oil pressure up the wahzoo!

michaedo · 05-03-2008

Hello folks, I gots me a problem. Been trying to get the wagon running.
Now have stock rockers, correct jets, everything swell.
Fired it up and oil pressure managed to pop the oil filter gasket out. What a freakin' mess! Thank goodness I had the windows closed. I've got oil everywhere, even in the tool box.
Cleaned everything up. Put in a new oil filter thinking maybe something wrong with the one that failed. Fired it up and made even more of a mess after about 20 seconds of running. I mean I've even got oil running down the tailgate at the back.
What's up??? Is there an oil pressure uber switch that has failed?
As always thanks in advance.
Don.

hrcollinsjr · 05-03-2008

Don,
What you have probably done is to install an early flat cover on the oil pump with a timing cover that has been modified for the later style oil pump cover with pressure relief built into it. Two ways to fix it: get later style oil pump cover or find a lighter spring to install in the timing cover pressure relief. On the passenger side of the timing cover are two plugs the lower larger one is for the timing chain tensioner the smaller one located further up is the one you are interested in. The plug is cup shaped inside with a spring and a ball for the pressure relief.

Harold

Anonymous D · 05-03-2008

Oil filter gaskets blow out, when the oil pump cover is installed backwards.
The correct direction is: Large "bolt head" faces the engine.

michaedo · 05-03-2008

Thanks guys, once I get up the gumption to roll around in the pool of oil I'll have a look.
Don

michaedo · 05-03-2008

Big bolt on the pump cover was facing forward. How 'bout dat?
Still wiping the garage down. Laundry hangin' outside on the line even
got drops of oil on it. Oil under pressure will go many places. There's a moral to the story here somewhere, just can't think of one right now.
Don.

hrcollinsjr · 05-03-2008

Originally Posted by Anonymous D

Oil filter gaskets blow out, when the oil pump cover is installed backwards.
The correct direction is: Large "bolt head" faces the engine.

I thought on some oil pump gear sets that the shaft protruded past the gear. If you reverse the cover on one of these and tighten it, won't it break the cover? IIRC a friend did this on his "race" car when I wasn't looking as he thought the cover could go on either way.. He also installed, when I wasn't looking, a early style cover with no pressure relief in a later style front cover. Probably had 50-60 PSI at idle and the gauge didn't read high enough when I revved the engine. Sometimes the driver/owner just needs to drive.

Harold

opelbits · 05-03-2008

Originally Posted by michaedo

There's a moral to the story here somewhere, just can't think of one right now.
Don.

that's easy...

"Ends well that oils well".

michaedo · 05-04-2008

Yug, well, I did rust proof the car, garage, and laundry in one fell swoop,
whatever that is. As far as gear protrusion, no, it doesn't protrude down into the cover. Got it flipped and waitin' for the juice to dry. Will prime and give it a go tomorrow. Then we'll see what else stands in the way of gettin' the wagon on the road. At the moment, name of said wagon is Christine, 'cause it sure has a mind of it's own. Later folks,
Don.

Anonymous D · 05-04-2008

"Got it flipped and waitin' for the juice to dry"

Reminder: Opel oil pump gaskets, are installed dry (without sealer).

michaedo · 05-06-2008

Hi there Anonymous,
Had been told to use an anaerobic sealer in lieu of a gasket. Rather expensive but seems to do the trick.
Don.

Anonymous D · 05-06-2008

Anerobic (?) is OK without a gasket. But few people know that, on this application. I assumed you used a gasket with the sealer

05-03-2008	#1 (permalink)
michaedo Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Sacramento Posts: 190 Provided Answers: 1	Unanswered: oil pressure up the wahzoo! Hello folks, I gots me a problem. Been trying to get the wagon running. Now have stock rockers, correct jets, everything swell. Fired it up and oil pressure managed to pop the oil filter gasket out. What a freakin' mess! Thank goodness I had the windows closed. I've got oil everywhere, even in the tool box. Cleaned everything up. Put in a new oil filter thinking maybe something wrong with the one that failed. Fired it up and made even more of a mess after about 20 seconds of running. I mean I've even got oil running down the tailgate at the back. What's up??? Is there an oil pressure uber switch that has failed? As always thanks in advance. Don.

05-03-2008	#3 (permalink)
Anonymous D Opeler Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Planet Earth Posts: 502 Provided Answers: 3	Backwards Cover Oil filter gaskets blow out, when the oil pump cover is installed backwards. The correct direction is: Large "bolt head" faces the engine.

05-04-2008	#9 (permalink)
Anonymous D Opeler Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Planet Earth Posts: 502 Provided Answers: 3	Dry Gasket "Got it flipped and waitin' for the juice to dry" Reminder: Opel oil pump gaskets, are installed dry (without sealer).

05-06-2008	#11 (permalink)
Anonymous D Opeler Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Planet Earth Posts: 502 Provided Answers: 3	Anerobic Anerobic (?) is OK without a gasket. But few people know that, on this application. I assumed you used a gasket with the sealer

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

05-03-2008	#2 (permalink)
hrcollinsjr 2200 Post Club Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Chapel Hill, TN Posts: 2,267 Real Name: Harold Collins Provided Answers: 14	Don, What you have probably done is to install an early flat cover on the oil pump with a timing cover that has been modified for the later style oil pump cover with pressure relief built into it. Two ways to fix it: get later style oil pump cover or find a lighter spring to install in the timing cover pressure relief. On the passenger side of the timing cover are two plugs the lower larger one is for the timing chain tensioner the smaller one located further up is the one you are interested in. The plug is cup shaped inside with a spring and a ball for the pressure relief. Harold

05-03-2008	#4 (permalink)
michaedo Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Sacramento Posts: 190 Provided Answers: 1	Thanks guys, once I get up the gumption to roll around in the pool of oil I'll have a look. Don

05-03-2008	#5 (permalink)
michaedo Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Sacramento Posts: 190 Provided Answers: 1	Big bolt on the pump cover was facing forward. How 'bout dat? Still wiping the garage down. Laundry hangin' outside on the line even got drops of oil on it. Oil under pressure will go many places. There's a moral to the story here somewhere, just can't think of one right now. Don.

05-04-2008	#8 (permalink)
michaedo Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Sacramento Posts: 190 Provided Answers: 1	Yug, well, I did rust proof the car, garage, and laundry in one fell swoop, whatever that is. As far as gear protrusion, no, it doesn't protrude down into the cover. Got it flipped and waitin' for the juice to dry. Will prime and give it a go tomorrow. Then we'll see what else stands in the way of gettin' the wagon on the road. At the moment, name of said wagon is Christine, 'cause it sure has a mind of it's own. Later folks, Don.

05-06-2008	#10 (permalink)
michaedo Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Sacramento Posts: 190 Provided Answers: 1	Hi there Anonymous, Had been told to use an anaerobic sealer in lieu of a gasket. Rather expensive but seems to do the trick. Don.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)