Different oil pressure after filter relocation
 

I pulled the engine and redid all of the seals (no piston rings) and also installed a filter relocation kit. I have the filter installed upside down where the windshield sprayer bottle used to reside. My oil pressure used to be a hair over 60 when cold and bit under 30 warm (at idle) and flooring it would push it up to a few hairs under 60. Now it basically stays over 60 all the time except idle which seems to be much lower than normal. Has anyone else noticed pressure change after installing a relocation kit? I worried about it being higher than it was and causing some sort of damage somehow. Also, for about a second I have no oil pressure at start up and it slowly comes up (about two seconds to come up). It used to be basically instantaneous. Help me ease my troubled mind (or help me learn how to fix it :hs:).

One of my AN fittings is leaking as well so I may disconnect the kit and throw a filter on the factory location if anyone thinks there is an issue with the kit. (sorry for the badly constructed post and thanks for the help)

Is the pressure sending unit before or after the filter

if before, stop driving and make sure the in and out lines are on the correct ports!

The relocation kit mounts to the old filter location and nothing else is changed from stock... i have no idea where the pressure sending unit is on an otherwise stock miata :hs:

Stock pressure sender is post filter.

What size hoses did you use for the filter lines?

--Ian

I don't remember the ID of the hose... it's "high temp/high pressure hose" that fits AN 8 fittings. (3/8" or 1/2" I believe)

I'd hate to have to replace the fittings ($!) but do you think I should go up to AN 10?

AN-8 is 1/2". The number after the AN identiifes how many 16ths you have for ID, so -6 is 3/8, -8 is 1/2, -10 is 5/8, etc.

I run -10 for my oil cooler, IMHO -8 is on the small side. I don't know if it's strictly necessary (there are lots of people out there using -8), but -10 is definitely better. I think that is at least part of the reason for the pressure drop.

--Ian

Repeating: Check, and then double check, that you have not crossed the lines.

Someone I know (cough, cough) connected the outlet at the engine to the outlet on the remote. It should go on the INLET at the remote. This matters because (all? most? some?) oil filters have a one-way function, and what you are seeing may not be oil pressure in the engine, but the value of the pressure relief valve after the oil pump. This is bad news for anything requiring pressure lubrication.

If that checks out, then yes, revert to stock and see if the system reverts to 'normal'.

Every relocation that I have seen uses -10.

I will double check the lines... Im also going to order an10 fittings/hose. I'll report back in a few days.

Bump up to 10AN. I had a big pressure drop when I was running 8AN with an oil cooler. Changed to 10AN and everything improved dramatically.