Hello all.

about a month ago i got my fresh rebuild (s4 6 port turbo) all back in the car and found that i have VERY low oil pressure (about 5-10 psi cold start!!!!)i immediately swapped to a mechanical gauge to verify that this was accurate and unfortunately for me it is.... i left the car alone for about 3 weeks and have since found someone who wants to buy it when i get the oil pressure right so now im chasing that...i just CANT SEEM TO FIND IT. i have checked/ replaced multiple parts and have found that it is NOT:

--Front cover o-ring
--oil pump
--low oil level or leak
--thermowax pellet (in the e-shaft) (has an atkins eliminator instead)
--oil cooler bypass valve

the only things left that i cant think of are the oil pressure regulator and the oil control valve. today i dropped the pan to check these items and found that my oil conrol valve (bolt and spring located in the bottom drivers side of the front cover) is missing what the FSM calls the "control plunger"!!!! in other words, i took the bolt out only to find said bolt and spring! could this be my problem? also, when i went to pull the oil pressure regulator i found that i dont have the right size wrench/socket so could there also be a problem there?? thanks

 

did the rebuilder do the e-shaft rotor oiling jet mod? if so, this will cause low oil pressure at low RPMs as it opens the jets to full oiling capacity at any RPM and not something i usually recommend unless on race motors.

edit: yes, if that plunger is missing then you will have low oil pressure going through the whole system, it will dump excess oil directly through both ports in the front cover and bolt hole if it is removed. sounds like your builder had a brain fart and left it out, i generally do not even touch that component because it never fails.

 

karack: thanks dude. no to the eshaft mod....

what exactly IS the plunger? a metal peice? rubber? either way, looks like im back to the dealership for another nickel-and-dime-me-to-death-bullsh*t-purchase....

 

a small metal plunger

 

wow....well i hope the dealer has it haha or i guess im just gonna have to throw a ransome metal piston in there..oh, also, was able to get a 26mm wrench and get the regulator free from the rear iron...seems fine. so im pretty convinced its that plunger. looks like ill be calling mazda in the morning. thanks karack, youre always one of the most helpful members.