Cee555,
Still wondering about the process downstream of the pump, and what the process pressure is? If this is a modulating hydraulic valve rather than a conventional RV which relieves back to suction, then you seem to be doing the design properly per my experience. The problem does not seem to be your relief valve (assuming you have set this reasonably). Rather I feel, your process and piping is imposing some sort of backpressure at the pump which causes the pressure to rise to the relief pressure. If this is an injection system what are the piping, injection point, and process details?
best wishes, sshep