Filter Bypass Valve

[S30Driver]

When I recently built up the new motor which now has 300 miles and running well. I somehow missed the plug in the oil filter boss which normally has the spring loaded bypass valve.   I changed the breakin oil / filter the other day and noticed it.  I must be getting older....    I know it is important should the flow become blocked thru the filter to not let the motor starve for oil.

My question is, can I safely drill out what appears to be a plug,then pull it out with something, mabe use a magnet and vacuum to not let any metal chips get ingested and replace it with a new bypass valve?   Its a F54 block that was originally set up for a turbo if that makes any difference.

Also, my oil pressure seems high compared to my original motor. 40 psi at idle and goes up to 85 psi while driving, varies with engine rpm of course.  I think this is normal for a new motor and the bypass valve missing should have nothing to do with it.   Turbo oil pump is installed as well. 

Please ignore the purple paint.... lol

[Captain Obvious]

Pretty much all of the new filters these days include a bypass valve built into them. You might not need that bypass in the block at all?

[S30Driver]

That is reassuring....  I have the Zcon drive of about 1600 miles roundtrip coming up.   Are you saying not to worry about it and leave it alone for now?

Thanks for your input Bruce.

[Av8ferg]

My quick Google search supports Bruce’s comment....let her go! Wish I were coming too. I promise my car will be ready next ZCON


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[ETI4K]

Anyone know where it'll be?

[Patcon]

They will announce it at the end of the week banquet

[SteveJ]

1 hour ago, ETI4K said:

Anyone know where it'll be?

I heard rumor that it will be hosted by the home club of the ZCCA Treasurer. Here's the way to find out at ZCON before they announce it. Look around at registration and ask people working there who are not ZCCA officers (and family thereof) if they are with the host club. Most likely someone will respond, "No, I'm with the such-and-such club." Those people are at the convention to learn how to run registration for the next convention. Of course, there's usually plenty of loose lips around the convention saying where the next one will be held. The last few years only one club puts in a bid.

For those of you who are not members of your local Z club, please join, especially if it's a ZCCA club. If it's not a ZCCA club, join and try to get them to join the ZCCA. It's only through the support of local clubs and the ZCCA that it's possible to have the conventions. If you haven't gone to a convention, consider going. Even an introvert like myself can find things to enjoy at the conventions. (Actually while many people are trying their hands at pub-crawls, I'm usually looking at the cars/photographing the cars/talking to the car owners.)

[Zup]

19 minutes ago, SteveJ said:

I heard rumor that it will be hosted by the home club of the ZCCA Treasurer.

I hope you are right Steve!

We might actually see each other at a Zcon again. It would be a great reunion in my book.

[S30Driver]

9 hours ago, Captain Obvious said:

Pretty much all of the new filters these days include a bypass valve built into them. You might not need that bypass in the block at all?

 

3 hours ago, Av8ferg said:

My quick Google search supports Bruce’s comment....let her go! Wish I were coming too. I promise my car will be ready next ZCON
 

Alright, two concurring votes of confidence is good enough for me!!   I'll leave it alone and go with it.

Thanks guys! 

[Captain Obvious]

What filter are you running? I'll see if I can dig up details on the internals.

And by the way... In theory, the filter bypass only ever comes into play if you let the filter get so dirty that it clogs up the filter media. I know you're going to be changing your oil on your nice new motor way frequently enough that's not going to be an issue.

[Captain Obvious]

6 hours ago, Av8ferg said:

I promise my car will be ready next ZCON

Don't make me come down there to make sure that happens.      

[EuroDat]

6 hours ago, Captain Obvious said:

What filter are you running? I'll see if I can dig up details on the internals.

And by the way... In theory, the filter bypass only ever comes into play if you let the filter get so dirty that it clogs up the filter media. I know you're going to be changing your oil on your nice new motor way frequently enough that's not going to be an issue.

I was led to believe that the filter would bypass at around 7 to 15psig (0.5 to 1.0BarG). If the differential pressure reaches 7 to 15psi the bypass will open accordingly. It is just a spring valve and not a calibrated releif valve.

It is not uncommon for a percentage of the oil to bypaas the filter depending on viscousity, oil temperature, pumped volume and degree of clogging in the filter. The oil pressure (85psi) you are reading doesn't say much about the bypass. A new engine can have higher pressure due to the finer tolerances creating more backpressure.

I think I would cut the filter open and check to see the filter I'm using does have the bypass function. Most do these days, but just to be sure.... If it does, then leave it at that and keep using that brand and type of filter.

Edited July 24, 2021 by EuroDat