Miata Mailing List: November 1994, Message #121
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   From: 
Subject: Oil Filter Bypass
   Date: Fri, 4 Nov 1994 08:42:40 -0500

Miateers,
I've heard about this in the past, and it was brought up again in the 
Fall Magazine: once the oil filter gets clogged, the oil bypass allows 
oil to bypass the filter.  My question is at what pressure does this 
bypass open, and is it contained in the engine or in the filter proper?

If it's in the filter I can imagine that the pressure would vary with 
every filter (it can't very precisely calibrated), in which case is there 
a way to ascertain what the pressure would be for any particular filter 
brand?

If anybody has any authoritative knowledge on this issue, I would be 
interested in hearing it.  My concern is only because in having my first 
oil pressure gauge wiht numbers on it, the pressure seems awfully high at 
times (90psi @ 1500 RPM when cold), and I would really like to know what is 
going on in there.

Later,
Tom