<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by JIM:
Does anyone have a detailed oil flow chart for the 3.8 liter engine? I am interested in how the oil flows from the sump, through the oil pump and oil filter. Is the filter in the pressure side or the suction side of the system? Does the oil flow from the outside, through the filter to the center of the filter, then to the right side oil gallery on its way to the bearings? What is changed when the oil relief valve operates?
Is there an oil flow diagram (chart) available?
Thanks for any help.
JRH<hr></blockquote>
I probably can;t give you the exact routes, but generally, oil flows from the pump to the filter assy (I believe it flows from the outside of the filter element to the inside). The Pressure relief valve simply opens if the pressure gets above a certain level (40-50 lbs probably) and dumps any excess oil straight back into the sump (only the excess). From the filter, it makes its way via galleys in the block to the Main bearing journals. The crank then had journals that carry it oil to the rod bearing journals, etc. Also, there is a pipe at the rear of the engine that splits into two branches and carries filtered oil up to the cam assembly in the head.
If I find some free time I may try to draft up a diagram with more details and post it in our Tech Section. I'd have to do a bit of research to get the exact path of the journals, etc., but that shouldn't be too hard.
Cheers,
Basil