Bearing washout due to high oil pressure?

[SnowDrifter]

I read from a couple forums and videos that too high of oil pressure causes bearing erosion in the engine. Something akin to a high pressure water jet cutter

My first though is that it was a load of bunk. Main bearings operate in the 4000psi range. I can't see even 250-300 psi causing any harm other than blowing up the oil filter. But I am rather curious. Is this even a thing? Or just an old wives tale passed around? What would be the mechanism behind such a failure, if it even exists?

 

[MolaKule]

Originally Posted by SnowDrifter
I read from a couple forums and videos that too high of oil pressure causes bearing erosion in the engine. Something akin to a high pressure water jet cutter

My first though is that it was a load of bunk...


Yep!

How is 30PSI oil pressure going to cause harm? Oil pressure is used to cool bearings and to filter the oil.

Have these people ever done a search to educate themselves?

The Oil Wedge

Journal Bearing Theory

 

[MichiganMadMan]

Agreed. I've never taken apart a destroyed engine and said: "You know what killed this one? High oil pressure."

I could see if there was some astronomical value (several hundred PSI) that caused fatigue somewhere that wasn't designed for it, but I'd say overall more is better.

 

[Chris142]

Fake news.

 

[LeakySeals]

I read something similar a few months ago. They were using the word washout to describe oil that was too thick resulting in poor flow at higher RPM. Maybe thats what it was?