Terry Edlund wrote:
>No pressure at all for 4-6 seconds, then it jumps to 50 psi.
>
>Its 40 psi. at speed. However, when we first start out the pressure is in
>the 50 psi. range (engine at operating temp) and after an extended period
of
>highway driving (30-40 minutes) the pressure gradually drops to 40-45 psi
"at
>speed".
>This makes me wonder if I have a later series valve in an early series
base?
> If so, can this be my problem?
Sounds to me like you've got some tired rod bearings. The worn bearings
alone are not likely to cause no oil pressure at start, but rather the other
way around. A low milage engine should have significantly higher oil
pressure (say 50-70(at)2000 rpm and 25 PSI (at) hot idle). My engine is fresh and
with a modified pressure relief valve makes 70+ at <2000 RPM hot with 30 PSI
with a very hot idle. I do however also have the same lack of oil pressure
during startup. Personally I start my engine every several days to keep it
primed.
There are seemingly 3 styles for late model relief valves on the alpine.
The earliest will not fit in the later model filter bases. The later two
will fit interchangably, but supposedly the last design was free from the
sticking problem. Any way the last design is available only as a set along
with the oil filter base fron SS. Buy it if you are not sure what you have,
stuck relief valves appear to me to be one of the prime modes of alpine
engine failure (based upon a recent survey).
I had an earlier relief valve stick open on me at an autocross 2 years ago
and it scared the bejeevers out of me to see the engine (at) 5 grand with no
oil pressure.
Jarrid Gross
SII EFI
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Tue Sep 05 2000 - 09:25:53 CDT