I’m currently knee deep in my front sandwich plate replacement and in the process of replacing o rings in my oil filter housing o rings and gaskets, paranoia has struck!

when removing and cleaning the housing, I foolishly had my music up and didn’t really keep an ear out for anything. However, the next day in the quiet, I’ve noticed that the oil pressure relief valve bolted to the outside of the housing (EAC 7149, has the red tube that looks like a question mark directing back to the oil pan) sound like something (ball, piston, etc.) that moves up and down in side it if you hold the oil filter housing and move it up and down. Is it normal to hear this “rattle” from that component, or should it be silent?

I’m afraid I jostled it while cleaning/transporting it and they are listed as NLA now…

 

Gday Swagger,

I haven't had my oil pressure relief valve apart to know what is inside but from what you say it seems the relief valve spring has broken or the valve is stuck at full travel and the spring is rattling, I would remove the whole valve from the housing and see what is going on.

I have had the pressure relief valve on my old SII XJ6 apart and it had a sliding piston and quite a long spring behind it and I suspect the V12 valve is similar.

As you say they are NLA but you might be able to source a suitable spring or if the valve is stuck and you free it up you might be good to go.

Cheers,
Jeff.

P.S. After a bit of googling I found out that Rob Beere offers a rebuild service for the V12 pressure relief valves. See here Rob Beere-Engine Components
It might be worth getting in touch as he also has relief valve springs for sale.

 

I should clarify, there are two pressure relief valves in the oil filter assembly. One that is fully viewable/accessible from the backside that faces the block (I believe this is the one with the spring you are referring to @wat007) which is #9 in the diagram below. The second is a fully sealed unit with a pipe off the end that is #3 in the diagram below.

#9 looks and feels totally fine, #3 is the one I’m concerned about. It feels like it is being kept shut at the moment by quite a stiff spring (access is incredibly minimal even on a bench, my fingers don’t feel strong enough to operate it) but there does sound to be something that rolls/slides back and forth inside and I don’t know if it’s supposed to be like that.

Id like to find another to find out, but I can’t even find a secondhand one…

 

G'day Swagger,

It was the part #3 I was thinking of and the one I thought you were having the problem with.

I wasn't aware of the other relief valve part #8, you learn something every day.

Cheers,
Jeff.

 

I ended up emailing Rob Beere (as I had not heard of his rebuild service in my earlier searches). After describing the noise, he assured me that it is completely normal and there's nothing wrong!