Stout 944

2 months into 944 ownership... (Paying my dues, I know)

As Illinois weather is finally warming up, I drove my 86 944 na to work today, drove great. Same at lunch. Normal driving.

I start the car to go home & it starts a little slowly and I need to give it some gas to keep it running which is unusual. all of the sudden I see the warning light & no oil pressure. I turn it off, and find a massive oil leak. Oil is everywhere, and seemingly all the oil is leaking out. A couple of co-workers help out & we can see oil shooting out near the filter. Maybe 3 feet of spray out and up. We remove the oil filter and the seal looks pinched, so we replace the filter and try some new oil. Engine starts shows oil pressure, then immediately drops pressure and leaks all the oil out again

I've searched but was unable to find this issue. Does this sound familiar to anybody? Al thoughts / suggestions are welcomed.

-John

bonus12

Is oil pressure going way up before it busts a leak? If oil pressure relief valve is poorly installed, it allows oil pressure to go too high and oil filter can take the hit. Otherwise something else is causing high oil pressure.

Stout 944

I wasn't watching the oil pressure the first time, but after replacing the oil filter and adding the oil it did seem to rise then I heard a pop and and the pressure dropped and all the oil leaked out again.

Thanks for identifying the first potential cause. That does make sense.

Stout 944

Any chance this is just a loose oil filter? As I was replacing it in the field & I had the wrong tool it was hand tightened, and not to spec. As tight as I could get it by hand though.

djantlive

I always tighten by hand followed by a 1/4 turn with tool. With just hand, it should not leak anyways. Certainly not going to pop and dump the oil out.

I would change the filter instead of just tightening it. Probly not the issue but couldn't hurt.

mel_t_vin

Doubt it.

I only tighten my filters by hand. Lubricate with oil, bottom the gasket, plus additional 1/2 turn, by hand...no issues in 20 years. BTW, "as tight as I could get it by hand", should not be necessary.

Are you using a quality filter? Are you lubricating the gasket with oil before installing?

Re: two months of 944 ownership...how many miles had you put on the car prior to taking it to the office?

Stout 944

Mahle oil filter, and I lined the ring with fresh oil by hand prior to installing.

I've been driving the car when I can prior to the oil fiasco from yesterday. Before the incident I had about 70 miles of normal non-spirited driving on it that day.

I just wanted to validate the next steps, and I appreciate the diagnosis as all signs point to the oil pressure relief valve. I wasn't trying to slight the community with the "2 months comment". I love these cars, & mine has been a blast to own. Just pointing out my dumb luck.

CVR_Rally

That's a classic stuck pressure relief valve.

Way back in my younger years I rebuild my first engine (a 1984 Chevy 4cyl). On its first start the oil pressure shot up then the oil filter seal popped letting it all out. I had to take the oil pump back out and replace because the little check valve had stuck frozen shut. This sounds exactly the same.

Chris

lart951

Yes, stuck oil pressure relief valve (oprv)common failure.

wildcat077

I had two oil fires with my race car due to a faulty PRV ... consider yourself lucky your car didn't burn to the ground ...
My fire suppression system saved my car !

phL

I had that happen on a busy road, oil allover the engine, headers, etc. good thing i only drove it a few seconds before it happened and everything was still "cold". busted the filter seal.
took the pressure relief valve apart and polished all surfaces. hope that helped.

mel_t_vin

Didn't think it was the oil filter...or your install process. As others have mentioned, the OPRV is definitely suspect.

Not sure why/how you thought you slighted the community...didn't take it that way, at all. My question as to your usage during ownership...if the car had sat for an extended period of time before purchase, sludge may have built up in the nooks and crannies. And as you've only put a few hundred miles on the car since you've owned it, it's possible some of that sludge was displaced [with recent driving] and may have, unfortunately, found its way to your OPRV.

How many miles on your car? Are you using quality oil with proper viscosity?

If it hasn't already been replaced, your motor was fitted with a 3-piece OPRV. Remove it, clean it, inspect the bore, take photos, reinstall, test drive, and report back. Happy motoring...

bonus12

You need to order the correct seals for your oil cooler and OPRV and install them, too.
You can tell your oprv style just from looking at it.

Tiger03447

Be certain to use the 20.00 tool to reinstall the OPRV..it's needed for the re-alignment of the parts. Just .02 cents..

Stout 944

The diagnosis is in. To my surprise it was a failed oil filter ring. The ring was getting pinched and opened to the point of allowing all the oil to rapidly leak out under pressure. Drove the car tonight and everything seemed back to normal. Posting to help anybody with the same issue.