I've always been somewhat surprised about the readout of the pressure-gauge being so very constant. Yesterday I read (but lost the link) that the thing is a fraud. The auther of the article i read said there was only a switch, metering either 'go' or 'no-go'!
Can someone confirm this?

yeah it is true...... on/off switch

Yes, it's an idiot light that uses a needle instead of a bulb! :rolleyes:

S

I've always been somewhat surprised about the readout of the pressure-gauge being so very constant. Yesterday I read (but lost the link) that the thing is a fraud. The auther of the article i read said there was only a switch, metering either 'go' or 'no-go'!
Can someone confirm this?

Yep, Mazda stopped using analog oil pressure gauges in the mid 90's... I was disappointed that they didn't make the RX8 an exception. We just have a switch saying there is at least some oil pressure.... not terribly useful.

I wonder if this stems from a mass of 3rd gen owners that came running in to the dealers when the oil pressure bounced off of 0psi at hot idle? Maybe someone has a hot idle spec for the Rx-7/Rx-8?

I know the minimum pressure check in the manual is 50.8 psi @ 3000 rpm

These gauges can be added cant they?I was thinking of getting a 3 gauge pod thing that mounts where your NAV. is on the top of the dash.I dont have a NAV. so that would work for me.I cant remember where I saw the thread that had the gauge pod thing in it but it was nice looking.
It would be nice to have a anolog oil pres.,Motor temp.,and something else as long as these can be added.
Shark

You will need to search for the thread but it says you add the oil pressure gage where the idiot switch connection is located.

I wonder if this stems from a mass of 3rd gen owners that came running in to the dealers when the oil pressure bounced off of 0psi at hot idle? Maybe someone has a hot idle spec for the Rx-7/Rx-8?


I bet that, along with tons of early year Miata owners that didn't know how to read the fluctuations of a real OPG and ran to the dealers.

You will need to search for the thread but it says you add the oil pressure gage where the idiot switch connection is located.

you don't have to do it that way...i added my oil pressure and oil temp sensor inbetween teh oil filter and engine using a sensor attachment i got from Japan. so the idiot gauges still function..but now i have some defi bf gauges to compliment them:D

You could run a "T" to the oil pressure port.

you don't have to do it that way...i added my oil pressure and oil temp sensor inbetween teh oil filter and engine using a sensor attachment i got from Japan. so the idiot gauges still function..but now i have some defi bf gauges to compliment them:D Can you give a bit more details. Maybe make and P/N... That'd be nice.

You could run a "T" to the oil pressure port. Do you know of such a "T" that would work with the OEM switch and 2 added 1/8 sensors?


By the way, what is the original oil pressure switch thread?

I'd be leary of doing that. I'm not 100% sure, but I would be surprised if the ECU didn't monitor that signal in addition to sending it to the gauge cluster. If it is programmed to take some action in the event of a low pressure situation there's no need to break that.

jds

You will need to search for the thread but it says you add the oil pressure gage where the idiot switch connection is located.