Identifying The Correct Oil Pick-Up Tube O-Ring For Your LS Swap

Two different O-rings, but which do you choose, which do you use?

Oil pump pick-up tubes probably don’t come up in too many conversations. They certainly doing in ours. This part is seldom discussed unless we’re blaming it on an engine failure, or we have the engine cracked open for either a swap, repair, or rebuild.

Mark Burch Jr. over at A Gearhead For Life spends his evenings, and most weekends wrenching on various LS swap projects, and found himself facing a particular conundrum regarding an oil pump pick-up tube for a project. As he was preparing to swap a 6.0 LS engine into a 1992 Camaro, Burch needed a new O-ring for the pick-up tube.

Burch’s latest project a 1992 Camaro.

Burch made a parts run to the local auto parts warehouse and the package he received contained two O-rings. One black, and one green. Both of these O-rings appear to be about the same, or at least very close to the naked eye. Like Indiana Jones picking the proper cup at the end of The Last Crusade, choosing wisely would lead to long life, while choosing poorly would lead to (in this case) low oil pressure and possible engine failure.

The correct answer for this particular engine is the black O-ring. Burch shared this information on social media, and he included the details below.

GM Oil Pick-Up Tube O-Ring. First design (black O-ring here)
PN 12557752 Blue Seal Specifics:

  • Chevy/GMC Pick-Up (1999-2000 LS V8) 1st design
  • F-Body (1998-2002)
  • The 6.0 engine going in the Camaro, which also happens to be getting turbocharged.

    Cadillac CTS-V (2004-2007)

  • Corvette (1997-2008)
  • Thickness = 3.55mm (0.140″)
  • ID = 23.60mm (0.930″) GM Oil Pick-Up Tube

GM Oil Pick-Up Tube O-Ring. Second design (green O-ring here)
PN12584922 Red Seal Specifics:

  • Chevy/GMC Pick-Up (1999-2000 LS V8 engines with 2nd design pick-up tube)
  • Trailblazer (2003-2008 With LS V8 engine)
  • Hummer H2 (2003-2008)
  • Hummer H3 (2008 With LS V8 engine)
  • Chevy/GMC Pick-Up (2001-2008 LS V8 engines)
  • W- Body (2006-2008 With LS V8 engine – Impala, Lacrosse, Grand Prix)
  • Thickness = 4.20mm (0.165″)
  • ID = 20.69mm

According to Burch the final verdict also comes down to the type of pickup used. The thicker green O-ring is used on a pick-up tube that has a recess in it for a captured O-ring seal. The black O-ring would be used on a more traditional style pick-up tube. So for all of us out there doing LS swaps, now you know.

About the author

Don Creason

Don Creason is an automotive journalist with passions that lie from everything classic, all the way to modern muscle. Experienced tech writer, and all around car aficionado, Don's love for both cars and writing makes him the perfect addition to the Power Automedia team of experts.
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