If it happens it will be fast, faster than the gauge will
likely respond. The oil pump is a set of meshed gears that
move the oil. They move a fixed amount with each revolution
of the engine. There is a spring loaded pressure relief
valve in the pump that by-passed oil back to the pump intake
if the pressure is high.
Chapter 6 of AC 65-12
http://www.airweb.faa.gov/Regulatory...0?OpenDocument
has diagrams and explanations.


During an overhaul of an engine, a valve can become jammed,
blocked or otherwise adversely effected. The valves should
be clean and function checked. But a metal chip or other
problem can happen and can get into a pump system. Often
the relief valves are stuck open and you don't get full
pressure, but it can stick a valve closed and then the
pressure goes up until something breaks or a seal blows.



"Neil Gould" wrote in message
. net...
| Recently, Jim Macklin
posted:
|
| Depending on the design of the oil cooler, they should
be
| inspected and maintained on a regular schedule.
|
| Common problems are oil congealing and blockage of oil
flow
| in cold weather, a by-pass valve should prevent oil
| starvation to the engine. The oil cooler bursting
problem
| is often caused by the oil pressure regulator relief
valve
| being stuck on engine startup, oil pressure can go into
the
| hundreds or thousands of pounds pressure if the
regulator
| valve does not open at the pump.
|
| The engine oil pump and regulator can produce more
pressure
| than the system can seal or contain if the regulator
sticks
| even momentarily.
|
| Good info, Jim, thanks!
|
| Now, I'll pay particular attention to the pressure on
start-up to note
| whether the needle is pinned for any duration.
|
| Neil
|
|