Motorcraft Oil Filter Catastrophic Seam Failure

[Mechanician]

Did the engine die when this occurred?
On a couple of vehicles I've seen do this to a filter, the excessive pressure caused the hydraulic lifters to float the valves, and compression was lost temporarily.

 

[Sayjac]

"To my eye', looks like a classic oil pump relief valve failure/malfunction resulting filter distortion/failure.

 

[Adambomb7777]

"To my eye', looks like a classic oil pump relief valve failure/malfunction resulting filter distortion/failure.

The only time I’ve ever seen a filter pop like this was in an old Chev work van I once had. And what you said was exactly what was wrong with it

Oil pump failure

 

[MaximumMini]

The only time I’ve ever seen a filter pop like this was in an old Chev work van I once had. And what you said was exactly what was wrong with it

Oil pump failure

Do you mean pressure relief failure?
If the Oil pump failed there would be no pressure?

 

[Adambomb7777]

Do you mean pressure relief failure?
If the Oil pump failed there would be no pressure?

This was at least 20 years ago. I don’t remember all of the detail, but it was a 4.3 v6, and a new oil pump fixed the problem

 

[MaximumMini]

I just tried removing the base of the filter. The seam is almost exactly 50% split and 50% still in tact.
This will be a difficult one. The oil filter cutting tool wont be here until tomorrow.

I could try using a rotary cutting tool.
Prying it apart will do too much damage (if it even works)
Using the cutting tool tomorrow might be difficult since the base is already partially separated from the can.
I'll figure something out..

I need to find out if it was the filter or the pressure relief valve in the motor, which is the majority opinion.

 

[MaximumMini]

This was at least 20 years ago. I don’t remember all of the detail, but it was a 4.3 v6, and a new oil pump fixed the problem

In that engine the oil pressure relief valve may have been part of the oil pump assembly. Don't know.

 

[MaximumMini]

So I had to use a grinder to grind off the remaining edge lip seal to separate the cap from the can.
Here are the photos

If there is another photo maybe a different angle you would like to see let me know.
Thanks for all the helpful advice here.

 

[Glenda W.]

Sloppy and loose glue in the can. It’s authentic.

 

[MaximumMini]

"To my eye', looks like a classic oil pump relief valve failure/malfunction resulting filter distortion/failure.

Beginning to agree. I need to drop the oil pan and pull the relief piston and spring back out and see what's going on.

 

[Hootbro]

Sloppy and loose glue in the can. It’s authentic.

Pretty bad when authentication characteristic is how crappy one's product is.

 

[ZeeOSix]

View attachment 291215

Need a few good photos of the louvers in the center tube to see if they are choked down much. The center tube and the media don't look crushed inward from what I can tell. So was it just a defective and weak base seam crimp job that failed from normal oil pressure? If the oil pump output pressure and volume was unregulated I would think there would also be signs of center tube deformation. Base plate seams are not what typically blows out, it's typically the base rubber seal that pops.

 

[MaximumMini]

Did the engine die when this occurred?
On a couple of vehicles I've seen do this to a filter, the excessive pressure caused the hydraulic lifters to float the valves, and compression was lost temporarily.

No, the engine did not die or stall.

 

[MaximumMini]

Need a few good photos of the louvers in the center tube to see if they are choked down much. The center tube and the media don't look crushed inward from what I can tell. So was it just a defective and weak base seam crimp job that failed from normal oil pressure? If the oil pump output pressure and volume was unregulated I would think there would also be signs of center tube deformation. Base plate seams are not what typically blows out, it's typically the base rubber seal that pops.

It's a bit harder to get good photos inside that tube. Let me try.

I just ran the vehicle for about 15 minutes (until the oil temp reached 150F)
No oil leaks, oil pressure normal (70psi cold and drops as it warms up)

I brought the engine up to maximum RPM (4K) and oil pressure climbed to 60psi. No oil leaks.
Checked new (Purolator Boss) oil filter for deformation, looks perfectly normal.

IF....the engine oil pressure relief valve was stuck closed, wouldn't it still reach critical pressures when revved up like that?
Or does the oil pressure relief valve become a non issue once oil temperatures reach higher operating temps?
My WAG is that regardless of the oil temperature, the oil pump would continue packing (forcing) oil into the oil filter until it burst if the relief valve on the other side was stuck closed.

Maybe it's stuck 90% closed? Maybe it has vent holes in it that prevent complete blockage of the oil passage?

 

[Gravity_Wolves]

In the one picture you took it looks like the filter end cap is pretty tight in the can. Much clearance between the two?

 

[ZeeOSix]

I just ran the vehicle for about 15 minutes (until the oil temp reached 150F)
No oil leaks, oil pressure normal (70psi cold and drops as it warms up)

I brought the engine up to maximum RPM (4K) and oil pressure climbed to 60psi. No oil leaks.
Checked new (Purolator Boss) oil filter for deformation, looks perfectly normal.

Sounds like the oil pump is operating normally at this time. If the oil pump regulation went hay-wire and caused the filter to blow-out, it must have been a temporary situation.

IF....the engine oil pressure relief valve was stuck closed, wouldn't it still reach critical pressures when revved up like that?
Or does the oil pressure relief valve become a non issue once oil temperatures reach higher operating temps?

As the oil temperature increases and the oil thins down, it takes more engine RPM to build enough pressure to open the spring operated pressure relief valve in the pump. I'm assuming this is an old fashioned, spring loaded pressure relief designed oil pump, and not a variable volume pump or computer controlled oil pump.

My WAG is that regardless of the oil temperature, the oil pump would continue packing (forcing) oil into the oil filter until it burst if the relief valve on the other side was stuck closed.

Yes, an unregulated positive displacement oil pump will try to cram all the output volume though whatever is connected to the output of the pump, and therefore the output pressure will get very high as the pump RPM and therefore the output volume increases.

Maybe it's stuck 90% closed? Maybe it has vent holes in it that prevent complete blockage of the oil passage?

If the pressure regulation valve in the pump was stuck closed at any level you would see some sign of abnormal oil pressure, especially when the oil is cold and the RPM up some ... that's when the pump pressure relieve valve would be activated the most.

 

[ZeeOSix]

Zooming in on the photo of the center tube, it looks like the louvers are pretty open, at least the ones in focus.

 

[MaximumMini]

In the one picture you took it looks like the filter end cap is pretty tight in the can. Much clearance between the two?

Not sure the question?
It popped open on one side while the other side remained crimped.

 

[MaximumMini]

Sounds like the oil pump is operating normally at this time. If the oil pump regulation went hay-wire and caused the filter to blow-out, it must have been a temporary situation.


As the oil temperature increases and the oil thins down, it takes more engine RPM to build enough pressure to open the spring operated pressure relief valve in the pump. I'm assuming this is an old fashioned, spring loaded pressure relief designed oil pump, and not a variable volume pump or computer controlled oil pump.


Yes, an unregulated positive displacement oil pump will try to cram all the output volume though whatever is connected to the output of the pump, and therefore the output pressure will get very high as the pump RPM and therefore the output volume increases.


If the pressure regulation valve in the pump was stuck closed at any level you would see some sign of abnormal oil pressure, especially when the oil is cold and the RPM up some ... that's when the pump pressure relieve valve would be activated the most.

Good info Z06. Thank you.

 

[Gravity_Wolves]

Not sure the question?
It popped open on one side while the other side remained crimped.

The end cap looks pretty tight in the can. Is there very much clearance between the two?