Having confirmed high oil pressure in my '59 by utilizing a secondary guage attached at the block (70 psi at cold idle, 30 psi at warm idle, and 75psi at any rpm above 3000), I decided to remove the oil pan. I intended to check out the pressure relief valve and the oil pump itself. Upon draining the oil I noted more metal shavings than I'd ever noted in any previous oil change of any car. At this point, I should note that when I last changed the oil (10W-30) about 1,500 miles ago, I installed a magnetic oil drain plug and a spin-on filter adapter with AC PF25 filter. That magnetic plug had attracted what I thought was a lot of shavings, and when I removed the filter, there were a few little "piles" of what I'd call caked metal shavings on top of it as well. Needless to say I took this as bad news, and decided that pursuing the original high oil pressure problem would take a back seat to the newly discovered unfiltered oil problem. Rather than continuing with plan A to remove the pan, I left it alone and decided to think about the big picture. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I am assuming at this point that there is a connection between the pressure and shavings and that the filter is being by-passed. The engine runs nice and cool, sounds great, and pulls strong. Thanks in advance for any of your thoughts.
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Re: High oil pressure and unfiltered oil
Dale,
If the metal shavings you describe are very fine and have the appearance of grey pipe dope. This is called "high speed shellac". This is a common thing with engines that run at high rpms, but it also shows up in everyday engines to a lesser degree. I used to see it a lot when I ran a 4.56 rear in my 62. The magnetic plug will attract it. I used to scrape lots of it out of the bottom of my canister filter. It also settles in the oil pan. it doesn't mean you are not filtering. Remember the oil goes to the pan before it goes to the filter which pumps the oil through the filter to the engine. Hope this helps
Larry -
Re: High oil pressure and unfiltered oil
Thank you for for response, Larry. I was alarmed simply because I have never seen so much debris in oil that was changed just 1,500 miles ago. That and the high pressure I described. These "shavings" look like very short hairs--maybe 1/64" in length.
Another gentleman has suggested that if the engine was recently re-built (a question who's answer is unknown to me--I've owned the car a short time and previous ownership circumstances roadblock the answer to the question), then such shavings, as well as high oil pressure is to be expected. In any case, you both seem to be saying a similar thing--that is, what I am seeing can be normal and that I shouldn't freak out. Like I said though, it was the shear quantity of shavings that alarmed me.
I will keep an eye on this situation and thank you for your observations. I'm not much of a mechanic, so your experienced comments are comforting and appreciated.Comment
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Re: High oil pressure and unfiltered oil
Dale,
Your better description of the shavings is not the condition I referred to earlier. I have rebuilt several engines and never seen anything like that. Sounds almost like part of a steel wool pad, Maybe from a bad rinse job after cleaning. At least I have never seen anything like you are describing. Maybe one of the other guys here on the board has some experience.
LarryComment
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Re: High oil pressure and unfiltered oil
Larry - your description of the gunk at the bottom of the filter cannister as having the appearance of "gray pipe dope" is right on the money, but I've never heard of it described as
high speed shellac.
I've never been able to figure out what it is or what causes it, but I don't think it's metallic. I always used to scrape it out of the filter housing , but the inside of my engine was very clean, including the pan, and I changed the oil/filter frequently.
Do you or anyone know for sure what that stuff is and how it forms.
DukeComment
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Re: High oil pressure and unfiltered oil
Duke,
I used to read the Q & A columns in Hot Rod Magazines circa 1960-1970. It was brought up more than just a few times. The response was that it was high speed shellac, seems like it had something to do with leaded gas and maybe it is lead, but I did find it in the rocker valley and a few other places that it could settle out. The filter always had a bunch compaired the the other places. You might find an article on it in some old issues of HRM. I sold mine on ebay. With spin on oil filters and unleaded gas, you don't hear much about it anymore. After Dale gave a better description of wnat he was seeing it wasn't the problem he has.
LarryComment
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Re: High oil pressure and unfiltered oil
i have been told that the "gray sludge" in the oil filter can was lead from the gasoline also but it was very fine like rubbing compound.Comment
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Re: High oil pressure and unfiltered oil
Back in the 60s and 70s when you pulled a rocker cover or dropped a pan you would find them sometimes "gunked" up with this of material especially high mileage vehicles running certain oils. If I remember right Gulf and Quaker State were the two worse for this condition. I was told it was a parafin used in some oils but never knew anyone who had it analyzed. May have been more of the urban legend like mitting exhaust and torsion bars.Comment
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