Oil pressure & headlight problem

I don't think it's likely that your actual oil pressure has suddenly increased, unless you dumped in a couple of quarts of STP. You could replace the sending unit (by the filter) fairly easily and see what happens. Or you could attach a dial gauge at the engine and compare the readings with your dash gauge. For now, just make sure that you have the correct amount of oil in the tank (engine warm).

If ONLY the right headlight won't go up, then the problem isn't in the headlight switch, or the wiring from the switch to the fuse/relay panel. You could swap the relay from the right and left headlight motors and see what happens. And you could take the relay out for the right headlight and then see what happens when you try to operate the motor manually, with the knob on top (you have to be careful if you try to operate the manual control while the relay is in place, it can suddenly snap open and really crunch your fingers!). You may have a problem in the linkage from the motor to the bucket, or you may have the problem we have seen before where the spot welds on the back of the bucket break loose and put it out of alignment.

 

If your oil filter fails internally (e.g. bypass valve) you'll suddenly get higher oil pressure. I'd suggest replacing that $40 part...you don't even have to do an oil change as the filter is on top. No harm in replacing it, yet it might save your engine.

But as Miltonian points out it's probably just a guage or sending unit problem. After changing the oil filter, I'd suggest following his advice on checking those items if you still have high oil pressure.

 

Vern, you crack me up.

If your oil filter is partially clogged and your oil filter's pressure relief valve (aka bypass valve) is defective or stuck, then you could easily see higher oil pressure.

The cure for either of the above high oil pressure conditions is to replace your oil filter...which on a 348 doesn't even mandate an oil change. It's cheap to try. It's harmless to try.

Here are the major causes of High Oil Pressure:
1. Improper grade of oil
2. Pressure relief valve stuck closed or improperly adjusted
3. Oil cold or frozen
4. Oil pipe bent or crushed
5. Defective pressure gauge
6. Insufficient bearing clearance
7. Oil Screen or filter clogged
8. Bearings tight due to engine overheating
http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:VUHEze3eq3sJ:www.eci2fly.com/pdf/EngineTroubleShootingGuide.pdf+filter+valve+failure+%22high+oil+pressure%22&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=13



"What About High Oil Pressure?
High oil pressure is not generally a concern, but if pressure suddenly increases, there may be a problem with the pressure relief valve."
http://www.international-auto.com/index.cfm?fa=ad&aid=45

"Two things may have caused the initial problem and the continuing [high] oil pressure symptom: 1) A stuck (or sticking) pressure relief valve; or 2) A defective oil filter. The relief valve is built into the oil filter mount and is designed to bypass oil around the oil filter if the filter should become plugged. The theory is that dirty oil is better than no oil."
http://experts.about.com/q/GM-GMC-781/high-oil-pressure-gm-1.htm

Keep trying Vern. You'll catch on.

Ciao.

 

What are the chances of the oil filter being partially clogged?? Maybe if it has never had an oil filter change since the car was new,or a faulty filter?? Maybe? Still unlikely i reckon. But...............before he gets excited,id do an oil pressure check to see what the oil pressure actually is. Nevermind about the dash oil pressure gauge,they can go loco anytime. Best to check asap by a competent mechanic. If the oil pressure is as indicated(high in this case),then you can go from there fault finding. With the oil pressure check,you would eliminate the sender unit being faulty and the dash gauge being faulty and you would look at the oil filter and the check valve ect....... Oil pressure check asap Chas

 

This is an interesting one...

No Doubt... you ARE guilty of throwing a few "facts" around, when guesswork or opinion may be more clearly stated on your behalf. But you're dead keen, and kind of cute with it!! Wrong mostly, but cute!

In this case, I'm not totally sure myself, but on 355 and 360, I've seen collapsed filters (internally), and they cause low oil pressure, not high. I "think" a 348 would be the same, but I can't say for sure from where I am without searching an oil flow chart.

 

Vern is totally correct and your source, whatever it is, is without a clue.

I have no axe to grind against you personally but your mechanical knowledge is zero and your advice is consistantly wrong, sometimes on the ragged edge of being dangerous.

There is no shame in not knowing but you do a great disservice by handing out such consistantly flawed advice.

Your belt inspection procedure was so ill advised that it cost you a set of valves.

Please, at least learn from your own mistakes.

 

I can't say on your car, but on mine a bad compression ring will raise the pressure in the crankcase and you'll see it on the oil pressure gauge. Obviously you shouldn't tear the engine apart on just my say so, but I thought I'd mention it.

Ken

 

Well..Well.."no doubt" once again your ignorance and arrogance have shown through. I can't remember when I have been entertained more than on this site with you. Someday *maybe* you will catch on!! Oh, by the way you should save a couple of your valves for a souvenir, something to show your grand kids. I wasn't going to bring that up but I had wondered before about why you needed a valve job on your engine. How do you cope being so intelligent. Ah... But don't worry I can be just condescending as you can. Ciao

 

Thanks Brian,
I get so tired of reading the diarrhea on these pages that gets passed off as valid information, I have my doubts. I don't have the confidence to speak up. I'll just get flamed, although I'll put my top level factory mechanical experience up against most.
And I read the site much less because of it and didn't renew my paid membership.
OK, flame me now (but I did raise my post count....)

