<VV> Replacing Oil Pressure Regulator Spring

[shortle]

I am kind of curious on this subject. The engine was "recently rebuilt". Were all the bearings and journals (camshaft, rod, and main) plastigaged? What was the history of this engine before it was rebuilt? Are all holes in block and crankshaft with good flow? Are all the bearings installed properly (all 4 mains in proper order, all rod caps installed properly)? How long has this engine run before this became an issue? Finally, (actually first), what kind of oil are you running and what brand of filter? How many miles since last oil change? Is any gas mixing with the oil?
Timothy Shortle in (nice, warm, perfect) Durango Colorado 81301
I love/hate cars!


-----Original Message-----
>From: Frank DuVal <corvairduval at cox.net>
>Sent: Mar 23, 2012 3:17 PM
>To: virtualvairs at corvair.org
>Subject: Re: <VV> Replacing Oil Pressure Regulator Spring
>
>I'll take a stab at the explanation. Spring below includes the operation 
>of the plunger in the description. The spring alone cannot  dump 
>excessive oil pressure, the plunger does by exposing other passages in 
>that rear cover.
>
>The spring regulates oil pressure, by bypassing excess oil back to the 
>sump if the pressure is too high.
>
>Oil pressure will be greater when the engine is running higher revs.
>
>At idle, the available oil pumped through the passages of the regulator 
>is less than at higher revs.
>
>Since the spring regulates to some pressure that keeps the light off at 
>revs above idle, and there is less oil at idle,  the spring is not 
>regulating the pressure below the light turn on setting at idle. There 
>is simply not enough oil supplied by the pump to turn the light off. The 
>regulation setting is determined by the spring, but that setting does 
>not change with pressure of the oil. But when the oil pressure is below 
>the setting of the spring, the spring cannot "pump" the oil pressure to 
>a higher level. The spring can only lower oil pressure.
>
>So if the spring was weak and bypassing oil pressure at a low setting, 
>that should also happen at speed, not just at idle.
>
>Flame suit on awaiting people who can write better to respond!
>
>Frank DuVal
>
>On 3/23/2012 1:03 PM, Joel McGregor wrote:
>> Hate to disagree but it could possibly be the spring.  I've had it happen with the exact symptoms he has.  Springs do settle especially after so many years and so many heat cycles.  Mine happened 20 years ago.  His light is coming on but how would the light being on or off tell you that it could or couldn't be the spring?
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