Oil Pressure Too High

[John Kuzman]

Greetings!

Over the last few months I have noticed the oil pressure in my Bugeye with a 1275 slowly creeping higher. Earlier this year, it was running about 70 cold idle and 75 at cold 3000 rpm. Hot idle would be 45 psi and 60 psi hot 3000 rpm. Last week, it went to 80 psi cold idle and almost 85 cold at 3000 rpm. Hot idle was over 70 psi and over 80 psi at 3000 rpm hot.
Today I swapped out different pressure relief valves, springs and even tried the ball bearing. No difference, except the ball bearing shot it up to almost 100 psi cold.
Any thoughts on where I should look next? Thanks.

 

[sparkydave]

Just a long shot, but do you have another means of checking the pressure gauge? Or, do you have a source of regulated air (air compressor) that you can check the gauge with?. Sorry, I would have guessed the relief valve too. Check that the filter didn't get plugged is the only other thing I can think of. Good luck!

 

[dklawson]

I agree with Dave. Check your gauge calibration first. If you decide to try the ball bearing again, remember that you need to cut off a few coils off the spring or you'll experience exactly what happened... much higher oil pressure.

 

[jlaird]

Try an air compressor to the oil pressure line. Just tape it on with duct tape, use 20 lb, 40 lb and 50 lb for a check.