Help needed : Too much oil pressure

[jf_renard]

First, hello to everybody.

 

I'm a newbie here, and in the Caterham world: I'm the french owner of one of the very few LHD Cosworth 1600 BDR. GREAT!!!

 

My first problem came last monday: my oil filter gasket went out of its place with a Champain "Plop", but instead of champain, a few liters of oil poured on the road. Fortunately, it was just in front of my home.

I put it back, filled oil and now I can read an oil pressure more than the maximum (6 bars), even at 600rpm or with the starter with the coil unplugged. As the pressure climbs slowly, I guess the sender and the gauge are OK.

 

I guess the excessive pressure comes from the oil pressure relief valve which can be stuck (I've read a few topics on the subject...) but I wonder: WHERE THE HELL IS THE RELIEF VALVE ON A BDR OR ANY KENT-BASED ENGINE?

 

Or another lead : can too much oil in the engine cause so much excessive pressure? Actually I'm not sure my dipstick -rather my car's one!- is not too short...

 

By the way, I live in the north of France. Any British people coming to France with -or without- a Caterham will be welcome!

 

Jeff

Cosworth 1600 BDR

[Roger King]

Jeff,

 

Is your engine wet or dry sump?

 

In both cases the relief valve is in the pump, but it is very unlikely to be stuck on a dry sump pump becaus of it's design. In both cases, you will have to remove the pump and dismantle it because the valve is inside - although you can adjust the pressure from the outside on a dry sump pump.

 

If you have a dry sump engine, make sure that your oil filter housing is plumbed the correct way round because the latest filters have a non-return valve in them which will prevent any oil getting to the engine if the plumbing is wrong. I don't know where your oil pressure sender is, but sometimes it will show excessive pressure when this happens if it is mounted in the filter housing rather than the engine.

[Roger King]

Jeff,

 

Is your engine wet or dry sump?

 

In both cases the relief valve is in the pump, but it is very unlikely to be stuck on a dry sump pump becaus of it's design. In both cases, you will have to remove the pump and dismantle it because the valve is inside - although you can adjust the pressure from the outside on a dry sump pump.

 

If you have a dry sump engine, make sure that your oil filter housing is plumbed the correct way round because the latest filters have a non-return valve in them which will prevent any oil getting to the engine if the plumbing is wrong. I don't know where your oil pressure sender is, but sometimes it will show excessive pressure when this happens if it is mounted in the filter housing rather than the engine.

[jf_renard]

Thank you Roger.

 

My engine is wet sump and the OP sender is on the engine.

 

So I have to dismantle the pump... Hope I can do it, I've never worked on a Ford engine. But I think everything will be obvious when I remove the sump cover.

 

Now, I know what my next week-en will be.

[I.Mupferit]

Jeff,

You won't need to remove the sump to check the pump. The pump assembly has the filter hanging off it and is bolted to the side of the block with 3 bolts only.

If you have a fax number I think I have a manual at home, describing the Kent oil pump, which can be copied and I can send to you.

 

Brent

[jf_renard]

Good news!!

 

I feel I need a few technical books about my car and its engine....

 

I plan to order

1) Lotus Seven: Restoration/Preparation/Maintenance by Tony Weale

2) Ford Escort RS 1600, BDA. Supplementary Workshop Manual. 1970 Ford England, including all the data from Cosworth engineering for the BDR engine

or 2) Cosworth BDA, BDG, BDR, BDD Engine Specifications and Data sheets for the road and racing engines. Reprint of original Cosworth material

 

Do you think it's a good choice for a beginner (in Caterham and Ford, but not in mechanics!) ?

 

By the way, I'm very interested in Brent's manual, cos' I would like to repair my car on saturday. On the road again...

 

Jeff

Cosworth 1600 BDR

[Roger King]

Jeff,

 

There is no reason for a beginner not to service a BDR, but DON'T start doing any more serious work on the engine unless you know what you are doing. The BDA (a name that I'll use to cover the whole family of BD versions), was one of the first modern (I know Peugeot had such a thing is about 1913) 16V engines and as such is of rather trickier construction than later production based engines.

 

There is plenty of scope to get into trouble and because it is a Cosworth engine, it is almost guaranteed to be expensive.

[I.Mupferit]

Jeff,

 

I tried to fax the oil pump information to the fax number you gave me but without success. Is it the right number?

 

Brent

[jf_renard]

First of all, thanks to all of you for your help : my car is repaired and it runs again!

The oil pressure relief valve was stuck in the "closed" position, resulting in too much pressure in the gallery. I dismantled the oil pump (thank you Brent), cleaned and polished the valve piston, and reassembled the whole. Easy.

 

So Brent, I don't really NEED the oil pump information, but of course it would be welcome. I've checked the fax number I gave to you. It's OK. Did you dial the international prefix instead of the "+" sign ? (I think the prefix is 00 everywhere).

 

I've taken pictures from the intervention. If anyone would like to have it, I'll be glad to e-mail it.

 

Thank you again.

 

Jeff

 

Jeff

Cosworth 1600 BDR