High Oil Pressure

[caddysaver]

the pressure was at the head, when I look at the gasket the 3 notches are on the left side of the bulge on the side of the head. I'm pulling the head tonight anyway, it gets me out of the house if you know what I mean

[R.O.R-2.0]

if you have pressure at the head, the gasket is done right.

[maxfax]

Understand about getting out of the house..    But if you are referring to left, as in the driver's side of the car, the HG is right...

[rabbitman]

I cut a fram, carquest blue and red (two grades, both made by wix) open for the local carquest to compare and show off.

Fram: 36 pleats w/ cardboard ends, lame anti-drain valve and the pressure bypass valve was at the other end so if it opened the oil would flush everything the pleats caught back into the engine.

Blue: 60 pleats w/ metal ends, well fitting silicone anti-drain valve, pressure bypass valve it the same end as the threads so it the oil would turn right around and exit the filter without touching the filter media.

Red: 54 pleats w/ metal ends, silicone anti-drain valve and a slightly different design of bypass valve at the thread end.

[maxfax]

Yet it had to be Fram who was first for putting that brilliant grippy stuff on the filters.... I guess there are others doing that now... 

[theman53]

I use the spin on TDI bosch or mann filters. They are supposed to have a better anti drainback valve and bypass pressure rating.
I would see if there is a pressure spring in the oil pump and if it is a bit over zealous. IIRC we had one in a small block chevy that we shimmed so that it would build more pressure, but then it started blowing apart oil filters. I have no clue if the VW design is similar or not, but if it is that could be a source of your high pressure.
When you built it did you use the 36mm oil pump? If you did and have a mech engine it might not be too far off from what it should be.

[BigVWman]

Of course none of the filter talk helps the original problem, but doesn't "most" of the oil end up bypassing the filter anyway because of how the pressures are set up in the bypass valve in the filter?

[theman53]

Of course none of the filter talk helps the original problem, but doesn't "most" of the oil end up bypassing the filter anyway because of how the pressures are set up in the bypass valve in the filter?

No, the filter is very important on pressures. Mine that I run yeilds 5-10psi better than the orange thing. And it builds pressure faster on cold start, I think because of drainback. Plus if the expoxy/cardboard mix in the orange filter comes apart it is then pretty much a 100% bypass. That could effect the oil pressure and may have happened here if his filter was only 1/2 full. I don't think the orange is as good of quality as most and could be causing some pressure issues because of that.
Before I knew any better and my local place didn't have a PH3569 I used an old ford gasser I think PH1 since it was the "same". Randomly my oil light and buzzer would go off until the next oil change, then it dissappeared. The PH1 has differnent internals and roughly 1/2 of the bypass rating as the 3569 and it was causing some pressure issues. So I guess what I am saying is the filter is a relavant point...maybe not his answer, but maybe it is. I would look more into the oil pump as stated in my previous post.

[81 vw pu]

 
I'm with theman53 on the bypass valve in the oil pump being stuck and not pushing against the spring to dump the extra pressure.

[R.O.R-2.0]

The 1.6 shouldn't need a bypass filter as there is a bypass valve in the oil filter flange, or a anti-drainback valve since the filter sits almost vertical. My filter is always full when I do a oil change.
I'm with theman53 on the bypass valve in the oil pump being stuck and not pushing against the spring to dump the extra pressure.

most engines had no bypass valve in the flange..

and you still need an anti-drain back valve, the oil pump pickup is lower than the filter. the oil is gonna get syphoned back out without a drain back valve.

[caddysaver]

Thanks for all the ideas, when I talk about the gasket notches they are on the left side looking at the engine. You are right that I have pressure and oil at the head but doing some research on gaskets and I have a gasket bought from a dealership the was made in  Spain and when I place it on a spare block that I have the correct way when installed would be with the notches on the right side facing the engine, does anyone think that when different companies making gasket some place the notches on the left and others on the right?  I'm going to try a different filter than the orange one before I pull the head. This thing is becoming a love hate relationship

[R.O.R-2.0]

Thanks for all the ideas, when I talk about the gasket notches they are on the left side looking at the engine. You are right that I have pressure and oil at the head but doing some research on gaskets and I have a gasket bought from a dealership the was made in  Spain and when I place it on a spare block that I have the correct way when installed would be with the notches on the right side facing the engine, does anyone think that when different companies making gasket some place the notches on the left and others on the right?  I'm going to try a different filter than the orange one before I pull the head. This thing is becoming a love hate relationship

notches can be on different sides depending on the gasket brand..

ive seen some on the right, and some on the left..

only thing you gotta pay attention to, is that the word "OBEN" (top) is facing up..

[maxfax]

This thing is becoming a love hate relationship

Welcome to VW diesel ownership!  

If the notches are to your left while facing the engine that is typically backwards, but I have seen one or two that were odd....  Usually, though, when the gasket is flipped you have no oil to the head period..  

I'd try a filter, that's cheap and easy.. Like most of us here..   

[81 vw pu]

The 1.6 shouldn't need a bypass filter as there is a bypass valve in the oil filter flange, or a anti-drainback valve since the filter sits almost vertical. My filter is always full when I do a oil change.
I'm with theman53 on the bypass valve in the oil pump being stuck and not pushing against the spring to dump the extra pressure.

most engines had no bypass valve in the flange..

and you still need an anti-drain back valve, the oil pump pickup is lower than the filter. the oil is gonna get syphoned back out without a drain back valve.

I stand corrected man. upon looking at the bentley again, even though they show the oil filter bypass valve above the filter in the oil flow chart it appears to be built into  the filter.

[caddysaver]

the filter screws on with the hole facing up so no oil could leak out upon removeal I don't see any relief valve on the filter housing the only one that I could see was that on the new oil pump that I installed

not sure what you mean about the vertical filter?