Exploding oil filter saga continues!, FUCH!! What now?? Options

[mudfoot76]

Due to impending track time and my total inability to resolve the problem, I tracked down a local P-car mechanic who said he was very familiar with 914s and cut his teeth working as a mech at Vasek Polak. I figure 'what the hell, can't fuch it up any worse than it already is'. So he's got my car, checks out the pressure relief valves, inspects the bores, blows compressed air through the oil passages. Air goes, he doesn't notice anything fall out. Check valves move freely. We both agree he should put in oil, new Mahle filter, and give it a whirl.

He has a pressure gauge hooked up on the engine to see what happens. I wasn't there, but apparently his gauge only goes up to 100#. It pegs shortly after starting the motor (2.0L) and the Mahle deforms just like all the other filters and oil pukes all over the shop floor. Oil was Castrol 20w50, car was inside a heated garage so temps were probably mid-60s.

He's stumped. He calls someone out in California (I didn't catch a name) and both of them are stumped. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif)

Oil is getting picked up from the sump and pumped into the filter. Where is the next stop after oil leaves the filter? I've seen the diagram in haynes and find it not very helpful. Any ideas on what is wrong?

[jk76.914]

Maybe you can narrow it down.

The oil leaves the pump and goes first to the filter, then to the pressure relief valve directly below. If the pressure relief valve stays closed, all of the oil flows to the cooler and thence to the main oil galleries. If the pressure relief valve is open all the way, the oil goes directly to the galleries.

So, my guess is that the restriction is somewhere between the filter and the relief valve, based on the fact that either way the relief valve is, there is some path for the oil to take to relieve the pressure in the filter.

This is a small length of passageway, and you can gain reasonable access by removing the valve plunger from below, and the oil filter adapter casting from the side. At least I think the adapter is accessable without sliding the air cooling impeller housing forward.

It's possible the adapter itself has the restriction. I recall a steel check valve in it.... But I can't remember if it was on the inlet or outlet side of the casting....

Anyway, that's where I'd start to look.