Started First Time - With Problem (now running update)
Turbo Mini Forums

james is right,

can you po a pic up of the sandwhich plate?

As above and James, the flow is from the pump up to the banjo connection and down the external link pipe to the filter then back into the block...

But, the relief valve (which more correctly should be called a pressure regulating valve) has its ports drilled in the block so that it is conected to the pump outlet, ie before the external link pipe and filter.

So the relief valve is much more likely your problem of excessive pressure than any restriction caused by a sandwich plate between filter and block.

BUT, you certainly don't want a restriction there as you will reduce flow to the bearings, the relief/regulating valve (when working properly) will just dump more back to the sump because it sees a lower forward flow, while your bearings are starved of oil.

Schrödinger's cat - so which one am I ???

If I were you I'd be tempted to get rid of this sandwich plate and start the engine up without an oil cooler fitted to be able to either confirm it is a problem, or rule it out.

The more i think about this the more i think it's down to the relief valve, I agree James is correct with the flow direction and the flow of oil from the filter to the block is via the large hole to which the filter threads onto. There is absolutely no restriction caused by the sandwich plate here.

In my mind it can only be one of two things, first the relief valve or second a totally block gallery, as the second is very unlikley then I'm going for the first.

At the weekend I'm going to cut down the spring and refit the adjustable valve cover, therefore reducing the restriction, this way I can wind it up to the correct level.

Well today I took 5 coils off the relief spring and refit it along with the adjustable part. Went to start her up..... and nothing, she wouldn't start, took a plug out and there was plenty of fuel.

Tested for a spark, but non. Quickly traced it to the crank sensor connector not clicked in properly.

Tried again and she fired itno life once more, with the choke out she was 'ticking over' at 2500 rpm, oil pressure at 5.5bar (which still seems a little high, but constant at least) and an AFR reading of 12.9. Fuel pressure was 0 which is a bit concerning, but probably a gauge error.

The only problem I have now is an oil leak from the timing chain housing area (difficult to pinpoint) could have been caused by the original high pressure a suppose.

But I have a running Turbo motor, even if's only been for about 5 mins in total!!!

Edited by Dicanio on 26th Oct, 2008.

congrats mate! get the niggles sorted and go for a blast!

Well done buddy!

5.5bar equates to about 85psi, a touch high but not horrendous. More important is what it is when hot and idling at 1000rpm.

As above that will drop off considerably when its hot and running. Well done ol chap.

Own the day

Cheers Guys, been on this forum for years and now actually feel like I can contribute.

Own the day

Cool so it was the relief valve spring being too long?

Looks that way Rich, though I had to shorten it considerably, I've since had a look at another 'plunger' and I think mine has been poorly machined as the recess for the spring wasn't very deep, where as the other one was 2/3 spring coils deeper.

Going to run it again at the weekend and spend a bit of time checking things over and getting it up to temp, also going to attempt to located the timing cover oil leak (it's quite a biggy), appears to be from the gasket rather than the oil seal on the crank.

Also got a leak on the diff/driveshaft housing to sort, but that one should be quite simple (hopefully)

Aha nice one, I had the wrong spring for the ball type pressure relief and as you described it was a right pain in the arse to engage it on the thread so thought something must be wrong!!

I got the ball type spring in the end but will keep this in mind just incase the spring still needs a coil taken off!

Oil leak on the timing cover, I would have encountered this aswell! (forgot there was a gasket that goes between the block and front plate!)

Hope everything goes to plan!