Is it possible to replace the oil pump without dropping the oil pan? I know it doesnt look like it but I just wanted to check before I pull the engine and find out later that I could have done without.

 

Nope.

 

nm stupid question. I posted before thinking.

 

Why are you replacing the oil pump?

 

Because mine probably had about 100,000 miles on it not to mention it had started to make a somewhat loud metal to metal sound.

 

Meh. With the recent wave of utterly asinine stupidity this forum seems to be awash in, just the fact that you used halfway decent grammar and some semblance of respect towards the rules of capitalization puts your head and shoulders above most other new members.

 

Make sure it's not something else.

If the pump is on it's way out you should see a drop in oil pressure among other things. If it's making a loud noise you should see a aluminum in the oil also.

Despite what you hear in this forum, these pumps are pretty bullet-proof.

By the way 100K miles is nothing for these cars/oil pumps.

 

It makes like a pulsating high pitch metal to metal sound from launch all the way to about 3k then fades. The oil pump and the alternator are the only things that aren't new. The motor was just put together a few months ago. I cant really think of anything else it could be. Maybe the alternator but doesn't an alternator make more of a constant high pitch squeal?

 

Audible symptoms can always mislead you.

Try using the gauge Mazda engineers were nice enough to put in the middle of the cluster, up top. It tells you the oil pressure. Is that lower than normal? If you don't know what normal is, it should be around 60(psi) as you pass 4K rpms.

 

Yes mine does read around 60psi. I know the oil pump is working but the noise I am hearing is coming from that area. Is it possible even though I am still getting 60 psi on the op gauge that the op might still be going bad.



I can feel the noob bashing coming on.

 

Run the engine with all the drive belts disconnected and see if the sound goes away.

 

Good idea. Gimme a minute.

 

Still makes the sound without the alt/wp belt. That just leaves the tension pulleys and the op right? Just to make sure, all the little spacers that go with the crank pulley do they all go on the front of the pulley or some on front and some between that and the timing gear? I'm starting to feel stupid.

 

See below: