I have a 1995 Camaro with a 3.4V6. It's always run fine till just a couple of days ago the motor developed a valve knocking kinda noise at start up. This is usually on a cold motor. Once it warms up, it's fine! No noise, plenty of power.......runs good. I've run a can of motor flush through the motor and put in a Castrol High Mileage 5W30 with a new filter. Now the clicking doesn't last as long at start up,but the Oil Pressure Gauge is showing LOW pressure at idle. When I give it gas, the pressure increases to where it should be. Do I have a bad oil pump here, and if so, what am I looking at to have it replaced? Thanks in advance for all help!

 

The oil pump most likely is OK, but you probably have a high mileage car and it needs something heavier than 5W30 to hold the pressure at idle. The clicking is probably due to a bad lifter that drains down when the engine is shut off. The only way to fix it is to change the lifter, but before you do that, you may want to try adjusting the rocker arm, just in case it worked itself loose.

 

Thanks Pete for the reply!

Just a couple of questions...What weigt oil would you suggest switching to, and if I had a garage look at the lifter / rocker arm, what would be a reasonable amount for repairs, depending upon what they might would find?

Thanks Again,
Seth

Also....started the vehicle up this evening, had the noticeable tick, which went away fairly quickly, and the pil pressure at idle was fine???????????? I don't know what's going on? Car has 102,000 miles on it!

 

10W40 or even 20W50, if you have hot summers, would be a better choice. Keep in mind that the heavier oil will help with the oil pressure, but will probably make the ticking last for a longer time. A rocker arm adjustment should not cost too much, but replacing lifters involves a bit work, like removing the intake manifold in order to get to the lifters.