Parts Found in Oil Filter - What are they?

CJ428CJ · #1 (**permalink**) 05-04-2003, 02:14 PM

I started my 428 for the first time this week. I have good oil pressure and everything looks good (25psi at hot idle and about 65psi at 2000 rpm). After the 30 minute breakin, I drained the oil and changed the oil filter. The oil out of the pan looked good but when I removed the oil filter and strained the oil, two small parts fell out. A small ball bearing and a small spring. I've posted a picture to my gallery. Just click on the small camera next to my name. Where the heck did these come from? I'm running a melling high volume oil pump and a remote oil cooler (but without a remote filter). This looks like some kind of check valve. Could it have come from the oil pump? Or perhaps from the oil filter adapter used with the remote cooler? The cooler I'm running came with my ERA kit. I believe it's made by Earls. Do they have some kind of check valve in their adapter? I appreciate any thoughts you guys have.

Chris

Ron61 · #2 (**permalink**) 05-04-2003, 02:22 PM

Chris,

This won't be of much help, but when I went to a remote oil filter I tore my adaper apart to see how it worked to get oil to the cooler and it had a heat sensetive spring in it that would open the cooler lines once the oil got up to a certain temperature. No other parts at all. If you still have good oil pressure I doubt if your pump is broken.

Ron

KobraKarl · #3 (**permalink**) 05-04-2003, 03:10 PM

Chris, I think the only way into your filter without going through your pick-up screen is from your (a) pump ,or (b) filter mount , probly the pump. my guess is its a high pressure by-pass ball valve.

Btw, nice build ! KK

Bill E · #4 (**permalink**) 05-04-2003, 03:39 PM

I bet you have a Perma cool oil adapter. And that is the bimetallic spring and ball out of that part. Ron is right it is just a different style

khall · #5 (**permalink**) 05-05-2003, 04:47 PM

Chris,

I have a 428 Melling HV oil pump here on my bench. The spring on the pressure by-pass feels much too stiff to be the spring pictured in your gallery. Here is a pic of the pressure relief valve assembly on the Melling web site (fig 2):

http://www.melling.com/support/bulletins/view.asp?id=10

The assembly does not appear to include a ball.

Keith

CJ428CJ · #6 (**permalink**) 05-05-2003, 10:06 PM

Thanks Keith. I discovered that the ball and spring are from the remote oil cooler adapter. I think it's a check valve to keep the oil from draining out of the cooler when you shut the engine off. The good news is that the ball and spring are immediately above the filter so when they came loose, they just dropped into the filter without doing damage anywhere else.

Chris