I am currently having low oil pressure issues (confirmed with mechanical gauge) and I am in need of some help. Here's a little pre-history. Previously I had slightly overheated my engine, which down the road caused my front iron to crack along the coolant seal. I went ahead and took it apart, ordered a replacement front iron and put it all back together. The engine runs fantastic, aside from the low oil pressure.

This will now be the third time I have taken the front cover off since the rebuild. First time I thought the Gasket was the issue, so I removed it and used silicone, the teflon seal & o-ring seemed fine at the time. After starting it up it seemed like the oil pressure was fine for a few seconds and then it dropped back down to 0 on the gauge. I took it apart after that and found that the teflon seal was smashed flat and the o-ring was sucked into the spring. I went ahead and ordered 2 new sets of teflon seals and o-rings from mazda trix. I put the new set in and put it all back together, oil pressure was fine for a few seconds and then dropped to 0 again. After pulling it apart for the third time, I've found that the teflon seal was smashed flat again.

Now for the PICS - each picture is a link to a larger version of the pic as well.

Front cover removed, the teflong seal & o-ring have been removed for this picture


A closer look, according to Mazdatrix's FAQ this would be the later casting


Shot of the front cover


The 2 previously smashed teflon seals are on the left, the new teflon seal with o-ring is on the right.


Comparing the thickness of the 2, bad on top, good on bottom.


Showing the smashed teflon seal in place, no room for the o-ring


Showing the new teflon seal in place, there is room for the o-ring


Shot of the oil pressure control valve in the FSM, I don't think I have this piece?!


Any help would be appreciated!!! Thanks!!

 

I realized now that I wasn't very clear on my question.

1. Anyone have this problem with the O-ring & Teflon Seal?

2. Am I missing a piece with my oil control valve?

 

Yeah. Unless it's stuck in the bore where it goes. You NEED that item.

If you lay your front cover gasket over that teflow/o'ring, what does it look like?

 

Originally it looked fine, just like in Mazdatrix's FAQ. I have since removed it and have just used the orange rtv stuff, funny part was that when I had the gasket in there and I had taken apart the front cover, the o-ring and teflon seal were fine. I had just figured that the gasket was too thick, causing the front cover to not make a good enough seal, so I removed it.

 

Could there be a problem with the oil pressure regulator? Did a piece of the teflon seal get sucked into the hole?

 

I wouldn't think so, each of the teflon seals have come out intact, only 2 have been flattened. I would think that also if something got plugged up, it would increase the pressure. I have replaced the oil pressure regulator in the rear iron after this problem came up as well.

 

If you don't have that *piston* looking outfit in the regulator, then you'll get low oil pressure. Be sure to look up in the bore for that *piston*/plunger looking outfit.

If memory serves, when the oil is cold and the pressure reaches over????? 156 psi??? the piston/plunger is forced downwards and the excess pressure is **** out the relief hole. To prevent over pressurization of the system. It's in the LUBRICATION section somewhere.

 

Looks like it's called a "Control Plunger" I couldn't find anything that looked like that in my garage, i'll have to check elsewhere. What I'll probably do is put a front cover gasket in place (since I didn't have the teflon seal smashing problem with one) and put in the plunger when I find one.

 

Did you ever get a flashlight and look in the bore of the front cover to see if it's there? It's a tight fitting part and it's possible the oil on it is holding in in the bore.