Miata Mailing List: March 1993, Message #86
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   From: (none)
Subject: Oil pressure problems
   Date: (none)

	Help!  I'm having oil pressure problems with my '90 Miata, and I was
wondering if anyone had experienced similar difficulties or had words of
wisdom...

	Back in early December I had my car tuned up and the oil replaced at
our local Mazda dealer.  In late January I noticed low oil pressure at idle
after the car was warmed: around 15-20 psi.  The oil was low and appeared to
slowly disappear after I topped it off, so in she went.  The diagnosis was a
deteriorated O-ring in the dipstick well, which was replaced.  I had kept the
oil level good during this time and had them check the pressure; they said
it was normal (1k and 3k RPM checks).  I suspected they hadn't done a thorough
job, so I took the car to another mechanic (trusted) who found low pressure
(17 psi at 1k RPM idle).  So back to the dealer I went...

	Well, I just got the car back with a replaced oil pump and the pressure
_still_ appears to be going low (around 15-20 psi at idle) when the car is
at operating temperature.  The oil pump was replaced, the bearing tolerance
was checked (they claim it was good), and I don't think the gauge is bad since
the probe on the engine found the same results.  To top this off my engine has
now been torn and rebuilt for the replacement, so who knows what will crop up
in the future.  However, I'm more concerned about the immediate problem.  Does
anyone have any ideas?  Thanks!

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Michael Garvin - Systems Programmer                       garvin@mmrc.ncsu.edu
Mars Mission Research Center                            (919) 515-5250 [Voice]
North Carolina State University                           (919) 515-7968 [Fax]