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General Information => Troubleshooting => Topic started by: ORCoaster on March 19, 2013, 08:00:41 pm

Title: Oil pressure and filtering delemma
Post by: ORCoaster on March 19, 2013, 08:00:41 pm
OK, now I know some groan about having really poor oil pressure when they gauge it at the head.  I have the opposite problem.  On startup on these cold mornings I get almost an instant 70 psi that creeps up to 100 by the time it smooths out and is ready to roll.  Once I get to second  I have like 130 on the gauge and it will bounce between 90 and 130 as I head to work and encounter the stop signs and lights.

I looked the Bentley over and it didn't seem to say anything about a regulator for the pressure.  I am sure this situation is shoving all my oil straight through my filter and I even blew a line on the Frantz filter last Sunday.  So I am pretty sure I have that high of pressure going on in this engine.  I have great oil delivery in the cam area and is so good it floods the place.  I can see it spraying all about through the oil filler cap.  

How do I correct the problem?  Is there a means to make the pump do a less stellar job?  

Anyone need a pump with this capability?  

I can't think of where a plug might be, can you?
Title: Re: Oil pressure and filtering delemma
Post by: wolf_walker on March 19, 2013, 08:08:24 pm
I'm almost sure Bentley references the relief valve that can stick and cause overly high oil pressure.
Title: Re: Oil pressure and filtering delemma
Post by: CRSMP5 on March 19, 2013, 08:15:57 pm
on the bolt on part the pickup tube is part of is a freeze plug looking thing with a hole in it.. that is the cap of the releife valve..

i drill across it for a saftey wire/cotter key for reassembly... then stick a screw in the hole and pull the plug out..

heavy spring... a supposed to move butter smooth steel sleve should also fall out... if stuck at all.. that your issue..

i then stick in vice.. press the cap back in.. slip saftey wire/cotter key thru the hole.. and reinstall..
Title: Re: Oil pressure and filtering delemma
Post by: ORCoaster on March 19, 2013, 09:26:35 pm
Thanks guys. I read if the pressure is too high then you need to adjust the regulator but the information for how to do that goes dark.  As in no lead, no index reference etc.  I will have the pump off soon hopefully as the rings need redo as well. 

What is it with these cars?  Always want a fix. 

Don't say it!
Title: Re: Oil pressure and filtering delemma
Post by: wolf_walker on March 19, 2013, 09:54:51 pm


What is it with these cars?  Always want a fix. 


You noticed that too huh?
I attribute it to low quality replacement parts and my getting older and less enthusiastic.

:)
Title: Re: Oil pressure and filtering delemma
Post by: ORCoaster on March 22, 2013, 12:31:00 pm
I was able to pick up on some high pressure hose and clamps last night and hope to install this weekend.  I also got into the spare parts box and got out the spare pump I have.  Tore into it and noticed the sleeve was not "butter smooth"  so I cleaned it up and took the varnish off of it and small burr and it now does what I think was described.  I might swap that in the engine before I blow a filter or ruin the bearings someway. 

I don't think these engines were supposed to have 100 psi and then some on them all the time.

Thanks fer da tips.  DAS
Title: Re: Oil pressure and filtering delemma
Post by: 8v-of-fury on March 22, 2013, 01:17:47 pm
What kind of oil are you running for JC's Sake?!

75w140 gear oil? lol
Title: Re: Oil pressure and filtering delemma
Post by: ORCoaster on March 22, 2013, 07:44:23 pm
Shell Rotella  15W 40 Diesel.  Just like always with the exception that my pump regulator is probably worn or jammed in some way.  Once the oil is hot, like take it down the highway for 10 miles it drops to 35-40 at Idle.  I decided that the sun was too nice, the week was too long and I wanted to test the cruise control out today.  So I bagged work early, only put in 48 hrs this week. And took it for a drive.  In addition to determining that the cruise works darn near as it should after a minor adjustment I also saw the oil pressure drop to 60 or 70 psi at the 50 to 60 MPH speeds.

So, It isn't about thick or thin it is just about worn out.  Hope to fix it with second pump tomorrow as the weatherman is talking silly stuff like sunny AND sixty.

Title: Re: Oil pressure and filtering delemma
Post by: ORCoaster on March 23, 2013, 07:45:01 pm
OK I got the pump off and swapped another one in.  Does about the same thing.  110 instead of 130 psi.   Do I have a blockage in the head someplace?  How do you clean it out, Shop vac on the oilsender port?  Should I be popping the cam off to check individual holes with an airline?

Ideas or just go with the higher pressure? 

The pump I removed had shavings on the screen, aluminum, possible that some smaller piece made it through the pump and up the line?  I also saw a big old nasty goober of a thing in there.  I think it was some excess RTV sealer.  Sucking any of that up and getting it passed on might plug some port wouldn't it?

I still think I have a problem here but you guys tell me if am worrying for nothing. 

DAS
Title: Re: Oil pressure and filtering delemma
Post by: wolf_walker on March 23, 2013, 08:47:09 pm
If you hadn't seen shavings and RTV on the pickup, I'd say forget it and drive but that is worrisome.
We just pulled an M96 Porsche motor apart from excessive RTV usage, cost that poor SOB $10K.
On a $12K car.

I'd seriously consider pulling the head and having it tanked, and blowing out the oil passages from the top
and bottom of the block while it's off.  Ton of work and a total pisser but it's what I'd do.  :(
Title: Re: Oil pressure and filtering delemma
Post by: ORCoaster on March 23, 2013, 09:02:32 pm
Well I have to remove the head to do the re ring anyway.  So, might as well catch the oil passages at that time.  I am hoping that will come sooner than later but with short weekends and rain or cold threatening my work area, the driveway, I can't seem to fix all the problems soon enough.   

