Miata Mailing List: December 1998, Message #145

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Hi All

I am looking for input on what might be causing some oil pressure
problems that I am having.  First off, the car is a Canadian '90.  I
just bought the car, and have had the timing belt changed along with the
oil and filter.  The car has 128 000kms (~80 000miles) on it.

The problem:  Low oil pressure.  When I bought the car, the oil pressure
needle was almost vertical at idle (~2kg/cm2) and went up from there.
Over the last few days, the oil pressure at idle, with the engine warm
is very close to but just above zero.  Above ~2000RPM the pressure comes
up to about where it was at idle before.  The problem was intermittent
at first, but now happens all the time, and the pressure also seems to
be getting lower.

The car is going in to my mechanic on Thursday morning, but if anyone
has any ideas as to what the problem might be, or what parts to look at,
I'd appreciate the help...

thanks

jamie