Porsche Forum - Porsche Enthusiast Forums - '87 944 oil pressure/leak problem

The other morning I started my 944, which I had just had a bunch of problems with (explanation to follow), warmed up the car until the temp gauge was indicating the car was warm (about 5 minutes) and due to my previous problems with the car slowly revved it to about 3000rpm, to see if it would run. The car suddenly started blowing white smoke like you would not believe and apparently blew all of its oil on the ground. The oil pressure gauge had been reading high but I didn't think anything of it because of the cold weather. Here is the experience I have had with the car so far:

I just bought a 1987 944 with 53k miles on it, there is paperwork showing that the transmission, timing belt, and water pump have all been replaced within 5k miles.
2 days and 140 miles after I bought the car the oil light came on and the pressure gauge was pegged high I stopped driving and noticed a ton of oil in the coolant and from what I could tell there was no water in the oil. I ASSUMED it was a blown head gasket but it turned out to be a cracked oil cooler. Needless to say that was an expensive fix, I drove the car home from the mechanic without any problems.
The next morning the car started fine but I pulled out of my driveway accelerated and shifted into 2nd gear and the car died, figuring I just stalled the car I started it and tried againsame thing. I messed with it some and found that the car would stall every time I hit about 2800rpm. I decided the problem was fuel related and deduced that since the car had been sitting for about 6 months with a half empty tank, condensation had built up and the lines were now frozen. I added some dry gas, pulled the car into my garage to defrost and 8 hours later was able to run it and eventually baby it above the 2800rpm mark and get it running.
I ran the car to work and back the next morning, and besides having to baby and warm up the car when I started it to come home there were no problems.
And this brings me to the oil problem I just explained.

Now I took a look under the car to see if there was anything obvious and could not find any problems except for a strangely misplaced oil filter gasket. I filled the car with oil (5.5quarts) and ran it for about 20 seconds trying to find the leak but found nothing. I called a mechanic and he said that sometimes on the 944s the oil pressure relief valves will get worn and stick causing high oil pressure and blowing the gasket around the oil filter.

Now I'm wondering if his diagnosis sounds right and if there is anything else that could be causing my problems. After hearing the mechanics diagnosis it sounds plausible because the oil pressure gauge has been high since I bought the car.

If the problem is the Relief valve is there anything I can do to fix/clean the valve other than replacing it? the part costs like $350 but is thankfully rather easy to get to.

Any help would be greatly appriciated, I can answer any questions and provide more information if you respond here or email me at jtessaro@connecttime.net.

I just received a reply on another forum, "Since the oil cooler housing was recently replaced it's very possible that the OPRV was not aligned correctly using the correct tool. This will cause the OPRV to bind and can malfunction. Check to make sure the o-ring on the end of your OPRV is still intact, it might have rolled off and is plugging a passageway. Usually low oil pressure is more common. Don't shell out for a new one until you see the one in there now. In all honesty there is little to go wrong mechanically on the one piece OPRV except the inner and outer o-ring or misalignment of the housing."

now this is helpful however, What tool is needed to correctly align the OPRV during install? and how do you tell whether it is aligned or not? is that done simply by checking the O-rings?

thanks,

Josh