408 LSx bearing material in oil filter

[Neil B]

Hey Guys,

I'm looking at purchasing a car with a built 408ci LS1. The idle oil pressure made me a little nervous, so we took the car to put a mechanical gauge on the filter port. The car has 17psi at idle (900rpm), 30psi at 2,000rpm, 40psi at 3,000rpm. We cut the oil filter open and found a fair bit of copper bearing material in there. The oil also had some very tiny particles, but it appears the filter caught most of it.

I'm not sure how much (if any) bearing material is acceptable in the filter. Would you guys shy away from the purchase?

Thanks. --Neil

[6'9"Witha69]

Those are VERY low pressures for a GenIII engine, even stock never mind well built. Sounds like the bearings need replacing.

[matty b]

I would avoid that like the plague, on a fresh motor during its first 1000 miles you may see some silvery material that is fairly fine but if you are seeing copper in it and that low of oil pressure definitley skip it.

[MarkM66]

If you can physically see metal, it's junk.

[Neil B]

Thanks for confirming guys.