Plugging the Filter Bypass ; any resulting problems ???
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 226
Likes: 0
From: Lake Villa Illinois
Plugging the Filter Bypass ; any resulting problems ???
Its very tempting to plug the filter bypass to get all the oil filtered ; i did this on my street BB Vette but use K and N's super duper hi flo filters with a high burst point and excellent sealing capabilities. I change the oil every 2500 miles (with new filter) and dont drive it below 45 degrees outside -- by then, its in storage for the winter. I havent ran into any problems at all .
How about you guys ? Ever hear of anyone having a problem after doing this mod ?
Thanks, Dave
How about you guys ? Ever hear of anyone having a problem after doing this mod ?
Thanks, Dave
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,851
Likes: 5
From: Liberal Kansas
I know of a case recently that with the bypass plugged that the pressure differential across the filter cause the filtering element to colapse and shut oil flow off the the rest of the engine. In another case the filtering element colapsed then channeled sending the paper through the engine.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 324
Likes: 0
From: Wet Coast
I have plugged my bypass with no effects, and I run a high volume/pressure pump as well. I do only run K&N oil filters, and let the engine warm up fully before I run it hard. I have also converted to synthetic 5W-50 oil as well.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 179
Likes: 2
From: Pittsburgh PA
My bypass is also plugged. No problems so far and I am currently running a Fram (I know) HP4. The HP4 has it own internal bypass. The K&N filters (which I want to switch to), according to their web site, do not have an internal bypass. BUT, after talking to one of their reps, he said they do.
Can anyone confirm that the K&N's (looking at running the HP-3002 or HP-6002) have an internal bypass?
Can anyone confirm that the K&N's (looking at running the HP-3002 or HP-6002) have an internal bypass?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 755
Likes: 32
From: Roswell Georgia
Originally Posted by SWCDuke
Plugging the filter bypass makes absolutely no sense at all.
Besides changing your oil on a regular basis and using a good name brand oil, you also must use a premium oil filter such as the K&N or FRAM HP-4 units to prevent collapse of the filtering element, and allow your oil to reach operating temperature before reving your engine into the higher RPM's.
Please note, that you will see higher oil pressure when the engine is cold; however, since many Corvette owners use muti-weight synthetic oil, it isn't anything like what we used to see with straight 30 weight HD or racing oil.
YMMV!
- Greg Smith, Perpetual Corvette Mechanic
Race Director
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 12,712
Likes: 2,264
Originally Posted by mr.beachcomber
Inspections of the engines during rebuilds after 100K+ miles reveals little of no wear to the main bearings or the cranks.
These valves open at about 10 psi and it's unlikely that they will open on a cold engine if the oil is a proper viscosity for the cold start ambient temperature and the engine is not expected to immediately produce high load and revs.
On the down side, if the bypass is plugged and the filter gets clogged the filter could either collapse or explode AND starve the engine of ANY oil.
Like I said, plugging the bypass makes no sense at all. The potential consequences far outway any claimed benefits, which are just myth and impossible to prove.
If there was not a good reason to have this device, the OEMs would not have installed it.
Duke
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 3,215
Likes: 6
From: Tampa Florida
Duke you are rather inflexible on the subject! 
Blocking the filter bypass has been a published improvement for years.
I've run it on my old school 350 and 400 in my 69 Nova since purchased nearly two decades ago (sounds like a long time...
) I run simple AC P35's and never had any problems-I'm also religious about thorough warm up before throwing seven grand shifts.
It makes sense to do it for enthusiasts...I'm sure the OEM's do it because of the large percentage of population that hardly does any required maintenance on their vehicles...
Blocking the filter bypass has been a published improvement for years.
I've run it on my old school 350 and 400 in my 69 Nova since purchased nearly two decades ago (sounds like a long time...
) I run simple AC P35's and never had any problems-I'm also religious about thorough warm up before throwing seven grand shifts. It makes sense to do it for enthusiasts...I'm sure the OEM's do it because of the large percentage of population that hardly does any required maintenance on their vehicles...
