I'm beginning to wonder if my pressure relief valve isn't working. New Melling pump.
A fellow dirt track racer called me to help troubleshoot his new race engine that would start, and stall immediately. After several attempts to keep it running, he fired it up and kicked the throttle wide open. It shuddered and shook for a couple of seconds, and then split the oil filter can wide open from top to bottom. Since I was standing right beside the left front wheel (open-wheel car), it soaked me in warm oil. He had shimmed the relief valve down for lots of oil pressure, and the pump was getting into a hydraulic lock and stalling the engine. If your relief valve was stuck, the oil pressure would increase without limit as you rev the engine up. it sounds like the pump is delivering enough oil to keep the relief valve open at its preset pressure all the time, and recycle some oil back to the pan. As the engine warms up to full operating temperature, the pressure will probably drop a little, especially at hot idle. Be happy you've got a good pump, and drive on!
Jerry
