Relative Noob with a question. I searched the archive but foung nothing of help. Has anyone removed and replaced the oil filter on a 13B in an 85 RX-7GSL-SE? I have to replace mine and not too sure how much work I'm about to bite into. I'd appreciate photos if available, the ones in themanual are pretty poor. Just how much stuff will I have to pull off before getting to the pump. Thanks

 

I'm sure you meant to state oil pump instead of filter as stated above.

Before we go further, Why are you thinking about replacing the oil pump?

 

Check the wire connection on the mushroom-looking thing under the oil filter. It usually gets covered in oil and causes the gauge to no longer move. It slides off sideways. Clean it up and put it back on.

By the way, if the engine still runs even if the guage reads 0 pressure, it obviously has oil pressure becuase if it didn't, it would have locked up already.

 

Yea,oilpumps are very stout on our cars,its rare to have to replace one......now,the metering oil pumps do leak or need rebuilding occasionally.
Builders regularly reuse old primary oilpumps on rebuilt engines,with no problems,they last a long time.
Conversely,the oil pressure sending units are very prone to gunking up,reading low,or not at all.The guages someties give problems,but its usually the sending unit/wire that needs attention if your dash shows no oil pressure.

If you do have to change the primary oil pump,its not too bad a job.Youll have to support the engine from above and pull the motor mount,all the belts and pullies and the front timing cover.The oilpump/chain is right there,its pretty much just remove and replace,with no special tools needed.Id call it a full day job,if your prepared for whats to come......also,be sure you push and hold the clutch pedal down during the entire job,once you pop the big bolt out of the front of the eccentric(crank) shaft.This will put a thrust load on the shaft and keep the E-shaft thrust bearings in place while you work on the front internals of the engine.

 

The pressure consistently reads lower than what it should for the given RPM. With the engine cold the pressure is at the appropriate range but once it warms up the pressure drops. I just changed the pressure sensor not too long ago so I thought that the next only logical cause was a worn pump.

Before I go to the trouble of changing the pump, I will sheck the pressure with an external guage. Is there a way to check the sensor to make sure the problem is not still there? If the problem is the guage, is there any way to rplace it and where can I find a working one?

Thanks for the help so far.

 

After you check the pressure with a external guage if it is reading properly according to specs.
Then you might want to consider an aftermarket guage.

 

How long ago was your last oil change?

Low oil pressure is also often a sign of worn bearings, but it your case they're probably ok.

 

Last oil change about 2 months (2000 miles) ago. Had the same reading right after the oil change so not an oil quantity issue.

 

Not so much quantity but quality. Smell the dipstick. If it's gassy, it's thinner than when new. This causes lower oil pressures.

 

Nope, had the problem on the drive just after the oil change and I used Mobile 1 10-30.