Oil filter bypass- plug or don't plug?

[another69]

I know alot of guys plug the bypass in the adapter for a SBC, but I left mine untouched. Now that i'm adding an oil cooler with a stat, I'm thinking of plugging it. Assuming the oil is changed on a regular basis, is there any downside to plugging it? I'm afraid that the pressure drop across the cooler & lines, fittings, stat, etc may cause a constant bypass.

[1969CamaroRS]

I think you would want some type of bypass in the system, just in-case oil pressure got too high.

[Vegas69]

I'll never run another conventional big block or small block WITHOUT a plugged bypass again. It cost me a motor. Plug it and put a K&N filter on it. All you have to do is warm it up for a few minutes and keep it under 2500 rpms when you first start driving. I usually wait until I see the oil pressure start to fall from heat in the oil before I drive normally. It may take a few miles but so worth it.

[another69]

How did it kill your motor? The engine shop that built my shortblock said to plug it, but I didn't want to get rid of a factory safety. I think I will plug it, though, the spring is pretty weak, and I bet it bypasses alot of the time. An aftermarket bypass with a stronger spring would be nice, but I'll take your advice and take it easy until warm. I run a Moroso filter to help against bursting, but I'm more worried about the filter o-ring and the sandwich cooler adapter o-ring letting loose.

[wmhjr]

I don't think I've ever met a serious engine builder who did not recommend eliminating the bypass.

[1969CamaroRS]

I don't think I've ever met a serious engine builder who did not recommend eliminating the bypass.

I doubt any serious engine builder that would care to warranty their work would build an engine without some sort of bypass in the system. Perhaps they plugged the stock bypass but I'm sure they installed some type of other bypass in the system.

What do you think happens on an engine w/o any bypass when the oil pressure gets too high?

[another69]

Note: The bypass I'm talking about is the FILTER bypass, located in the stock filter adapter. All aftermarket adapters that I've seen eliminate this bypass. There is a PRESSURE bypass (relief) built into the pump. I've never heard of the pump relief being eliminated.

[Vegas69]

My distributor gear was going South without me knowing it. The debris embedded in my bearing due to the bypass. Let's say your camshaft starts losing a lobe... Many different scenarios where the debris could do a whole lot more damage.

Serious engine builders do it because they build high performance engines for high performance applications. I wouldn't do it on a daily driver or for someone that doesn't understand what the hell is going on. You will never see a crate engine with a blocked bypass either. These high performance engines are high maintenence. Your engine builder reccomends it and so will most reputable engine shops.

I think Ed is thinking of the oil pump bypass as well.

[wmhjr]

The OP was talking about the filter housing bypass. And again, in a performance motor, I've never yet met a serious builder who did not recommend eliminating the bypass. Among other reasons, Todd is spot on.

Todd is right. If it's a daily driver, then it's probably also not a tweaked motor in a performance build. Totally different scenario than what I think we're talking about here.

[another69]

Vegas69- was it a bronze dist. gear that went?
I'll just plug the bypass and take it easy until warm. Thanks for the input- I always like to get a true reason besides "everyone's doing it". Anybody actually burst a filter by not using the bypass? It would be nice to have a pressure guage before & after the filter just out of curiosity.

[Vegas69]

It was a bronze gear. The burst pressure on Moroso and K&N filters is 250-300 psi. In all honesty, you should be taking it easy on an engine until you build some heat anyway.