Exploding oil filter
 

My 72 c20 350 is having trouble keeping oil down. It's throwing it out at a rate of 4 quarts in 5 sec of engine running. The oil filter blows it's seal and that's it.

This is the original engine but I just put a new oil pump, lifters, valve springs, rockers and a complete gasket redu.

It blows as soon as it starts. Is it possible the oil pump is causing this? I can't run it long enough to get a pressure reading at the gauge.

Any ideas?

Re: Exploding oil filter
 

It sounds to me (I am no mechanic) that you are building up too much crankcase pressure. Do you have a working PCV valve? But, 4 quarts in 5 seconds is insane, I can't see the crankcase building that much pressure that quickly.

Re: Exploding oil filter
 

I would say the pressure relief valve is frozen or stuck in your oil pump.

Re: Exploding oil filter
 

I tend to think you have blocked oil passage past the oil filter, reversed gasket somewhere..

One more thought but highly remote, you didn't accidently install 2 oil filter seals?

oil diagram: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...7&postcount=10

Re: Exploding oil filter
 

Or... the wrong filter. Just checkin' to cover all the baeses...

Also... sometimes the old filter gasket will hang up and come apart from the filter and stick on the block and stay there. usually when cheap Fram filters are used. Then when you put your new filter on you have a filter gasket against another gasket...

Gary

Re: Exploding oil filter
 

I've tried two different types of oil filters. There are not any pcv valves on the truck right now. It's not a double oil filter gasket either. I have tried this three times now after trying new things. On my third gallon of oil.

I'm afraid it is probably an oil pump or gasket installed wrong. I've just never had this happen before.

Let the fun begin, I guess.

Anyone want to help?

Anyone?

Hello?

Re: Exploding oil filter
 

I once had a 1973 cj with a 304 v8 in it, it would blow out the oil filter seal every 2 months or so. found out the relief valve was stuck. after that was fixed no more oil on the ground

Re: Exploding oil filter
 

I had a 1989 VW Jetta that would spit the oil filter gasket out. Ended up being the oil pump pressure relief valve was bad.

Re: Exploding oil filter
 

Is the relief valve part of the pump or located in the block?

Re: Exploding oil filter
 

It is in the pump just chunk that one and get another oil pump

Re: Exploding oil filter
 

I Agree most likely your oil pump had a spring failure in the relief valve ,

the spring got jammed or worn out so the relief valve in your oil pump is stuck wide open and your pumping oil at the rate your top end cant handle over 70 psi

you might dry sump your oil pan and ruin your crank bearings , drop the oil pan replace the spring and ball before its to late

Re: Exploding oil filter
 

It will not be started again until the pump is replaced.

Thanks guys.

Re: Exploding oil filter
 

You should always take the distributor out and prime the oil system with a drill and a priming shaft tool or long screwdriver with the handle cut off before starting to avoid a dry start, if ya havent i'd recomend doing so this time around after ya try replacing the oil pump.

Re: Exploding oil filter
 

I primed the system with a drill. But that doesn't have the rpm to blow the filter.

Re: Exploding oil filter
 

Were any of the valve springs or other parts that got replaced broken? Sounds like a blocked oil galley somewhere. A piece of crud or piece of old gasket material could have fallen into a galley when you had the intake off.

Re: Exploding oil filter
 

In case it was missed i posted this, not a great pic but may help to visulaize where you may find problems.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...7&postcount=10

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Re: Exploding oil filter
 

There weren't any broken springs and I was pretty careful with the gasket material. This is the original engine and hasn't been rebuilt. It was suprisingly clean inside, just a little crude in the corners of the head near the drains. Clogging oil ports is always a concern on these old engines but I have never had this before.

I'll drop the pan and check the pump out. There is plenty of oil at the rockers so I believe it is getting through most if not all of the engine.

It WOULD be my luck a new pump would be bad, that is normal around here.:waah:

Re: Exploding oil filter
 

The filter adapter is the relief valve , what the oil filter screws into its held in the block by 2 bolts , accessible with filter off , Id pull it and check or replace it , there is a screen part to it , might be clogged

Re: Exploding oil filter
 

The last thing I did last night was to remove the adapter and clean it out. The relief valve was sticking a bit but seemed to work ok once I cleaned it out. There was some sludge in the bolt holes but not too bad. I put it all back together but again after only a few seconds it blew out again.

Is the relief valve on the adapter the only one or is there one in the pump? When I was cleaning the valve out I would have bet it was the issue or at least part of the issue. That should have relieved instead of blowing the gasket.

Re: Exploding oil filter
 

The main pressure relief valve is in the pump. The other one is just a filter relief valve. I helped a friend install a rebuilt 454 that had a new pump and it had a stuck pressure relief in it. Blew two filter gaskets, another new pump fixed it.

Re: Exploding oil filter
 

Looks like the route I'm going to take John. Thanks for the reply.

Now the question is do I pull the engine or fight it in the truck? I don't have the dog house on it so pulling is probably better.

Re: Exploding oil filter
 

I would probably just lift it a bit and change it in the truck. But I work mostly by myself except body/paint so whatever is easiest for you.

Re: Exploding oil filter
 

I'm in! I would suspect the oil filter adapter, but there have been several posts of oil pump over pressure. Didn't realize you could have to much oil pressure (to a point),I realize it is a hydraulic system.

Re: Exploding oil filter
 

Like John said "The main pressure relief valve is in the pump. The other one is just a filter relief valve. " filter bypass relief valve is for a plugged oil filter which is for those that run Quacker Snake Oil and change it every ten years.