Missing Oil Relief Valve On Oil Filter Plate Still Safe To Drive?

[rbseriespower]

ive got a rb25det and most recently just found i am missing one of the ball bearings for one of the 2 oil relief valves on my oil filter plate.. have know idea how long it has been out, i found the bb in my sump.. still has normal oil pressure for a rb.. is it safe to drive??

[markdem]

is it not possible to repair the mechanism? obviously its there for a reason...

but if the oil pressure is good, then its good

[rbseriespower]

im not sure if they can be repaired most people say just swap the plates overthey are so hard to find a replacement in nz though

[kitto]

Funny i've been looking at this on my RB25 over the weekend, i'm trying to delete that entire unit but also trying to keep that valve somewhere in the oil circuit.

The ball's are there to allow engine oil (unfiltered) to get into the engine when the oil filter is either so blocked and doesn't allow oil to flow any more because it hasn't been changed for so long or if the anti drain back valve doesn't open completely blocking flow to the filter.

Its a fail safe device, if the filter fails, the engine still gets some, but limited oil.

If one of your balls is missing, it means your engine is getting some unfiltered oil flowing through to it.