I am curious - I can see damage being done if unfiltered oil w/ contaminates is allowed to circulate through the engine, but wouldn't the bearing clearances be the main 'cause' of oil pressure ?

If so , I would have thought that not having an oil filter would not have a major effect on the pressure - maybe 5 psi or so due to the restriction not being there - and would cause the oil velocity to be slightly higher due again to the lack of restriction.



Thanks !


Britt

 

screw it , it don't need no stinking filter, I mean it's perfectly fine to run dirt and particulates and fine metals through the lubrication system ..

For someone to say it's fine to run oil with no filter for any periods of time is just asking for it ... I can't believe I just read that.

Yeah the engine will run but it's not perfectly FINE , you don't know what happened from point A to B inside that engine without tearing it apart and looking for scoring ...
.
The pan could have some small shavings in it but it's still ok !!

 

Its a reason for the pressure, but if the oil that circulates through the filter drains out then there is no oil in order to have pressure with. I know the TC is located on top, but say in my car if i left the filter off i would be out of oil in under 2 minutes. Never ran a TC without a oil filter to be honest and dont want to.

I still stand on the fact that i would want this in writing from the dealer so that you could take it to NTB. You pay way too much(even if its only a cobalt or a geo metro) to have your car ruined/damaged by negligence. It seems the OP got lucky and has no major damage but i would still like to have that letter in my pocket if some issue does rear its ugly head soon.

 

Ok, thank you guys for the advice now. I DO have something in writing from the dealership. I went to NTB to ask for reimbursement and the manager told me he watched the guy put the filter in my car and blamed it on the dealership.

For the one who asked, my car threw codes P0011 & P0014- Intake and Exhaust Camshaft Actuator Performance.

In checking the "oil filter for possible blockage. Found no filter installed in housing".

I was told by the dealership the biggest problem would be the bearing connecting the rods to the camshaft? But regardless of this incident, they said I would be covered to 100k under my warranty.

I am worried about small particles, but I was told by the dealership that they found nothing in the oil drained out and that it should be O.K. I think it was driven at most (without the filter) 300 miles since the oil change.

So I guess I just have to wait it out?

 

Also, the car's performance feels smooth. The powerband seems to be the same with no lag in the pull.

 

Also, does anyone think this would have an effect on the turbo (as it uses the engine's oil)? Are the bearings in the turbo sealed?

 

believe so. Its oil and water "cooled"

 

On the note of cooling the turbo: I have not taken fluid mechanics, but would low oil pressure from no filter compromise the viscosity of the oil (if so, would "thin" oil have an effect on the cooling of the turbo, possibly warping something?)

 

this is only specualtion but since you said you noticed this right away and probably only put 100 miles or so on the car (or was it 400mi?) as long as you werent beating the **** out of it then im betting it was fine.

 

As far as I know the antidrainback valve is in the filter. Without this the oil drains back into the pan whenever you leave it for an extended time like overnight. When you start it up in the morning you have no oil pressure for a short period until it has time to fill all the oil passages. This is when you get the greatest ammount of wear. When ever we built v8's we would always build oil pressure using a drill just so the initial start had pressure. He has likely started hundreds of times without oil pressure so I would be very surprised if he hasn't caused significant wear to his engine.

 

Glad to hear your car checks out ok. Sucks NTB won't own up.

 

Dam thats a good idea i'm gonna try that and with the football mod i should be in the 11's

 

So they put back the CAP with no filter attatched?

 

Do a used oil analysis and see if there is metal in the oil. No more doubt one way or the other.

Blackstone Labs

 

thanks that's great. I wish I would've known before I got my car back though :/. The dealership assured me there was no metal in the engine and I think they'd be telling the truth because they would want the job of replacing my engine had that been the case? Regardless, I'm covered till 100k so I'm just waiting it out.

That's what the dealership put on my receipt; though, the NTB manager claims he "watched the guy put the filter in and screw the cap on"

 

lol, well im sure the NTB manager actaully walks up to each and every car and ensures the tech puts the filter in... yeah right, he sits behind the cash register and watches them from across the Bay. Theres no way he could have seen that or rather paid enough attention to notice that. Dealership is correct in this since they recorded it. NTB doesnt give a damn.

 

See if it comes back after being reset, my friend had this and they had to replace the actuators (both) which are on the top left-hand side of the motor (best way to describe is they are sticking out the top of the valve cover). If you had low oil pressure it MAY have caused the codes to be set, but I'd be more likely to think the actuators themselves malfunctioned. Why would the dealer just clear the codes and note suggest they be replaced? One place puts no filter on, and the other just clears a code for what may be an issue with your motor (which will run fine but no VVT).....jesus christ .

 

permafried, according to my invoice, the actuators worked after they changed my oil?



Next time I get an oil change, I will have it done at the dealership (they've been good so far).
I think I will try that Blackstone Labs Oil analysis and see what comes up.

 

Well that's definitely simpler than having to replace the sensors . If the code's gone for now and the issue still exists it will set again after so many cycles, etc. but hopefully it's taken care of.

 

Contact them and they will send you a free sample bottle & shipping container. USPS postage was $1.60 iirc. You need to take a sample from the middle of the drain stream while the oil is still warm for the best results. Do the next oil change yourself if you are going to sample it.

 

If you want to get a local shop to change the oil>>>>
PROVIDE YOUR OWN FILTER AND OIL!
I use the ENTIRE oil filter assembly..including the CAP and SEAL. It's only around $4 more.
That way there is NO ROOM for F$U$K UPS!