I was looking at oil baffle plates at mazdatrix today and had a few questions, figured you guys would know the answer.

Is the baffle plate worth getting?

I am if I get it, it would have to go onto my 89 motor that I am installing. I'm wondering since I am using a GSL-SE oilpan, would I have to get the plate for the SE or the 89 motor?

They look quite different from one another.

Lastly, which oil pickup tube would you guys reccomend using? I have the option of using an SE one or an 89 one.

 

Any kind of " windage" tray or baffle is worth while.
For any kind of engine,,really. Is the 89 engine a 13b ?
If so you want a 89 13b oil pick-up and the 89 oil baffle.
The SE is a 13b, either way stick with the year of the engine. Mariah sells a baffle too. and maybe racing beat too.

 

yeah It is an 89 block.... actually its an 86 block technically, but everything else is from an 89 besides the core itself.

I just wasnt just sure every thing would fit up with the SE oilpan.

 

If the car will be used for any off road type events like Drifting, autocross, drag racing, or what ever, then it wouldn't be a bad idea to have one. For street driving only, nah, don't bother. I think you would want to get the one for the year engine you have since all both hole around the outside is the same. The holes on the inside are different from engine to engine because of the location of things like the front oil pressure control valve, and what ever else is located in a different location under the blockIf you want to be sure, you can call or email mazdatrix.com

 

well, it will be just for street use only, mabey some ocassional racing.

So for daily driving I dont really need it?

 

I would even limit the requirement to Off-road, and use in Constant High RPM, like high speed track racing.

You're basically using the baffles to let air bubbles out of the oil, so they dissipate faster.

TII's, FD's and Cosmo's do NOT use them, even in high boost situations.

Overkill.

 

I made my own out of steel and wielded it into the oil pan. Did all the fitting to be sure the pressure valve on the front cover, oil dip stick and several holes simialer to the Mazdatrix item. Oil pressure was always very good. They prevent foaming of the oil and the real purpose is to keep the oil bubble free to keep the oil pump from cavitating and ofcourse keeps the oil down in the sharp corners. Some high rpm driving will cause more of this problem, so if you sustained high rpm, it would be helpful.

But regular driving on the street only, its fine stock. Stock is obviously good for a lot of things though. Its the sustained cornering that causes the problems.

 

I'd use the -se oil pickup since thats the pan your using. If you do end up getting one of their baffle plates I pretty sure you're going to want to get one for a -se. I know the cosmo 13b-re front cover is "shorter" than the -se engine so basically match your oil baffle plate to your front cover. But if it was me I'd take that $ for the baffle plate and stick it somewhere else.

 

if you have the motor out, it might be worth it if you forsee racing in your future.

If its already in the car, i would wait till you KNOW you'd need it.

 

wait wait wait.... so do I use the second gen oil pickup or the 1st gen one???

The first gen 12a's (well at least 84-85) and 13bs use the same pickup tube.

I'll probably hold off on the baffle pan, but now I'm REAL confused about the pickup line.

 

Call mazdatrix and ask them. You are going to continue to get different opinions about which model year to choose a pan baffle for.

 

dang... they are not going to be open untill tomorrow...

I was all set to order tonight.

Since other people have done a FC 13b swap, what oil pickup tube did you use?

 

Use the -se/12a pickup. You should match the pickup to the oil pan.

 

you can only use the gsl-se one or 12a one. fc ones wont work with a first gen oil pan......

 

ok thanks for clearing this up, so if I were to get a plate, i'd get a SE one.

And for my pickup, I'll use my 12a one.

Thanks for clearing this up!

 

yeah I would think you need to use the oil pan, pickup and plate to match the chassis the motor is goin into, as the baffle and pickup would be matched to the pan, and the pan would be matched to the chassis