MX-3.com

I just got a 95 with a 4 cylinder for free. It drives but has a knock and the oil light comes on and off. In most cars i have worked on that tells me the oil pump is clogged or going bad. Would this be the case in a MX3? The engine is completely oil free and cleaner than my 08 Suzuki SX4. I also need to find a place to buy new door seals and a driver side door panel black. Any help would be great, I have posted pics of the car below.

http://s100.photobucket.com/albums/m30/ ... ect042.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://s100.photobucket.com/albums/m30/ ... ect043.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://s100.photobucket.com/albums/m30/ ... ect044.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://s100.photobucket.com/albums/m30/ ... ect045.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://s100.photobucket.com/albums/m30/ ... ect046.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://s100.photobucket.com/albums/m30/ ... ect047.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://s100.photobucket.com/albums/m30/ ... g_0201.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

OK, well i checked the oil pump and its fine. The head gasket is also fine. I pulled the exhaust manifold off and found oil in only one of the exhaust ports. I then checked the timing belt and it's brand new. My question is, If a timing belt breaks while driving will it bend the valves on the B6 motor?

No, it's a non interference car.


If there's oil in the exhaust manifold, then I am going to guess it's dumping quite a bit of oil in that cylinder.

From my recent findings, that much oil won't come through the valve guides or stem seals.

Can you look into the exhaust ports in the head to verify if oil is present on the valve guides/stems? if they're clean, your valve stem seals will be clean.

That much oil WILL come from the bottom end, I was getting oil into my exhaust manifold as well, it was coming through the oil ring on the piston. All four cylinders.

Ouch, well glad it broke now. It would suck to find a problem like this AFTER a turbo install. Thanks for the info, when i pull the head off and get a better view i will post some pics of the problem.

I just took a pic of the inside of the port.

http://s100.photobucket.com/albums/m30/ ... ine056.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://s100.photobucket.com/albums/m30/ ... ine052.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://s100.photobucket.com/albums/m30/ ... ine051.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Oil pressure switch is easy to check. Get under her and look up to the left of the oil filter. Single wire. $15 replace from Mazda, I think. 17mm?

After some busted fingers and lots of oil in my hair "don't ask". 3 of the 4 pistons need new rings. I plan to buy the NPR OEM sized rings. I'm shocked that the person that had the car before me had complete re manufactured head and did nothing when the pistons clearly needed attention. Guess i should not complain, I got the car for free and drove it home.
Thanks for all the help, I'm sure i will need more down the road.

The pressure switch was good, the drop in pressure was do to the bad rings.

Ryan wrote:Oil pressure switch is easy to check. Get under her and look up to the left of the oil filter. Single wire. $15 replace from Mazda, I think. 17mm?

I'm running new NPR too. Take her easy for a long while. first start up, let her idle for a good 20 if she will...

although it seems you know what you're doing, aside from the oil in the hair

Why was there oil in your hair?


I dunno if there's something special about NPR rings, but rockauto has a special on them for 32, which is pretty cheap.

or 50 for chrome moly rings from rock products (they make fantastic quality equipment)

wow thats cheap for rings lol im in need of some as well

Well, i thought i burnt most of the oil while driving it around and when i pulled the drain plug my head was a lil to close and i got a head full of oil. Not sure were i seen it but will the Miata pistons fit the MX3 B6 block? Also would that give me 10-1 compression?

Thanks for the help....

I called them and the guy said it was per pistion.

SuperK wrote:Why was there oil in your hair?


I dunno if there's something special about NPR rings, but rockauto has a special on them for 32, which is pretty cheap.

or 50 for chrome moly rings from rock products (they make fantastic quality equipment)

It's always a piston set, it's per car.

Who'd you call?

The Mazda B6 Dohc is the same for the mx3 and the miata, but if you are planning on going turbo, you'll want less compression, not more. Ideally you wouldnt want to go over 9:1 if you are going turbo so that you have more room for air from boost. Mazda factory turbo engines are around 8.2:1 or at least I know the BPT is, I'm betting the B6T is pretty close, but that is why they can handle so much boost reliably.