Gimpdiggity

I have a 1986 N/A RX7.

When the car is idling, the oil pressure gauge sits right in the middle, like I imagine it should, but when I start to accelerate, the oil pressure goes all the way up to just under 110 on the gauge at the very top of the gauge.

Is this normal or not?? If it's not, could it be there is to much oil in the engine??

Thanks,
Jeff

Gimpdiggity

Oh yah, I'm sorry to add on, but I did a search on the issue, and I found quite a few threads about it where the question was asked, but I didn't really see anyone give an answer. They all just said that the factory gauge isn't very accurate, but don't say whether or not this is normal.

Saku

I dunno if this is any help, but I have the same car as you and my oil pressure does the same thing....I have also heard the gauge isn't very accurate.

Gimpdiggity

Thank you Saku, that relieves my worries about it a little bit. Now if I could just figure out what it is that's leaking....

HAILERS

Mechanical gauge on my car, hot oil, idle 40psi. Hot oil 3000rpm, 75psi. Electrical gauge,hot oil, idle, b/t 35/40psi. Electrical gauge, hot oil, 3000rpm, two widths of the needle past 60psi. Now I have at least 5 oil sender units laying about, and each one will read different if I patch them in. A gauge to fit any mood your in. If I patch in another mechanical gauge it will read the same as above. I'm tee'd into the banjo bolt that holds the rear oil line on the housing. Sooooo where's your leak?

Gimpdiggity

Hailers, my leak seems to be up near the front of the car, I noticed the liquid sitting below the radiator, just in front of and below the fan.

I thought it was coolant, but it smells like gas. I thought maybe a return line, but then on touch, it FEELS oily.

Any ideas??

HAILERS

1.Oil cooler leak at one of the banjo bolts dribbling over to the middle. If one of the two bolts on the cooler are dripping, do not over tighten. Can crack the boss on the oil cooler.
2.The oil metering pump located on the right bottom side of the front cover. Has four oil lines going from it to the oil injectors under the upper manifold. One of the oil lines could be rotted, loose, etc.
3. The bolt that holds the lower pulley on, is loose and is leaking. Critical that this does not happen. That bolt can come out by itself and you lose all oil pressure and your sense of humor at the same time. Usually this will be accompanied by oil on the interior of the hood just above the fan.

4. Possible oil pan leak. I've never had one so I doubt that is it.
5. Get your pressure washer out and spray wash off all the oil residue. Or go to the car wash and get under and wash the residue off. Put the car on car ramp or whatever, and idle the engine till you spot the problem.
6. If its fuel, jumper the fuel jumper plug near the r/h strut tower, and turn the key to the on position(no start please). The fuel rails are now pressurized, so look real hard for a spraying leak. If you think its fuel and did not find it this way, take the intake manifold off and do the jumper trick again until you find the leak.

Gimpdiggity

Hailers, I forgot to mention this and I think it might help....

I noticed the problem after I got HOME from work. When I went to start the car to LEAVE work I had to do the flood trick to get the car started because it was flooded. I could smell the gas before I went home.

If you flood the car, does gas ever leak out anywhere??

HAILERS

No, flooding should not cause an external fuel leak.

Gimpdiggity

Hailers, when I was looking at it today (didn't have much time to play with it) I noticed that my alternator belt was SHREDDED to bits as well.

If that bolt for the main pulley comes loose, does it cause the pulley itself to come lose?? I'm wondering because if it does maybe that's what's wrong and that may be why that belt shredded.

HAILERS

If that bolt comes loose, you'll know it for sure. The whole front end of the pulley will be extremely wet with oil. You'll be able to , with your fingers, turn the bolt. The whole area will be saturated with oil. Its a 19mm bolt. Just check it with a ratchet. A little tought to get at, but worth checking. Probably not your leak problem. Just something to make sure is not bad. Number one would be the oil cooler leaking at one of the fittings and number two the oil metering pump on the lower right of the front cover. Then again it could be the 19mm bolts gasket in the front pulley. Look with a mirror and flashlite. Could be the copper gasket is leaking under the 19mm bolt and the bolt is tight. Look with a mirror. No oil around the bolt, go on to something else.

Hot_Dog

Just read through these posts oil pressure. Like to make a couple comments. 1. IIRC, there was a problem with the early 2nd gen e-shaft bolts, and a TSB was issued to replace with new bolt. 2. The original oil cooler hoses are likely to develop leaks where they attach to the metal banjo fiitings. The banjo fittings have a barbed nipple on to which the hoses fit. As the hoses get older, they don't seal as tightly as when they were new and will develop leaks, and 3. One last thing that I didn't see mentioned: There is an oil level sensor attached to the lower left hand side of the oil pan with two bolts. There is an o-ring on the oil level sensor flange that prevents oil from leaking from the oil pan. Often times this o-ring will develop a slow leak, and may need to be replaced.

Larry Mizerka
90 RX7 GXL