Oil Pressure Solenoid

[funnyman850]

Haven't seen a master thread on this, Just trying to gauge how much of a problem this is.

Anyone have issues with the solenoid failing? Including info on trim / transmission too. Data is power

 

[el mágico]

I read some about it, but no expert. I did read a post on the Racebox website under their pitch to sell ecutek RR6. In that post, it addresses this briefly. I recently tuned with them and this was a factor.

Again, I am a first time vr30 owner and I am not very familiar with the platform other than what I have read.

 

[KrackaC8]

I read some about it, but no expert. I did read a post on the Racebox website under their pitch to sell ecutek RR6. In that post, it addresses this briefly. I recently tuned with them and this was a factor.

Again, I am a first time vr30 owner and I am not very familiar with the platform other than what I have read.

Did they suggest disabling the solenoid or was that something you asked for based on that article they posted? I go in Monday.

 

[haohmaru]

I can't find any "expiration date" on the solonoid, so my plan is to just replace it around 60k. But it doesn't seem like a definite failure point, just a weak link. There are tons of VR30s out there and engine oil starvation failures are not a common occurance.

There is the blanking plate option, but you will need someone to delete the code that gets thrown. A local tuner said they wouldn't do it. Probably some emissions things.

 

[KrackaC8]

There is the blanking plate option, but you will need someone to delete the code that gets thrown. A local tuner said they wouldn't do it. Probably some emissions things.

You can install the block-off plate and just zip-tie the sensor up out of the way while still leaving it plugged in to prevent a code from triggering. This part should have been engineered to be fail in the opposite direction.

 

[haohmaru]

You can install the block-off plate and just zip-tie the sensor up out of the way while still leaving it plugged in to prevent a code from triggering. This part should have been engineered to be fail in the opposite direction.

That's a great idea. What about running at high oil pressure all the time? Has anyone found that to cause any problems?

 

[funnyman850]

That's a great idea. What about running at high oil pressure all the time? Has anyone found that to cause any problems?

I'm assuming emissions is why I'm assuming it was made to go into low pressure mode. Higher pressure = worse due economy.

Also theoretically more pressure might mean more wear to oil system components with expansion cycles but that might be reaching

 

[Who.Am.Eye.2716]

From the research I read. If you change your oil every 3-5k miles, you should be ok with it still plugged in.

Its a fail point that the computer wont tell that its a problem when it goes bad. The flap can gunk up (or fail over time), and the solenoid will stay closed, which causes oil starvation. It was very common on the Q50/Q60. It can be tuned out with ECUTEK to keep the flap open at all times. This is for those that modify their cars for more HP.

I unplugged it to see if the CEL came on. It does, but the code was related to the solenoid being unplugged. Its not going to change your mpg, or cause harm to your engine. The oil pressure stayed the same. Its actually good for the solenoid to stay open so its one less part to go bad.

Again, the computer wont know its bad if it stays shut, and will cause oil starvation and that is a serious problem

 

[KrackaC8]

That's a great idea. What about running at high oil pressure all the time? Has anyone found that to cause any problems?

It shouldn't, just goes back to the old school way where oil pressure is RPM-dependent vs. load-dependent. Perhaps it'll slightly increase oil consumption or leaky seals with age? More than anything else, this is a MPG play. Other manufacturers are doing the same thing, but accomplishing it a slightly different way with two-stage or variable-flow oil pumps. I saw it in both my Corvettes and in our Jeeps.

 

[KrackaC8]

From the research I read. If you change your oil every 3-5k miles, you should be ok with it still plugged in.

Its a fail point that the computer wont tell that its a problem when it goes bad. The flap can gunk up (or fail over time), and the solenoid will stay closed, which causes oil starvation. It was very common on the Q50/Q60. It can be tuned out with ECUTEK to keep the flap open at all times. This is for those that modify their cars for more HP.

This is a good point regarding oil change frequency. Extended drains seem to be falling out of favor due to the issues they cause. I'm a bit of an oil & filter fanatic myself, and am not a fan of 10k mile intervals. I'll personally be targeting 5k (or less) intervals when using Pennzoil Ultra Platinum 0W-20 w/OEM Nissan filters. This may shock some, but I prefer the new Mexican filter vs. the old Japanese filter.

 

[Who.Am.Eye.2716]

You can install the block-off plate and just zip-tie the sensor up out of the way while still leaving it plugged in to prevent a code from triggering. This part should have been engineered to be fail in the opposite direction.

Did you do this? Do you have a pic where you ziptied it? How was the install on the plate from under the car? Getting the harness unplugged was a pain but doable. For now, I plugged it back in.

 

[KrackaC8]

Did you do this? Do you have a pic where you ziptied it? How was the install on the plate from under the car? Getting the harness unplugged was a pain but doable. For now, I plugged it back in.

I did not, I personally plan to leave the solenoid installed and functional. There was a thread on here from a guy who did do it and included some pictures.

 

[funnyman850]

From the research I read. If you change your oil every 3-5k miles, you should be ok with it still plugged in.

Its a fail point that the computer wont tell that its a problem when it goes bad. The flap can gunk up (or fail over time), and the solenoid will stay closed, which causes oil starvation. It was very common on the Q50/Q60. It can be tuned out with ECUTEK to keep the flap open at all times. This is for those that modify their cars for more HP.

I unplugged it to see if the CEL came on. It does, but the code was related to the solenoid being unplugged. Its not going to change your mpg, or cause harm to your engine. The oil pressure stayed the same. Its actually good for the solenoid to stay open so its one less part to go bad.

Again, the computer wont know its bad if it stays shut, and will cause oil starvation and that is a serious problem

Also with ecutek some tuners add a failsafe for this too

 

[Who.Am.Eye.2716]

This is a good point regarding oil change frequency. Extended drains seem to be falling out of favor due to the issues they cause. I'm a bit of an oil & filter fanatic myself, and am not a fan of 10k mile intervals. I'll personally be targeting 5k (or less) intervals when using Pennzoil Ultra Platinum 0W-20 w/OEM Nissan filters. This may shock some, but I prefer the new Mexican filter vs. the old Japanese filter.

I went back to the 90s oil change interval at every 3k miles using 5w30 and the Nissan GTR oil filter. I been pondering to go with 10w40 this summer and switch 5w30 for winter

 

[Who.Am.Eye.2716]

Also with ecutek some tuners add a failsafe for this too

The failsafe is to leave the flap open 100% and never close