I found a picture of the thermal pelet as installed in the crank.

 

In this picture it appears that the pelet is shown

in the hot position, which closes off the end of the main oil gallery through the crank, and this would be the same situation you would produce with the solid piece racers use. I think Tracy sold these at one time. There is no suggestion of how this works with this picture.

 

 I am guessing that when cold, the plunger and sleeve move forward and open the gallery to the holes in the crank nose, dumping much of the oil into the oil pan, thus lowering the oil pressure to a point that leaves the spring powered balls below the spray nozzles seated

so that no cooling oil enters the rotors.

 

This then allows the rotors to heat up quickly

and that shortens the time for warming, and that reduces the time you need for rich, operation of a cold engine.

 

So, the pelet can fail in the open position, and produce very low oil pressure, even though the engine and oil is hot.

 

If this is still in place and has failed, it could be

the culprit in chronic low oil pressure. But just a guess.

 

Remember Murphy: If it can fail, It will fail.

 

Lynn E. Hanover