Oil Pressure
 

My engine has always had very high oil pressure at the sandwich plate. I had always thought it was due to Element Tuning's oiling enhancements and maybe higher readings due to a cheaper 0-100 psi gauge. I hadn't paid much attention to the fact that my Accusump would only charge to 40-60 psi when hot. It's connected into the galley on top of the engine.

With a new AEM gauge at the sandwich and my old gauge reading the galley pressure, I have almost a 50psi pressure difference between the sandwich and the galley at 5000rpm. I compared my electronic gauges with a manual one and they are accurate. I removed the Jackson Racing sandwich plate and screwed on a new filter and the galley pressure was unchanged.

Element Tuning did the original build. Then, the engine was rebuilt 2 years ago by Perfect Circle Engines (in Winchester, Va) after #3 ingested something, ejecting the intake rocker arms, and breaking the bank 1 timing chain. (i would have taken it back to Element but he moved to Florida) At that time, the bearings showed unusual wear for an engine with only 10k miles. We assumed it might have been caused by trash from cams and rockers. A recent oil analysis did not show anything unusual for an engine with now 5k on the rebuild.

Later this weekend the engine is coming out and going back the Perfect Circle. I contacted Element Tuning and Phil thinks there is some kind of blockage after the sandwich but he doesn't know where or what.

Anybody ever run into this before? I'm beginning to think the car gods want me to take up a new hobby. Quilting is looking better all the time and much cheaper too.

Sorry to hear. I personally have never never had a hot pressure higher then 58psi. Hopefully all is well.

OK so you've verified pressures are accurate by swapping out gauges (and still using the same adapters?). That's one good thing, we know it's accurate.

Pressure at the sandwich adapter is going to be different than pressure at the OEM switch location (also a common gauge location), and different at the top of the block. Descending in pressure respectively.

The top of the block is after the second split off of the primary engine feed passage. So, imagine the feed goes from left head across the front, where it feeds the block, and then to the right head. That top passage is a bit away from that main feed. Essentially you are tapped into the line that feeds the mains.

The pressure drop is more than I would expect, but we've still yet to perform our BRZ oiling testing :( It could be one or more of several thing. There needs to be more info to determine if it's a blockage. Above 5,000 RPMs? What is the differential at other RPMs? A chart at 1,000 RPM intervals would spell this out. Could be a bleed in a seal, or a bearing issue. The latter being a log shot IMO.

Has the setup always done this on all engines? If so, probably normal? Or, is this a more recent phenomenon? How does the car run? Any issues with oil consumption or oil temps?

At 1:18: Does anybody know what "Valves" this guy is talking about? Pictures? Crayon drawing? Anything?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=MOtYl2k6abI

The bypass valve.



https://www.ft86club.com/forums/show...5&postcount=13

Can't resist

Isn't the bypass valve in the oil pump housing? "Brett" seems to indicate there are valves in the timing cover below the oil filter.

Yeah, it's in the oil pump housing. I have had the timing cover apart and I didn't see any other valves in the system. I am pretty sure he is just talking about the bypass.

I think he misspoke, but there is the bypass valve in the pump assembly, and the oil filter has one too.

No news yet. Last week, I took the engine to Perfect Circle. I've scoured the internet for anyone having a similar problem. I did find a post from a guy in Ireland who rigged up a direct main galley feed from the sandwich plate.

So, if I'm following that pic correctly, he's modified the oil feed so it goes to the mains first? To do that properly he would have also had to plug the regular passage going from LH head to main. Interested in hearing the thought behind doing this? If what I'm observing and speculating he's done it correct, it would mean improved flow to the mains.

Have trouble getting past that K&N filter. Hope he changes his oil often!

Except for the k+n, it looks like he thought it through.

http://www.backroads.ie/forum/car-re...rackcar/page16

That should work.

That is pretty freaking cool.