street car gone road race
- Thread starter gotovato
- Start date
- Watchers 44
gotovato
Greenie Member
Hey thanks man!
gotovato
Greenie Member
LOLmoney isn't worth anything til you spend it
gotovato
Greenie Member
So...it has come to my attention...and im SO glad i asked a few guys...but my idle RPM is set too low LOL.
when i asked the original owner of this motor about idle oil pressure the first thing he said was "whats your idle rpm set to" "set it to 1k" he said to me. I obviously dismissed this and kept on feeling like my motor was dead. Well...after talking to a couple other built motor boys it seems this is the norm. 1000-1050rpm, confirmed by a couple of members here.
My current idle is 800rpm i believe, so upping it to 1000-1050rpm should give me at least 5-10psi more idle oil pressure. this would put me way into the "safe" range. ive also collected oil pressures from those who had gauges, and im not totally far off from other built motors at idle, considering my idle is much lower.
I still need to drop by the shop and test this but i think thats it. Just need to get over there and see. Im also going to do the test from the manual, 3k RPM hold at 212f oil temp, pressure should fall between 43psi and 80psi. If i pass there...i think im OK.
when i asked the original owner of this motor about idle oil pressure the first thing he said was "whats your idle rpm set to" "set it to 1k" he said to me. I obviously dismissed this and kept on feeling like my motor was dead. Well...after talking to a couple other built motor boys it seems this is the norm. 1000-1050rpm, confirmed by a couple of members here.
My current idle is 800rpm i believe, so upping it to 1000-1050rpm should give me at least 5-10psi more idle oil pressure. this would put me way into the "safe" range. ive also collected oil pressures from those who had gauges, and im not totally far off from other built motors at idle, considering my idle is much lower.
I still need to drop by the shop and test this but i think thats it. Just need to get over there and see. Im also going to do the test from the manual, 3k RPM hold at 212f oil temp, pressure should fall between 43psi and 80psi. If i pass there...i think im OK.
Better to panic and overthink it
gotovato
Greenie Member
yea, if there IS an issue id rather take care of it without ruining the motor.
right now its looking like im good maybe. just a cross between paranoia and not knowing lol.
DubC
Greenie Member
you just described my whole life.
gotovato
Greenie Member
LOL
gotovato
Greenie Member
Well more info.
went by the shop tonight after work.
Go oil temp to 100c(212f) as mentioned in the manual. Hold rpm at 3k. Pressure was 44-50psi. Manual states 43-80psi as “in spec”.
So...what the fuck. Pull the motor and bring it to machine shop? Or keep on sending it?
idle rpm is confirmed 850rpm. Pressure is 8-12psi. 5w40 oil weight. It’s not looking good.
If I rev the motor out it makes plenty of pressures. It also sounds pretty healthy. No ugly sounds at 850rpm and none at 6700rpm.
so here I am again. Pull the motor and send it to the machine shop or carry on with it?
if we follow the 10psi/1000rpm old school rule this motor is plenty healthy. Right in line with that rule and actually much above it. If I go based on the Mazda manual this motor is barely hanging onto life.
So which is it?
went by the shop tonight after work.
Go oil temp to 100c(212f) as mentioned in the manual. Hold rpm at 3k. Pressure was 44-50psi. Manual states 43-80psi as “in spec”.
So...what the fuck. Pull the motor and bring it to machine shop? Or keep on sending it?
idle rpm is confirmed 850rpm. Pressure is 8-12psi. 5w40 oil weight. It’s not looking good.
If I rev the motor out it makes plenty of pressures. It also sounds pretty healthy. No ugly sounds at 850rpm and none at 6700rpm.
so here I am again. Pull the motor and send it to the machine shop or carry on with it?
if we follow the 10psi/1000rpm old school rule this motor is plenty healthy. Right in line with that rule and actually much above it. If I go based on the Mazda manual this motor is barely hanging onto life.
So which is it?
Last edited:
DubC
Greenie Member
based on what you said above, i wouldn't say the motor is just hanging on. it's within spec. it's quite a range, but it's there. who's to say that even if you pull the motor and send it in that it won't have an issue later? i guess what i mean by that is why not just worry about it when you gotta worry about it? if it's seems strong and feels good to you then, hell, let'r rip tater chip!
that being said, i am not a racer and am usually a nervous nelly about everything (you've seen my posts). but stressing over it when it doesn't appear to be a problem based on numbers...don't let that cortisol run your life. just my .01.
that being said, i am not a racer and am usually a nervous nelly about everything (you've seen my posts). but stressing over it when it doesn't appear to be a problem based on numbers...don't let that cortisol run your life.
just my .01.
You could drop the oil pan and check that the balance shaft delete and oil squirters aren't leaking and check the screen on the oil pump as well
If it's not one of those your likely either fine or the motor is done in either case just say fuck it and send it
If it's not one of those your likely either fine or the motor is done in either case just say fuck it and send it
gotovato
Greenie Member
Hey guys thanks for the input. i understand what youre saying and it makes sense.
heres a video of my findings lastnight. you guys tell me what you think. To my ears...it sounds healthy AF. but i dont really know...i think my plan is to put it together on saturday enough that i can do a few laps around the shop. get some real heat into it and see what it does. if it maintains 8-10psi and never drops then honestly...maybe i do just send it?
video of my 3k test and idling sounds at temp
heres a video of my findings lastnight. you guys tell me what you think. To my ears...it sounds healthy AF. but i dont really know...i think my plan is to put it together on saturday enough that i can do a few laps around the shop. get some real heat into it and see what it does. if it maintains 8-10psi and never drops then honestly...maybe i do just send it?
video of my 3k test and idling sounds at temp
Honestly at idle and low load you don't really need much oil pressure
gotovato
Greenie Member
I’ve read that. It makes sense. My major concern is it maintaining that oil pressure when the oil is HOT. That’s where the issues will come, if any. I’ll know this weekend. It’ll either leave me on the side of the road, or be perfectly fine in low oil pressure land
Just a thought, could it your oil pressure sensor for the gauge that is starting to read low pressure?
Innovate sensors dont exactly have as long of a life as OEM sensors.
Innovate sensors dont exactly have as long of a life as OEM sensors.
gotovato
Greenie Member
I mean it’s definitely possible? I’ve only had it installed in the car for one year though. Just last season. I could try a cheap mechanical gauge though I guess
gotovato
Greenie Member
Went for a drive today. No issues. Car drove great. Still lower then ideal oil pressure but I keep hearing “loose mains loose rods” “maybe it’ll tighten up when you super heat it on track probably pick up a couple psi’s”. I mean I guess that’s possible.
I’ve basically decided to keep going forward. I’ll keep an eye on oil pressure and if it gets stupid low(like actually 0) then I’ll pull the motor and send it out.
also compression numbers after my test drive. I was worried about this also, but...
As you can see
I’m liking these numbers a shitload more then Im liking my oil pressure numbers lol.
I’ve basically decided to keep going forward. I’ll keep an eye on oil pressure and if it gets stupid low(like actually 0) then I’ll pull the motor and send it out.
also compression numbers after my test drive. I was worried about this also, but...
As you can see
I’m liking these numbers a shitload more then Im liking my oil pressure numbers lol.
