high oil pressure?

[silverV6firebird]

I started up my camaro today and it was making an odd "chattering" noise. I checked my gauges and the oil pressure gauge was pegged out. I checked my oil level and it was were it should've been, but I noticed some "sludge" on the dipstick. The sludge concerned me so I decided to change out my oil, and check it for anything else that didn't belong in it. I Didn't find anything else in my oil, couldn't feel anything in the oil i even ran a magnet through it. I started the car again and the oil pressure was still pegged out and I still heard the same chattering noise. What could be wrong?
The only conclusion I came up with is that there might be an oil pump sensor going bad. Making the oil pump pump too much oil. thus causing the pressure to be way too high. Which might explain the sludge on the dipstick.
I'm not much of a mechanic, so if anybody has an idea of what could be going on I would greatly appreciate the info. Thank you

[CDNFB]

Do a search for "high oil pressure" there you will find some previous posts that are of some interest, especially:

http://www.camarov6.com/ubb/ultimate...=014928#000004

Here is what I would start out with in the way of troubleshooting. Make sure your indication or gauge is correct by comparing its reading to a mechanical pressure gauge. If correct, then change the filter cause it could be plugged (unless you did that already), then suspect the oil pump pressure bypass valve. If it is stuck closed you will have excessively high oil pressures. If all those things are ok, I would suspect blockages in the oil supply galleys in the engine. It would have to be some serious blockages though because a properly functioning bypass valve can bypass alot of oil in it's effort to maintain pressure.

Let us know your progress and what you find.

DZ

[silverV6firebird]

Thanks for the advice. I'm going to try a search. I know it wasn't the filter I changed that with my oil. So the next thing to look for would be the oil pump pressure bypass valve. That makes good sense. Thanks again. I'll post my progress.

[terminaldegree]

When doing my first oil change on my car, I accidentally mangled one of the oil pressure sender wires right next to the oil filter, and it pegged the meter...

[silverV6firebird]

just an update, i'm taking it to the dealership wendsday. I'll let you all know what they say.

[silverV6firebird]

Another update.. I started my camaro today to go to the dealership to have them look at it. well instead of having too high oil pressure I had no oil pressure. It still made the "chattering" noise. I got to the dealership and smelled a smell like burnt oil coming from my engine. When they looked at my car they found that the oil filter gasket was blown and oil filter was also blown, busted and coming off. They told me that the oil filter and oil filter gasket could only take 100 psi and mine was 210 before i guess it finally blew the gasket and filter. The valve to the filter was the problem but they told me the "chattering" noise was internal engine problems. The did put a new filter and oil in the car before i drove it home and it held the 60ish psi its supposed to hold.
Their estimate to fix it was $4518.95! Thats nearly double for what i payed for the car in the first place. So for now I think I'm going to replace that valve and see what happens from there. I'm not going to spend serious money on this car.

[CDNFB]

Thanks for the update. Very interesting findings.

So lets get this straight:

1) the oil pump bypass valve is the problem and requires replacement.

2) There are other problems inside the engine that is going to cost $4500 to fix.

I saw the same thing once many, many years ago when I was a gas jockey this garage I worked at. Car came in for an oil change and the old filter was all expanded and balloned out. They changed the oil pump to fix it. Can't remember what kind of car, but sure remember that filter!

Did they tell you what those "internal engine problems" are? Like spun bearings, collapsed pistons, wrist pins??

When you were driving it home and the oil pressure was holding normal(at 60 psi) what did the engine sound like? Was it still "Chattering"?

DZ

[silverV6firebird]

no it wasn't making noise when i drove it home. They couldn't exactly tell me what the engine problems were. The thought it would be the rods.. Does that sound right? They did tell me it would be easier and more cost effiecent to replace the engine than try to repair it.
I called back to the shop and told them that everything seemed normal on the drive home and they qouted me $835 to replace that valve. But I'll still have those other engine problems. I just don't know how much I want to spend on that car yet. I only paid $2500 for it a year ago.