The Chilton manual for the B mentions that if there is a sudden loss in oil
pressure to check the relief valve for proper opperation leading one to
believe that the oil pressure sensor would, in common sense, be located
after the relief valve but before the first port. When the valve relieves
presure it bypasses oil back to the pan. It could malfunction and if it did
in a way as to allow the bypass at a lower pressure, would show a lower
pressure on the guage which you did see although this could also be due to
some other mechanical failure. The Bently manual may have a nice pic showing
the oil paths and directions but that's at home and I'm at work right now.
Even if your pressure relief valve malfunctioned, it sounds like you still
had enough presure to lubricate the engine. I would check for something
silly in the rebuild like assembly lubing the backs of the main bearings
which would blow your oil clearance or something like that.
Chris Reichle
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From: mgs-owner
To: MG Mailing List
Subject: Oil flow route in MGB engine?
Date: Sunday, October 19, 1997 3:29AM
In the interests of troubleshooting my recent engine woes, I'd like
to find out more about the oiling system. Can anybody tell me the
exact path the oil takes through a 18V engine? Please include the
filter, oil pressure relief valve, and cooler in the path. I'd
especially like to know where the oil pressure gauge sender is in the
path as well.
Also, where does the oil go when the oil pressure relief valve
opens? Is it possible for the main bearings to be completely starved
of oil and still have pressure on the gauge? Somebody mentioned oil
galley plugs on the bottom of the engine. What are they, where are
they located, how many are there, and what would the effects be if
they were missing?
I don't know what I'd do without you guys (and gals). If the
Karmic law holds true, we're going to have to find a way for all of
you to simultaneously win the Publisher's Clearing house sweepstakes!
Scott
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