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After changing the oil in my truck yesterday I went out for a run down the road. I did a small burnout and ran the engine up to 6500 rpms. My oil filter exploded! I used the exact same oil (royal purple 20W 50) and filter (fram ph16) as I always use. Oil pressure seemed about normal as I started the engine and warmed it up (75psi or so at idle and 125 or so when revving the engine). As soon as I heard the pop I shut the engine off and put out the small fire. I got it home and cleaned it up and replaced the filter and topped off the oil. Thankfully the engine seems fine. This motor is 2 years old has over 200 1/8th mile passes on it. What do you think happened? The motor is a 390 ci small block mopar with a high volume melling oil pump and a milodon 7qt pan. Again this is the same filter and oil I have used for the last 2 years.

Thanks,
Mike

125 psi of oil pressure

I'm guessing at the 125 psi. It pegs the 100 psi gauge (autometer sport comp electric)when the engine is reved.

Thanks,
Mike

125 psi when revving? Imagine what that psi is coming through the traps?!

I've seen Fram filters 'swell' from high psi - but yours is way too high for any filter! Once you figure out the psi issue, I also recommend switching to a better filter in general..Frams are crap anymore.

Why on earth would you have that much oil pressure? that is the problem. General rule of thumb, 10 psi of oil pressure per 1,000 rpm.

Well I did some more investigation on the oil pressure. I had 2 tee's on the oil pressure outlet of the engine block. This was in order to have the stock gauge, the autometer gauge and the low pressure warning light hooked up. I took one of the tee's out and only left the autometer senders for the light and the gauge, doing away with the stock sender. Now oil pressure is around 50 at idle. I also tested the oil pressure with test gauge (manual gauge) and confirmed the pressure at 50 when idling. That leads me to believe the 100+ PSI readings were false. This still doesn't help me with why the filter burst. What is a good brand of filter? I don't want to run a fram any longer.

Thanks,
Mike

"What is a good brand of filter?"

Wix!

Your filter blew because you have too much pressure.. i doubt changing the tee in your line is gonna change any pressure readings.. 125psi is 125psi no matter how may tees you have in the line.

I also dont run 20/50 in anything

mopars have a bad problem with high oil psi and a sticking bypass ...cold thick 20/50 oil does not help . you did have 100+ psi!!!
the burst rating is under 200psi . use the the wix high flow racing,moroso or fram hp . the media is more open and the cases are thicker and better gaskets . stock frams are wallmart junk, a superflow from there is better as a performance type if you prefer.
why do you run 20/50 ??? outdated old school large brg. clearance would leak and not make psi. ??? a 5-40 ,0-40 or 5-30 top end synthetic would surface. any racing /not hyway rated syth brand will have the great additives .... schaeffer,amsiol ,royal purple,redline all worth the bucks and you wont need to change it as much .

I've ran the royal purple 20w50 for the last 2 years. When I bought the motor the guy threw in 2 cases of royal purple 20w50 racing oil so I used it. I'm not against changing anything. I just don't want this to happen again. I so thankful it happened when it did and not at the track. I bought a Fram HP3 which is a direct replacement for my stock filter and will change to a lighter weight oil.
Thanks aging for everyones help and input.
Mike