How to Plug this hole in Oiling System?

Question

I'm looking for a suitable plug to use in a Nissan Sentra to block flow of oil into the oil filter bypass hole in the engine block. This is the hole which is covered by the oil filter, and allows oil to bypass the filter, under certain conditions. This hole is supposed to have a valve in it but the valve is broken, and the hole is always wide open, therefore always bypassing the filter.

This car is on its last legs and the cost to have a new valve installed is way too high.

I just want to plug the bypass completely, or at least reduce the hole opening quite a bit. All I've found so far is some rubber plugs that expand when you turn a nut on them. But it's possible it would get sucked into the engine. I need a plug that will stay on the outside of the hole, as it is plugging.

Something in the shape of a rubber bathtub stopper, but much smaller that can take the heat of oil.

By the way, I plan to change the filter often, and also to not rev the engine very high, plus the oil pressure is way too low, anyway, so I don't think I will be blowing off the oil filter with excess pressure.

Thanks.

<HLS · Accepted Answer

valve.  What happened?I would personally hate to jury rig something like this.  But, if I had nootherchoice, I would try to find a piece of steel or brass rod big enough to gointhe hole and block it as well as possible.  If the hole is round, you mightbe ableto get enough blockage to improve your oil pressure.  And it would beremovable.Another way might be to cut an oil resistant rubber gasket that would fitunderthe filter and block the hole totally.  If the pressure got too high, maybetherubber would give way.Sounds like the car IS on its last legs, and your are going to be on yourfeet soon.

spamTHISbrp · Answer

I think your only hope is- a plug threaded with pipe-threads- JBweldDave

N8N · Answer

I'm inferring from your post that the OPRV is pressed in and you don't have a handy way to remove the remains of the old, busted one. couple of ideas:

1) can you remove the oil filter mount from the block and look at it under a good light on the workbench? That will often give you some ideas that aren't obvious when you're on your back under the car. 2) is it a constant diameter? If so can you just get a drill bit and carefully drill the old one out and then pick out the shards with a dental pick or similar tool? 3) if 2) is impractical, can you run a tap through the remains of the old one and then thread in a bolt and pull it with a slide hammer?

just some ideas, which may or may not be helpful...

nate

Caprice85 · Answer

valve.  What happened?

Mike Romain · Answer

Sometimes when the metal tears you can get it down enough to peel the rest out with mini vise grips or needle nose or get a thin screwdriver in behind the tear and carefully tap it down. If you can get the brass tube to bend up from the wall a bit in one place, it usually loosens the whole thing and a pair of needle nose pliers can pull it out.

You can grease up the new one and carefully tap it in using a piece of wood as a hammer buffer. Hold the wood on the valve and hit the wood with the hammer. If you can remove the base plate, then you can use a vise to press the new one in usually.

On some bypass valves, it just bypasses the filter in case of filter plug up, yours was called a 'oil pressure regulator' valve which could just dump it back to the oil pan.

Mike

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Caprice85 wrote:

<HLS · Answer

Exactly what I was thinking, Mike.Sometimes you can 'drive' a pointed tool (awl) or a small sharp screwdriverbetweenthe thin metal and the bore into which it is installed, and collapse it.Then pull itout with needle nosed pliars.  (I had to do this to remove the tranny filterbushingon the last one I serviced.  I am sure there is a special tool, but I donthave them all.)

How to Plug this hole in Oiling System?

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