Quote:
If the somewhat restricted oil filter was to cause an existing problem with the oil pump or relief spring show up I would have expected it to show up when I first started the engine in the morning as it was very cold (close to 0F) rather than show up 30 minutes later when the engine was fully warmed up.
Donald ,
One way this can happen is if (in addition to other problems or without) - the oil isn't returning to the pan fast enough .
In practical terms ,if your oil return system from the cylinder head(s) - (BTW this is the 6 right? ) is restricted in any way this could be making the problem or making "other" problems worse .
This can be compounded by undesirable material moving around , - both on top (drain ports) and near the oil pump pick up screen , so while the hot oil flows better in general that doesn't necc. mean that its returning better or is easier for the pump pick up to see and use .
You could also have been experiencing the simple case of just not quite enough return given how the vehicle was operated so that on your normal drive it took about 30 minutes for enough oil to trap away from the pan .
In my mind this would be consistent with some other things happening here concerning your oil pump and esp. your oil pump pressure relief valve . It could also be consistent with what happened after .
When exactly and how were you operating the vehicle when you got the flickering OP light ?
And when all these flickers occurred what was the oil level on the stick ?
BTW , if this is the 6 , looking at the oil fill opening can be very misleading - there is a thin , rough , blackish coating for supposedly sound suppression that "looks" like sludge .
Anyway ,its really good that you jumped quickly to the Auto-Rx and confirmed that you have workable oil pressures while you run forward .
Given the various reports of measured pressure at various times with various oils and filters under various conditions and temperatures its not clear to me that you have done a complete by the book check - I don't have the manual either .
I do agree with Gary here , - in a vaguely uneasy sense thats not at all certain some "sound" at least a little bit low and depending on how you want to say it some sound a little high given the others or at least the spread isn't quite "right" .
Another way to say it is that as a group they don't "seem" to fit together correctly
As the Auto-Rx works this may improve .
So perhaps if not already completed you can at some point do a by the book test of oil pressure -should be at least 5-7 numbers .
( Regardless if they say to do it I'd want to see 5000rpm hot and held for at least 30 seconds or so and I would definitely play with rapid throttle movements to see if you can get the gauge to flicker or hang ) .
A correctly functioning oil "system" with a correctly functioning oil pressure relief assembly (clean) should have very smooth , and seamless "transitions" as you vary rpm . Same idea with constant rpm so whether running up and down or holding steady watch for "step" like operations or flickers - ie anything but smooth and steady .
You may want to do this later - its your call - I would definitely be getting this at least one more time , -like when you are done with all the Auto-Rx .
There are some miscell. that would be nice to know here .
Previous oil history , (maintenance , consumption , more on your UOA histories etc) and some other stuff such as fuel used , PCV and coolant maintenance etc .
I also do not quite understand why you went to filter #3 so quickly - maybe that was to have a clean filter for the Auto-Rx ?