 

This is the problem that concerns me also, all the blathering Bul*Sh*t that chases people away. Larry, don't stop being here and speak up when you *Know* the answer. That is what we all are here for to help one another. Regards, Vern

 

I have no idea what motor they are talking about but it is not a Ferarri motor.

The relief valves function is not to by pass the oil filter, that is the function of the bypass valve integral to the oil filter itself.
The relief valve is in the motor and its function is to relieve the motor of excess oil pressure caused by high oil pump RPM, cold oil or a combination of both.

The oil pressure sensor is down stream of the valve and the filter so a clogged or internally damaged filter would result in the pressure at the sensor and more importantly the consumers to be low, not high.

 

Ditto.

 

Brian, I don't know how that you can say any of the above. I didn't just give my opinion, I gave links to recognized automotive websites that said the same thing.

Engine Components, Inc. says:
Here are the major causes of High Oil Pressure:
1. Improper grade of oil
2. Pressure relief valve stuck closed or improperly adjusted
3. Oil cold or frozen
4. Oil pipe bent or crushed
5. Defective pressure gauge
6. Insufficient bearing clearance
7. Oil Screen or filter clogged
8. Bearings tight due to engine overheating

There it is, Item #7 in the list above. A clogged or partially clogged oil filter (especially one with a defective bypass valve) causes high oil pressure.

In another post you stated the opposite, that a clogged filter would cause low oil pressure.

That's completely opposite of the Physics Principle that we get from Bernoulli.

The relationship between the velocity and pressure exerted by a moving liquid is described by Bernoulli's principle: as the velocity of a fluid increases, the pressure exerted by that fluid decreases.

A clogged filter can cause low oil flow, but that means that enormous pressure is being placed by the liquid on the clog.

Pressure is not flow. They shouldn't be confused.

You can have high pressure inside a child's toy balloon, but that doesn't mean that a gas or fluid is flowing inside that balloon, or flowing from the ballon to the outside (and if it does flow, the pressure inside the balloon will decrease). Low flow; high pressure.

Consider that 20W50 oil gives higher pressure, but lower flow than 0W20 oil.

With liquids, please keep in mind the further point that the pressure is the same on every common point of said fluid. That's how hydraulics work; pressure applied to one side of a fluid transfers said pressure immediately to the other side.


Thus ends our physics lesson for the day, no offense to any mechanical expertise intended.

 

If you or they had a clue about engine design you would know a clog at the filter will cause very high oil pressure between the pump and the filter. That is not where oil pressure is measured, where it is needed or where it is important, hence the pressure is not monitored there. It is monitored where the pressure is needed, in the main oil gallery just prior to being delivered to the bearings.

A clog in the oil screen prior to even the pump itself will result in no flow, no pressure, no nothing because it will prevent oil from being sucked up by the pump.




Will some one here please relieve us from this idiot?

This man is clueless and spreads misinformation as gospel.

 

Phil, if you hollow out a catylitic converter, you'll get lower back pressure. Likewise, if you hollow out the filter element of an oil filter, you'll get lower oil pressure. Ditto for the bypass valve bypassing the filter element.

All of the above is because decreased resistance increases flow speed...and as Bernoulli proved, increased flow speed means decreased pressure.

The converse also holds true; decreased flow speed means increased pressure.

Clog up a muffler and you'll increase the back pressure until the engine dies (what, you fell for the banana in the tailpipe trick?!).

 

Brian, Bernoulli knows his physics, and it's no insult to your mechanical expertise that you are no physics Bernoulli.

Bernoulli tells us that the pressure in a fluid is uniform. Measure it anywhere and it will be the same.

Also, keep in mind that pressure is not flow.

 

You again are wrong.

Dont you read?

The oil pressure is measured down stream from the filter.


You are talking about pressure measured upstream from the clog.


Get a clue.

 

Brian, oil pressure is uniform. It doesn't matter where you measure it. Think hydraulics. Uniform fluid pressure.

Oil pressure is not oil flow. It matters where you measure oil flow.

It does not matter where you measure oil pressure.

Please keep in mind that pressure is not flow.

 

I was wrong, you really are that stupid.

 

Wow...No Doubt talking science! Who'd a thunk it!

Ken

 

p=vr

Pressure is only uniform throughout a system if volume and resistance don't change...

Pressure in your oil resorvoir is zero or so (possibly negative?), pressure downstream of a oil pump is 40+...down stream of the pressure regulator it is less...etc, etc, etc...

As an addendum...this is one of the only sites I visit where recollection of college physics is necessary...

 

Very badly applied and misinterpreted science

 

Picture a child's toy balloon.

Does it matter where inside that balloon that you measure the pressure?

No.

The pressure is uniform.

Measure it anywhere.

Increase the flow out of that balloon and you will uniformly decrease the pressure inside it.

Increase the flow in to that balloon and you will uniformly increase the pressure inside it.

Now picture a firehose. Measure fluid pressure anywhere in that firehose and the pressure will be the same.

Now clog the end of the firehose while continuing to pump water into it; the pressure inside the firehose increases...yet the flow decreases.

Same thing with an oil filter. Clog the element and bypass valve of the oil filter and the pressure increases while the flow decreases.