1st Generation Specific (1979-1985) 1979-1985 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections

oil pressure

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Old Apr 14, 2005 | 10:09 AM
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Question oil pressure

My oil pressure normally holds at 60 lbs, this morning it holds at 40 ,, what happened, oil level is up ,10/40 oil not synthetic???????What should it be????
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Old Apr 14, 2005 | 10:16 AM
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thats common for a stock oil pressure regulator. when its cold, its above 60. after it warms up, it will drop by appox 10 psi.
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Old Apr 14, 2005 | 10:44 AM
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40 psi at what rpm?
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Old Apr 14, 2005 | 01:28 PM
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40# at3000 rpm

Last edited by Bob Holton; Apr 14, 2005 at 01:35 PM. Reason: screwed up
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Old Apr 14, 2005 | 01:41 PM
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hmm yeah that's a little low for 3000 rpm. Assuming you are using stock sender unit, make sure the contact is clean by removing it from the sender and wiping any oil and dirt off of it. Then reconnect and try again. Alternatively, do an oil pressure test as per the manual with a mech oil pressure gauge.
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Old Apr 14, 2005 | 07:30 PM
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Originally Posted by cdrad51
hmm yeah that's a little low for 3000 rpm. Assuming you are using stock sender unit, make sure the contact is clean by removing it from the sender and wiping any oil and dirt off of it. Then reconnect and try again. Alternatively, do an oil pressure test as per the manual with a mech oil pressure gauge.
Is that from experience or from reading.
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Old Apr 15, 2005 | 01:21 AM
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from experience.
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Old Apr 15, 2005 | 01:56 PM
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These gauges are notoriously inaccurate when it comes to true reading. When Mazda decided to put an oil pressure gauge in, they figured it would be information as a Go-No-Go decision for the driver. The pressure readings are actually optimistic when it comes to actual pressure that the bearings and rotors would see.

That prominent mark at 60psi is where the oil pressure runs on cold-start, maybe just a bit higher. Once warmed up, the oil viscosity goes down and the oil is able to travel faster - this results in lower oil pressure; both real and on the Mazda gauge.

As long as you're showing pressure at all (i.e., the needle is off the peg at the lower limit), you're probably alright. If you notice that the oil pressure reading starts to fluctuate DRAMATICALLY when you drive (5-10 psi at idle, up to 75-80psi at 3k rpm), then the sending unit is going bad. Replacement of that copper 'mushroom' below the oil filter will likely get the reading back to a fairly constant '60'. HTH,
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