anyone use the adjustable pressure relief valve?

[nicolas]

i have an adjustable pressure relief valve on the flywheel side of my engine block, but i may not need it. who uses one and what are your experiences and opinions about it.

[Donny B.]

I have one and have used it for years.  Just make sure you don't crank it up.  I got a little carried away after installing it and blew up my auxiliary oil cooler.  I didn't notice it until I saw oil everywhere.  Must have pumped out about 2 quarts of oil before I shut it off.  I had to buy a new Mesa oil cooler after that.  Oil pressure obviously was too high. You need only to make small adjustments if you use one...!

[nicolas]

Ok, but to pinpoint my question a bit better, why would i have to get my pressure higher than the stock spring would be able to hold? or even an aftermarket one (which has a set of stiffer springs i was told)?

[Donny B.]

It works.  Just be careful and adjust it a little at a time...

[Jim Ratto]

I use them to get old bypass springs to get back to VW orig specs. Sometimes I use them on pulley side and give the spring some preload, like 1.5-2mm

[Jim Ratto]

yes and be careful, like Don says.... I did the same thing, just before a long hot night-trip up into Sierras... thought I'd be "smart" and crank it up a turn or three. Good bye doghouse cooler!!

[Mike Lawless]

What you do with those, and their best use I think, is when converting a case to external pressure relief with the JayCee filter adapter for example, is to put two pistons in the flywheel side relief bore, and use that gizmo to jam 'em tight. That lets the external bypass do the work

[nicolas]

thanks for helping.