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2000 Firebird blows oil past oil filter gasket


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ghenry
New User

Feb 15, 2010, 7:08 PM

Post #1 of 7 (1707 views)
2000 Firebird blows oil past oil filter gasket Sign In

My sister has a 2000 Firebird,3.8 V6, 200k miles. Oil was changed a month ago. It is swelling the oil filter, then blowing oil past the seal at a high volume. I checked to make sure it was the right filter, replaced the filter and oil, and got the same result. What could cause this?


nickwarner
Veteran / Moderator
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Feb 15, 2010, 11:57 PM

Post #2 of 7 (1702 views)
Re: 2000 Firebird blows oil past oil filter gasket Sign In

your system should have a relief valve in it, and it has stuck completely or partially shut. Does your gauge max out when this is happening? Not sure exactly where to look on this motor for the relief valve, but that can do it to you.


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Feb 16, 2010, 11:45 AM

Post #3 of 7 (1696 views)
Re: 2000 Firebird blows oil past oil filter gasket Sign In

There should be a pressure relief that as long as I've seen (loooooong time not one has failed!) which also allows oil to bypass a plugged filter or if volume exceeds supply oil passes the filter in part as to not deny engine of needed oil more important than filtered oil.

The bloating of a filter is shocking if really so! Never, never saw that! Are you sure? What can and does happen is and old filter gasket is stuck to the engine side such that you have two and can work for a short while but will leak like nuts at some point, hopefully right away so you catch the mistake.

The pressure relief is TMK like a spring loaded ball. I can't think of how it could allow pressure exceeding that spring?? At a loss with what I see here. Need help if not just two gaskets there by mistake or engine damage may result!

T



Loren Champlain Sr
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Feb 16, 2010, 8:19 PM

Post #4 of 7 (1687 views)
Re: 2000 Firebird blows oil past oil filter gasket Sign In

As Tom suggested, remove the oil filter and check to make sure the gasket from the old filter isn't there. I've only seen it once, where the check valve in the oil pump went bad and allowed that much oil pressure to 'expand' the filter. Connect an oil pressure guage to check actual oil pressure. Don't rely on the dash guage.
Loren
SW Washington


ghenry
New User

Feb 17, 2010, 5:10 PM

Post #5 of 7 (1679 views)
Re: 2000 Firebird blows oil past oil filter gasket Sign In

Thanks for all the replies. I've never seen this before either, but should have remembered the check valve. I did check to see if the old gasket had stuck to the mount, then replaced the filter and refilled it with oil. After we started the car it took about 30 seconds for the bottom of the filter to expand and start spewing oil everywhere. I'm going back over Saturday to look at it again. If I can't figure it out I'll let you know. Again, I really appreciate the help. If I can be of assisstance to any of you, feel free to message me. I've been working on Chevys for a little over 20 yrs. I may be able to lend a hand. Lotsa love and God bless.


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Feb 18, 2010, 8:51 AM

Post #6 of 7 (1668 views)
Re: 2000 Firebird blows oil past oil filter gasket Sign In

ghenry:

Feel free to browse around and share your know how on any thread you wish. It's not restricted to just regulars or old timers here at all.

With your excessive oil pressure seemingly for real that pressure valve must be the issue. Loren said he's only seen one and I've never seen that as said to the point that I wasn't the least bit sure where they put that device. If like I recall back in the stone ages* of tech school the principle action is like that of a radiator cap pushing against a spring so there isn't much to allow over the pressure and breakage should cause no or very low pressure.

Stone age man....*

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Other than a freak failure I could only guess this could (highly unlikely) happen to a totally sludged out engine - but in 10,000 years the sludge I've noted was more on return (passive dripping back to pan) side of oil issues.

Do report what you actually find this fault to be as I'm curious if not many who could search out this issue,

T



Loren Champlain Sr
Veteran / Moderator
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Feb 18, 2010, 7:17 PM

Post #7 of 7 (1664 views)
Re: 2000 Firebird blows oil past oil filter gasket Sign In

Tom; The oil pressure relief valve is in the oil pump, itself.. I've run into quite a few over the years that would cause high oil pressure, but only one that I can think of that would 'blow up' the filter. I'm hesitant, though, to recommend replacing the oil pump without further diagnostics.
Loren
SW Washington






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