I recently noticed my oil pressure not rising like I think I recalled it used to. I removed the pressure sensor and installed a regular gauge to test it out.

At Idle (750) when up to temperature. It dropped to like 20psi. and sat there (not too bad I figured)
hold the RPM at 3000 and it rises quickly to 65 and then drops off to 55-60 and sits there. The service manual calls for 50 mn when doing this.

However if I rev the engine above 3000 the pressure goes up to 60 -65 but no higher.

IS this normal?
I seem to recall the pressure rising to more like 90(stock gauge) in the high revs.

anyone have an aftermarket gauge and care to comment?

BTW oil is full.
running 10w- 30
changed oil and filter 1500 miles ago.

 

I have an AutoMeter mechanical 0-150 psi gauge installed, and I get around 30psi at idle rising to 100+ psi above 3.5k rpm Hot, cold it maxes out at 125psi at around 3k rpm. IIRC the FSM calls for 90psi at 3k

 

anyone else care to comment.
based on that reply I may have a problem.
what is likely to be causing it.
Im thinking the relief valve is relieving too low.

on the other hand it you are getting 100+ I would say your relief is not working.

 

You seem to have the same problem I have. When I first got the car, it was on the line between 60 and 120 when I was at 3000 rpms. Then now just stay around 60 and I also have a bad secondary turbo that leaks. I drove from Va. to SC like that with no problem but a little paranoid. When the oil pressure was high and I sit in traffic jams or drive the car for more than a hour the car would smoke from under the car, but when the pressure got lower it quit smoking, that's what I don't understand.

 

Well today after driving home from work, the pressure on teh stock gauge stayed between the 60 mark and the mark below it.... say 45 psi or so. from idle the pressure seems to rise very quickly to that 45 or so psi and then that's it.
Im thinking bad oil pressure regulator.....
Only thing Im hoping to learn from here... Is this normal or has something changed and now I have a problem.

 

actually the FSM calls for 50min at 3K which is just what Im about at

 

OK someone else must have some input.

does your oil pressure hit a set number and sit there say from 3000 on.
or does your pressure continue to rise with RPM untill redline?

waht pressures do you see?

do I have a problem?

 

Well, mine doesn't rise above 40. Normally at idle it sits at 10 or below. I am under the impression that the main cause is the oil pressure sending unit, or oil pressure sensor. Does anyone have a part number for this. I just called the dealer and they said the closest thing they could find is listed as an oil pressure regulator (N3A1-14230) for $29.61. Is this the correct part? Also, I have a fairly decent oil leak. I believe it is my rear main seal, but possibly some from my oil filter pedistal. Would either of these lead to significantly lower pressure? Thanks.

 

before you replace the sending unit,
hook a regular pressure gauge to it to test it out and find your real pressure.
the threads on teh port on teh block are 1/8 NPT.
i just used a regular barbed hose and regualr air pressor gauge to test in the driveway.

 

You should be at 30 psi at idle, around 60 psi at 3000 rpm, and it should rise with rpm to 100+ at redline.

Although with the shitty stock sender, mine sometimes only shows 10 psi or so at idle, but usually works ok at the higher rpms.

 

i don't have an FD, but i do have a question about them:

what does Mazda list the maximum oil pressure rating for the stock oil pressure regulators - both front and rear?