I thought an oil pump swap could be done in short order and I wouldn't be worrying anymore.  Now I am worried more. 

Perhaps it is time to drive the other car for a bit and find the time to correct the VW. 
Title: Re: Oil pressure and filtering delemma
Post by: wolf_walker on March 24, 2013, 11:59:27 am
My Father often said things like "sometimes you get the mine, sometimes you get the shaft" and "some days you get the bear, some days the bear gets you".
I suspect that was preparation from a young age for owning old cars.

You could always put an ABA in it for awhile. :)

Title: Re: Oil pressure and filtering delemma
Post by: ORCoaster on March 24, 2013, 12:58:09 pm
Yeah, right now I feel like the bug not the windshield.  Dad always said if you want to really own it then you better learn how to fix it.  And be ready to do it often.   He had a hobby of buying cars from auctions and fixing up and selling after he got "his" miles out of them. 

Title: Re: Oil pressure and filtering delemma
Post by: burn_your_money on March 24, 2013, 06:25:36 pm
Isn't 100+psi normal for cold dino oil on a solid lifter engine?
Title: Re: Oil pressure and filtering delemma
Post by: ORCoaster on March 24, 2013, 07:39:19 pm
I thought max was about there or maybe 102.  My trouble is that I am running a cold diesel at 130 ish.  When warm and more like hot I finally get down to the 75 mark.  Coupled with the fact that I only now have to drive 3 miles instead of 225 miles to work I really don't see the temps crack much more than 80 C on the gauge.  And just as I am pulling in the lot to park.  So I am puttering in to work without an oil filter that is working with the high pressure I think. 

Going to find the plug and post it when I do.  Likely a wad of gasket maker.  What else could get through the gear pump and not destroy it.
Title: Re: Oil pressure and filtering delemma
Post by: nwcali6 on March 24, 2013, 09:15:01 pm
Isn't 100+psi normal for cold dino oil on a solid lifter engine?

  Sounds very normal to me for a cold 1.6, then warms up and falls...
Title: Re: Oil pressure and filtering delemma
Post by: wolf_walker on March 24, 2013, 09:16:40 pm
Isn't 100+psi normal for cold dino oil on a solid lifter engine?

Normal at filter flange, not at head, in my experience.
Specs are in the Bentley manual. 
Title: Re: Oil pressure and filtering delemma
Post by: nwcali6 on March 24, 2013, 09:18:20 pm
  A "fix" for this might be to add a oil pan heater mat and plug it in on cold days... I keep ruining gauges as it goes to high when cold.. Mine stops at 100 PSI and I'll probably put a 120+ on after this one goes (under warranty still)
Title: Re: Oil pressure and filtering delemma
Post by: ORCoaster on March 24, 2013, 09:31:47 pm
Yep, popped a gauge on this one too.  Take off is from the head so that is my concern. 
Heating the engine would be a daily thing here.  Average temps in the morning are 40 to 50 all year long.  Thank that Pacific ocean for keeping it that way.  July and August very much the same as Dec and Jan. 

Gauge I have now goes to 150.  And it is more to that side then the 20 end at low side.

Title: Re: Oil pressure and filtering delemma
Post by: wolf_walker on March 24, 2013, 11:45:37 pm
That short commute is a bummer, hard on any motor not getting up to temp.
Title: Re: Oil pressure and filtering delemma
Post by: burn_your_money on March 25, 2013, 04:17:33 am
Have you tried running synthetic?
Title: Re: Oil pressure and filtering delemma
Post by: ORCoaster on March 25, 2013, 12:37:14 pm
Not willing to risk the gone to synth problems with old seals, change of oil type and associated doings when swapping oil types.  I run synth in the new car and my truck but not knowing the condition of the engine or how it has been treated I stick with the diesel oil from Rotella. 

40 degrees out this morning, oil pressure at 100 psi for about the first mile then falling to 70 by the time I parked it.  Better than I thought it would be and no oil trail out the back either.
Title: Re: Oil pressure and filtering delemma
Post by: nwcali6 on March 26, 2013, 07:32:16 am
Yep, popped a gauge on this one too.  Take off is from the head so that is my concern. 
Heating the engine would be a daily thing here.  Average temps in the morning are 40 to 50 all year long.  Thank that Pacific ocean for keeping it that way.  July and August very much the same as Dec and Jan. 

Gauge I have now goes to 150.  And it is more to that side then the 20 end at low side.



  I should have looked at your location.  I'm 90 miles South of the border, how far up are you?  Have to love our mild, year long temps.  Unless you own a diesel that is.

  I'm going to install a radiator bra or engine heater (run it off a timer) after I swap the 1.6 out (probably both).  Even if I am wheeling and I'm at 200 Degrees as soon as I hit any speed it goes down to 130, despite egt's in the 1,000 range (at 65). NW coast, land of underheating problems.
Title: Re: Oil pressure and filtering delemma
Post by: ORCoaster on March 26, 2013, 09:42:20 am
I don't have a heat problem at all, I have a working 186 degree thermostat in place.  Sounds like you need to check that.  Something causing it to stick open so you are way too cool at 130.  I also rob engine heat when operating the WVO system with two FPHE's and I don't loose heat to that. 

I am just about half way up the state between the Calli and Washi lines. 

I would investigate the thermostat before spending any dollars on bras and heaters.  Unless you are into that sort of thing. 

Our engines crank so much heat so early something has to be a miss with yours.
Title: Re: Oil pressure and filtering delemma
Post by: wolf_walker on March 26, 2013, 11:27:17 am
I've seen ambient temps low enough to affect op temp, but that was in the single digits with a head wind and crawling along through a
blizzard in 2nd gear with no load.  :)