My 87 TII has low oil pressure at idle. Hooked oil pressure tester and it read 5-10LBS. It only goes up to 35lbs at 3500rpm. I got this car from a guy who had just put a mazda re-man in. The place HE had it put in didn't know @!#$ about rotaries. The car wouldn't rev very well but he drove it 500 miles. I found out the cats were clogged. The've since been replaced with an RB downpipe . I plan on further mods to help with boost creep but I need to address the low oil pressure. What should I look at first? Are there common problems with the oil system? I've searched and found something about a check valve that can stick. Pineapple racing has a kit for that but recommends the engine comes out to fix that . Should I look elsewhere first? Thanks all who reply.

 

there is an o-ring that sits between the front cover and the front iron. Chances are its compromised.

 

So it could be internal? Is that a common problem with re-mans from mazda? So this o-ring could just be letting some oil pass by while some oil goes?

 

ohh snap , dont drive that till its fixed you should at least see 30 psi at idle and about 60 at 3000 rpms. Good possibility its internal, maybe bad thermal pellet, the o ring in the front cover or the spring in the rear housing oil pressure regulator . Pick up a hanes manual it should help

 

Gosh the engine will come back out I guess. Hopeing it would be easy but I'm learning. Good thing I only paid $869 OTD.

 

Anything on the outside of the engine I could check real easy? Before I tear it apart!

 

Um, did you check your oil level first?

 

You don't need to pull the engine to remove the front cover. Just support it at the transmission (or with a hoist) and remove the oil pan and front cover per FSM instructions.

 

Changed the oil for sure!


Aaron Cake-Thanks for steering me in the right direction---FSM
I have the haynes manual but it is vague!