82mazdarx7

I just changed the oil on my car and went driving. I was fine for about ten mins. and then I got out to get something to eat. When I got back ijn and started to drive, I noticed the oil gauge was at zero or a little above that. Like 5 psi. I pulled over right away, thinking that the wire that goes to the pressure sending unit had come off. But when I looked at it, it was fine. Everything is connected. I didnt touch anything in the first place. When I start up the car, the gauge goes up to about 5 psi. Nothing really. I drove the car home thinking that if the engine is driving the oil pump, than I should be fine??? Is that the case. Am I hurting the engine?? I dont want to drive the car because I am afraid that I am starving the engine of oil. Im not sure though. I drove it home which is about 5 miles and it was fine. What could this be????? Im not going to drive the car untill I know if I will be hurting it. Thanks for the help!!!

mar3

iTrader: (8)

If you actually do have PR Stage III oil mods, it's time for it to go back to Pineapple...or you could hook up a mechanical oil pressure gauge in an afternoon and see what it says...

82mazdarx7

the engine has 20k on it. It doesnt need to go back! Its something with the oil pressure sending unit I think, does that sound right

82mazdarx7

does anyone know if I will be hurting the engine if I drive it. The engine is making the oil pump go right

mar3

iTrader: (8)

Replace the sender, it's just a spin on affair. Use teflon tape or paste on the threads of the new sender....you could also use a tester to observe changing resistance by clipping the positive lead of a test meter on the nub of your present sender and ground the negative lead on the block. I have no earthly clue what the range of resistance should be, though, and I'm nowhere near my manuals at present. If PR made oil mods, Rob must have had specific oil recommendations to go with them. Did you stick by them?

82mazdarx7

you think thats the problem the sender, I replace it a couple years ago.

mar3

iTrader: (8)

If it was aftermarket, as in Pep Boyzz, that's about right. If it's factory Mazda, you need to seriously contemplate the oil mods have gone on the loose side for whatever reason and you can't build pressure. I've lost an engine in the first 6,000 miles because of an overlooked oil item, so that, unfortunately, IS a possibility. Eliminate the easy stuff first. Just test the current sender or install a new one or install a new aftermarket one from Stewart-Warner, Autometer, etc, and see what they say before you go red-lining her...

82mazdarx7

well what ill do is replace the sender tomorrow and see if thats it. I know the normal pressure is about 60psi so Ill go by that. I sent a message to rob golden, the owner and maker of my engine at pineapple and see what he thinks

mar3

iTrader: (8)

I've heard nothing but good things about Rob and he isn't stingy with small tricks and tips for the rexy if you Email him...

82mazdarx7

I replaced it with a cheepo so maybe thats the problem

82mazdarx7

you know of anything else that it couldbe, maybe something else electricle.

Pedestrian X

well for now if you msut drive it i would throw soem 2 stroke oil in with the gas, then you will be sur ethat the engine is gettin oil.

Gregs

it is possible its your guage...


and i only use castrol GTX 10w30 oil in my car... but it leaks like a **** so i go through like 2 quarts a week...

-greg

inittab

If you just changed your oil, maybe when you removed your oil filter you got some oil on the sender's contacts. Spray the contacts with some degreaser or carb cleaner and see if your problem goes away.

82mazdarx7

I got some oil on it and sprayed it off with degreaser. I drove the car last night to see if it was doing it and it was fine, I think I might replace the sending uinit though

Cortex

If you do that the rotor faces and apex seals will get oil but the eccentric shaft and all the other places oil goes may won't get a drop of the oil in the gas. Personally there's no way I'd be driving that car (let alone starting it) unless I knew for sure the sender was broken.

A few months ago the contacts for the oil pressure sender in my baby were all covered in crap and I had my oil pressure guage drop to 0 while I was driving. A quick scrape clean and "woohoo!!".. Back in business. You never know it could be that simple... I hope so!

..Matt

82mazdarx7

well I went driving that same night and everything was working. I think I just got some water on the connection. But I went ahead and replaced the pressure sending unit. The guage works allot better now. the engine was still getting oil, but the pressure sending unit was not working. thats why the guage wasnt working as well. its all fixed now

mar3

iTrader: (8)

Precisely why you buy Stewart-Warner, Autometer, VDO, Racetech, or SPA gauges and senders....the "Sun" stuff and such from the ol' Pep Boyz or O'Reilly's parts place just doesn't cut it....

Sometimes, you actually get what you pay for...

MRGSL-SE

When your driving does it stay stuck at 5psi??? cuz I think its normal for the pressure to drop when your at stop... mine drops to about 10 psi... then go back up when loaded to just a little above half of the gauge... add one more quart of oil... see what it does... if it helps

82mazdarx7

Well when it was acting up it stayed at 5 psi. It shouldnt go that low. Now that I fixed it it is back to normal. When Im at a stop at stays at about 30 psi and when Im driving it is at about 70 psi.

Another question. My car is now leaking oil. I know this has nothing to do with the pressure sending unit but it started to leak after I put the sender on. I think its just bad timing. the engine has 22k on it and doesnt leak at all except right where the engine and tranny meets. I was thinking it might be the rear main seal? Does that sound right?