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Race Director
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 12,712
Likes: 2,264
No one has articulated a specific benefit. Anecdotal evidence indicates blocking it does no harm in most cases. Anecdotal evidence also indicates leaving it installed does no harm in most cases - of which there are many more, and I explained why it is there and the possible consequences of removing it.
I guess if you remove the filter bypass valve you should also remove the coolant thermostat and block the coolant bypasses. It makes about as much sense as removing the filter bypass valve.
Just because something is "published" does not mean it's an improvement. In fact, it can be tough to find "published" information that isn't based on myth, misinformation, and junk science.
Duke
I guess if you remove the filter bypass valve you should also remove the coolant thermostat and block the coolant bypasses. It makes about as much sense as removing the filter bypass valve.
Just because something is "published" does not mean it's an improvement. In fact, it can be tough to find "published" information that isn't based on myth, misinformation, and junk science.
Duke
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 3,215
Likes: 6
From: Tampa Florida
Well didn't mean to get your panties in a knot...I was brought up on books rather than internet so I'm much more accepting to information in print rather than from internet keyboard jockeys that are out there.
In other words, there seems to be less misinformation on paper than internet possibly from the way internet info (good and bad) can spread like wildfire...
Nonetheless...I've had no problems with plugging the bypass and run normal AC filters. Some have said one can blow the filter off by reving the engine when cold-too much pressure for the filter due to thick oil.
And would do it again.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 134
Likes: 13
From: Austin TX
The bypass pluggers also believe:
Remove the thermostat for cooler running
Nitrogen in tires
Newer tires on the front
Slick 50
Magnets on the fuel line
Tornado intake insert…
Good luck with any warrantee work with a plugged bypass.
Remove the thermostat for cooler running
Nitrogen in tires
Newer tires on the front
Slick 50
Magnets on the fuel line
Tornado intake insert…
Good luck with any warrantee work with a plugged bypass.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 359
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by SWCDuke
If there was not a good reason to have this device, the OEMs would not have installed it.
Duke
Duke
Last edited by Russ Bellinis; Sep 11, 2005 at 02:01 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 3,215
Likes: 6
From: Tampa Florida
So what happens when someone increases compression on a non-knock sensing engine...and one gets some bad gas...
So what happens when someone installs some needle bearing roller rockers and one fails...
A roller cam, a speed bump with a lowered car, etc....
Give it a rest...many different ways to skin a cat...
The fellow asked if anyone had any problems with the mod...I don't think anyone has according to the posts.
So what happens when someone installs some needle bearing roller rockers and one fails...
A roller cam, a speed bump with a lowered car, etc....
Give it a rest...many different ways to skin a cat...
The fellow asked if anyone had any problems with the mod...I don't think anyone has according to the posts.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 359
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by SWCDuke
So what happens if the bypass valve is replaced with a plug and something inside the engine starts disintegrating and clogs the filter before you know there's a problem.
Duke
Duke
You will have oil pressure for that last 15 minutes before catostrophic engine failure.
Race Director
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 12,712
Likes: 2,264
Originally Posted by No Go
So what happens when someone increases compression on a non-knock sensing engine...and one gets some bad gas...
So what happens when someone installs some needle bearing roller rockers and one fails...
A roller cam, a speed bump with a lowered car, etc....
Give it a rest...many different ways to skin a cat...
The fellow asked if anyone had any problems with the mod...I don't think anyone has according to the posts.
So what happens when someone installs some needle bearing roller rockers and one fails...
A roller cam, a speed bump with a lowered car, etc....
Give it a rest...many different ways to skin a cat...
The fellow asked if anyone had any problems with the mod...I don't think anyone has according to the posts.
Duke
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,429
Likes: 14
From: CA
Have to agree with Duke on this one. Considering how most of the folks here are obsesive-compulsive about maintaining their cars, I'm sure if the bypass actually opened it would just redirect clean high dollar synthetic oil. 
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 12,517
Likes: 19
Originally Posted by SWCDuke
So what happens if the bypass valve is replaced with a plug and something inside the engine starts disintegrating and clogs the filter before you know there's a problem.
Duke
Duke
Last edited by Pete K; Sep 23, 2005 at 05:33 PM.
