OPRV help

[curtisr]

After searching here, there and everywhere (including Clarks and 944foottothefloor) I'm still scratching my head as to the serviceability of the OPRV.

It's from a late 1987 924s and is the one piece model. Why I wish to service it is because the pressure has been super high (gauge reads 150 psi) and there is a leak at the oil filter.

Right now it is really wobbly at the portion residing above the threads. Does this mean that the internal O-ring has failed? if so, do I simply pull on the two halves until it comes apart? Is there anything else I should keep in mind?

Thanks in advance. Picture below.

[kdjones2000]

Get a small screwdriver or similar and try to push in the small cylinder at the end of the OPVR. If it is sticking you will get very high oil pressure.

You may have to clean up an foreign material that is in the OPVR to stop it from sticking.

The looseness you are feeling is normal on the late OPVR's....

[curtisr]

KD,

Thanks. Will check. And that's good news on the wobble front. Since it is out I thought I'd change the O rings. Is it just a matter of pulling hard to separate the two halves?

[kdjones2000]

Many posts on here about refreshing these.

Just pull it using a vice, will destroy the o-ring. Replace after cleaning it up....

[wildcat077]

Roger ,

Don't mess with a faulty OPRV ... ask me how i know !
Had two engine fires due to the seal blowing out on the oil filter because the oil
pressure pegged out at 80 psi during a race !

Once coming out of 5B at Mosport and the second time heading downhill into 4 at Tremblant , wasn't fun !
If you don't have a good fire suppresion system in your car , replace that OPRV with a known good one ...
I ended up buying a brand new one from the dealer, it's cheaper than burning down a race car !

[curtisr]

Originally Posted by kdjones2000

Many posts on here about refreshing these.

Just pull it using a vice, will destroy the o-ring. Replace after cleaning it up....

kd,

I read so many posts and blog entries on rebuilding these that my head was spinning. None of them described the tear down part. Seeing the two halves probably is explanation enough but I thought I would ask for advice.

Response appreciated!

[curtisr]

Originally Posted by wildcat077

Roger ,

Don't mess with a faulty OPRV ... ask me how i know !
Had two engine fires due to the seal blowing out on the oil filter because the oil
pressure pegged out at 80 psi during a race !

Once coming out of 5B at Mosport and the second time heading downhill into 4 at Tremblant , wasn't fun !
If you don't have a good fire suppresion system in your car , replace that OPRV with a known good one ...
I ended up buying a brand new one from the dealer, it's cheaper than burning down a race car !

I know 5B (!) and hope to give one of the G70 races at Mont Tremblant this year. It's nice to see that they've posted their major event calendar already.

What tipped me off about the OPRV was smoke coming through the shifter port at Shannonville's last lapping day of the season. Needless to say, I was a hit with the viewing public and a few trackside volunteers as well. It seemed the pressure was enough to separate a bit of the valve cover gasket and the oil filter's as well. Of course, all of that nice fresh 15W50 had to go somewhere and it chose the exhaust. Luckily, it wasn't gushing.

Okay, it looks like I need to start a search for the unbelievably priced OPRV.

Thanks.

[Swennydawg]

Do as KDJones suggested. I bought a box of O rings from Harbor Freight and used those. Works great. The other important thing is to use the alignment tool when installing the heat exchanger (oil cooler) because you may as well do the seals and the gasket while you're messing with the OPRV.

[curtisr]

New o rings installed today. The original bottom one was shredded although I've read that that would be the result of separating the two halves. The top ring was frayed and actually seemed to be below the surface of the housing. Pressed it together with a vice. I will try this asap and see what happens in the garage. If it's not better I'll buy a new one.which I should probably do any ways for the next time.

[wildcat077]

Roger,

This is what happens when your OPRV fails during a race ...
First lap, thankfully not down the back straight !

Notice the bubbled paint on the rockers , the flames were coming through the floor when i set off the fire suppression system ...

[curtisr]

Originally Posted by wildcat077

Roger,

This is what happens when your OPRV fails during a race ...
First lap, thankfully not down the back straight !

Notice the bubbled paint on the rockers , the flames were coming through the floor when i set off the fire suppression system ...

Holy crap! How could you see???!!! Man, that could have been a lot worse!

Note to self: look for a new OPRV...

[curtisr]

Originally Posted by Swennydawg

The other important thing is to use the alignment tool when installing the heat exchanger (oil cooler) because you may as well do the seals and the gasket while you're messing with the OPRV.

+1 Excellent advice. Thanks.

[wildcat077]

I couldn't see ... i just knew there was a large runoff driver's left at the bottom of turn 4 !

Take some good advice and don't cheap out on safety equipment and things that you suspect might fail during a race weekend.
Race weekends are expensive and you want to be on track , not fixing your car !

Pressing together in a vice a critical engine part is not recommended ... lol

Just sayin ...

[curtisr]

Solved! It was out with the electronic oil pressure sending kit that I had recently installed and in with a new Bosch Sport set-up. What should have tipped me off was the maximum reading the (former) meter can show was 120 psi. Had I known that was the case, the 150 reading would have put me back on the right path. Thanks everyone for your help and patience. I now vow to read all of the product literature for such things.