or not.

Looking at the PDR data, the oil temp increased to 300F (30F over the usual max track temp) 1/2 lap before the engine failure, while oil pressure was still good until about 5-10 seconds before the engine failure. Seems like the cause was something other than the oil pump, like either the pick-up tube or the pump got oil starved/aerated.

Didn't Chevy investigate it?

gpskinzhut · 03-03-2023, 08:57 AM

Had my '17 2SS for 4 years and 52k miles. No issues with oil pressure.

Traded it towards a '17 ZL1 with 14k miles. Experienced low pressure within the next 5k miles, swapped to a Katech and confirmed the OEM was cracked after removal. GM wouldn't touch it unless it failed outright despite recordings of sub-20psi pressure at times.

ctrlz · 03-03-2023, 09:43 AM

At about the 26 minute mark in this video he shows the place where the pump cracks.
The part that cracks is called the stator. the rotor holds the vanes.

Also, a video explaining the destructive force of cavitation in a rotary vane pump;

Mark R · 03-03-2023, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ctrlz

No oil pressure issues with my 2017 2SS (46,000 miles).

The oil pump failures are a bit of a mystery. The pictures with obvious damage typically show a stress crack in the inner chamber, where the rotary vanes rub. When cracked, the chamber leaks and the pump can't build pressure. This has blamed on cheap alloy, but does not really explain what causes the stress.
Katech offers a billet alternative, but I'm not sure their pump is 100% reliable either. There was never follow-up in this thread:
https://www.camaro6.com/forums/showt...=600789&page=5

My guess would be cavitation is causing the stress and cracking the housing. There have also been reports of timing chain rub causing wear, but I have not seen pictures. The pictures of the cracked inner housing suggest (to me, at least) that this is a problem originating within the pump.

Here is a pic of where the LT-4 pump breaks. I replaced my ZL-1 oil pump at 14,000 miles with the Katech unit; the oil pump was still working. Katech claims they use superior material.

ctrlz · 03-03-2023, 01:17 PM

Thanks, Mark. I was trying to locate that picture earlier!
The crack is at the 9:00 position in that picture, in case anyone is wondering. That seems to be the thinnest area of the stator because there is that small semicircle indentation notched out. The 3:00 side looks equally thin, but that is a bit of an illusion because the wall is thicker "deeper" into the picture.

03-02-2023, 06:15 AM	#1
Jonnydz Drives: 2017 1ss 1le Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Merritt island Posts: 118	Oil pump failure LT1 only Ok guys I have a 17 1le and am 1 month from being out of cpo warranty. I just went down the rabbit hole of reading over 80 pages on the zl1 forum of nightmare stories related to oil pump failures. Most do seem to be with the Lt4, with a handful of Lt1s, but then again it was posted in the zl1 section. We share the same pump and there have been 7 different part numbers since 2017 with no apparent fix. Please chime in if u have had a problem with your oil pump on a ss and post your build date. If someone can create a pole with years that would be helpful. Thanks. __________________

03-02-2023, 06:57 AM	#2
SSDan Drives: 2016 1SS 6MT NPP Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Lake Murray, SC Posts: 2,245 View My Garage	Build date: 01/2016 - Owned since new - 39K miles - Zero issues with oil pressure. __________________ 2016 Camaro 1SS Hyper Blue 6MT NPP 2010 Camaro 2SS Cam/Headers/CAI/3.91 gears 476 rwhp/440 rwtq (sold)

03-02-2023, 09:11 AM	#4
Joshinator99 Drives: 2017 Camaro 2SS A8 Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: Petersham MA Posts: 4,755	2017 here, bought new and I am the only/original owner. Only 12K miles…but a good amount of it at 1130 BHP. No oil pump issues. __________________ 2017 Chevy Camaro 2SS A8 Whipple 3.0, Mast Black Label heads, Fore triple in-tank pumps, 112mm TB, LPE +52% injectors, LPE BB HPFP, 15” conversion *1059 WHP/944 WTQ, 9.48@150*

03-02-2023, 03:26 PM	#6
easttxss Drives: '16 2SS M6 Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Hughes Springs, TX Posts: 320	Both my cars were/are higher mileage, 80K and the current 110K. No oil pump problems. __________________ David '16 2SS M6 black on black, SW long tube full exhaust, NPP, Roto-fab CAI, ported stock TB '16 2SS M6 black w/Metallic black stripes, Kalahari, 6 piston front (totaled 1/22/20) '14 Fusion Titanium 2.0T '83 Jeep Wagoneer

03-02-2023, 04:17 PM	#8
LT4Greg Drives: 2017 Camaro ZL1 Coupe Join Date: May 2016 Location: Georgia Posts: 5,813	April 2017 the build date for my ZL1 and no problems yet. Keeping my fingers crossed though that the oil pump doesn’t go out. __________________ ZL1 Coupe, PDR, Exposed carbon fiber hood insert, My Link with Nav, M6 6 speed and Silver Ice Metallic. Mods done: ceramic window tint, GM Accessories Camaro floor mats and Roto-Fab CAI.

03-02-2023, 09:03 AM	#3
Casper the friendly G Account Suspended Drives: 17' Chevy Kamaro SS 6 speed Join Date: Mar 2022 Location: US Posts: 337	2017, Build fall 2016. Original owner. Over 61k miles....no issues.

03-02-2023, 10:02 AM	#5
dmcmahan60 Drives: 2017 SS Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Arab, AL Posts: 763 View My Garage	2017 1SS here, bought used with 10,000 miles on it 4 years ago. I am at 109k now and still doing great

03-02-2023, 11:17 PM	#9
N Camarolina Drives: 2021 2SS 1LE Join Date: Aug 2020 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 805	SS 1LE. I lost the engine while at the track, with 5K on the odo. Was told I had at least one spun rod bearing, but here may have been more. Unclear as to whether the oil pump was still good or not. Looking at the PDR data, the oil temp increased to 300F (30F over the usual max track temp) 1/2 lap before the engine failure, while oil pressure was still good until about 5-10 seconds before the engine failure. Seems like the cause was something other than the oil pump, like either the pick-up tube or the pump got oil starved/aerated.

03-03-2023, 08:57 AM	#11
gpskinzhut Drives: 2017 ZL1 A10 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Knoxville, TN Posts: 1,960 View My Garage	Had my '17 2SS for 4 years and 52k miles. No issues with oil pressure. Traded it towards a '17 ZL1 with 14k miles. Experienced low pressure within the next 5k miles, swapped to a Katech and confirmed the OEM was cracked after removal. GM wouldn't touch it unless it failed outright despite recordings of sub-20psi pressure at times. __________________ 2017 ZL1 A10 2017 2SS M6: (SOLD) \|\| 2014 2LT Convertible: (SOLD) \|\| 2010 2LT M6 Supercharged:(SOLD) \|\| 1987 IROC-Z 5.0 M5: (SOLD)

03-03-2023, 01:17 PM	#14
ctrlz Drives: 2017 2SS, 50th pkg, M6, MRC, NPP Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Ocean City, NJ Posts: 3,181	Thanks, Mark. I was trying to locate that picture earlier! The crack is at the 9:00 position in that picture, in case anyone is wondering. That seems to be the thinnest area of the stator because there is that small semicircle indentation notched out. The 3:00 side looks equally thin, but that is a bit of an illusion because the wall is thicker "deeper" into the picture.

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