Oil pressure too high?

[Thomas792]

I replaced my timing case cover gasket this past weekend. I made two dowel locating pins because there were none in my engine. I think the cover is a Crown (big C inside it) and it appears to sit just a little bit lower than without the pins, correct position maybe?

I also installed the BJ's mid plate with the supplied gaskets. Everything appeared to measure up correctly with my oil pump old gears as far as clearances go. I put on a Fram 3675 oil filter and filled it with 10w40 oil. I reinstalled the MSD distributor and checked the timing, 12 degrees spot on.

On initial startup it was showing 60-65 psi cold and went down to around 45-50 when warmed up at idle.

Is this too high? I'm thinking of replacing the Fram filter with a Napa filter and putting in 10w30. I haven't driven it yet because I also want to check the distributor gear after a 15 minute "break-in" on the gasket. I'm a bit concerned that the dowel pins may have put my distributor too low and it's getting chewed up by the cam gear.

Any suggestions?

[leadsled01]

Thats the pressure mine runs at. Slightly higher in the winter.

[budryzer]

Relief

Thats greaet pressure! There is a relief valve if it would go to high. Youll have to see how it is on the highway. A lot of people talk bad about Fram filters now. I've stopped using them myself. Pulling the cover lower could create a new wear pattern but, how much lower could it be?? .020" maybe? The gears slide that much in regular use. That helical gear system actually pushes the cam toward the back of the engine as well. I think you are good to go>

[jeepsr4ever]

If your pressure stays below 70 your pressure relief is doing its job and your engine doesnt have too much pressure. If its higher than 70 you have something holding back the pressure relief valve.

[motion vega]

"oil pressure to high" said no jeep owner ever.

[Thomas792]

Well I certainly feel beter. I was afraid that something might blow out with that pressure. I've owed a CJ before this and the pressure on this and the CJ never got above 40 on the highway. Then again they both read about 15 at idle. I guess that mid plate really helps.

I thought that if the pressure relief kicked in that was bad.

I have a slight knocking noise in the front about in the middle of the water pump. I can hear it when my ear is 12 - 16 inches away but others may not. When I gave it a little gas directly at the carbuerator the fan blowing air made enough noise to drown out the knock. Should I be concerned?

[Ristow]

a healthy motor will be on the bypass valve at about 2000-2500 rpm.

the ticking could be the fuel pump.

[Thomas792]

I feel like I just had 1,000 tons lifted off my back. I'm so relieved to hear about that bypass piece. As I mentioned earlier, I thought this was a fix for an oil system that was not working properly, not a designed in function for normal operation.

I think I'm just going to run it then when I get home. Last question, what does it sound like when a distributor gear gets chewed up???

[serehill]

Your good Notice my cold temp pressure

[blazer3664]

Sweet dash, is the digital part AFR??

[svining]

Try the thinner oil....

That's the same Oil pressure mine runs at and its good and tight. Its a little thick in winter before warm-up, even here in Tennessee, this next Oil Change I'll go to Synthetic Mobil 5-30 weight. The thinner oil may help milage a tad and easier take offs in winter before full warm-up.

Sweet dash, is the digital part AFR??

[serehill]

no

Sweet dash, is the digital part AFR??

The white guages are face plates from whiteguages.com
the volt meter is a chinese piece off ebay it is very accurate & tons more precise than the analogs. It's also about 3 years old so it has lasting ability. I think I gave $9.00 for it. Easy install a dremmel & a few minutes it was in.
Most accurate voltage monitoring systerm I have ever owned to a tenth of a volt.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/0-56-Car-Motor-Volt-Meter-0-100V-Blue-LED-Digital-Voltage-Panel-Mount-Voltmeter-/370767557006?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item565377f18e&vxp=mtr

[SC/397]

Not necessarially related to high oil pressure but in general, I am not a fan of fram. My experience has been that they leak down over a short period of time causing lifter clatter on cold start up. The NAPA/Wix filters are better but still not my first choice.
My two top choices are Baldwin B9 or B39 and a ACDelco PF24.

[Thomas792]

Made it into work today. When cold the gauge was reading 70 - 80 psi. When warm the gauge was reading 40 - 50 psi. Both at around 45 mph. A drop or two of oil was on the ground when I checked it at lunch. I think this may still be residual coming off of the engine from the major leak. I'll have a chance to pull the distributor out and change the oil Wednesday night due to my kids activities.

[Rich88]

... Last question, what does it sound like when a distributor gear gets chewed up???

You won't hear the gear being chewed, but eventually it will be total silence, since the engine stops running.