Woah, does anyone know what this tube is to/for?

[Rich]

My first time doing the oil change on the miata today and found this tube when taking off the oil filter and cleaning the area around it.  Any ideas?  It ends around the passenger side of the engine and is routed across the firewall into the drivers side.

[Rich]

The only thing i can think of us somewhere in here... this is about where the tube was when i was taking off the oil filter

[Rich]

Miata.net has figured it's the oil pressure gauge line.  I have no idea how to fix this

[Raza]

Well, I'm about the last person to have an idea on this. 

Have you tried hitting it with a hammer, spraying it with WD40, and then duct taping it into place?  Those are my go to moves. 

[AutobahnSHO]

Has it triggered a light?

[Rich]

No lights as of the start of the oil change.  It's the tube/line for the aftermarket oil pressure gauge.  TBH I hadn't paid attention to the gauge for the last few days.

[FoMoJo]

Is there oil squirting out of a hole somewhere when you start it?

[Rich]

Is there oil squirting out of a hole somewhere when you start it?

Since I've done the oil change, I haven't started it.  I'd like to keep my oil in it!  haha.  I think there had been oil seeping from it before today though, as the transmission has oil on the bottom and seems like everything around the subframe is caked in it

[FoMoJo]

What year is your Miata?

[Rich]

2000 130,000 miles.

I'm getting it towed to a shop on Monday

[FoMoJo]

I can't imagine why there would be a plastic tube with oil in it dangling in the engine bay unless someone tried to replace the oil pressure sending unit and gauge with some sort of direct feed setup.  Does the sending unit look intact?

[CaminoRacer]

Electric sending unit gauges are the only way to properly do it. Don't want no hot oil in the car

[Rich]

Electric sending unit gauges are the only way to properly do it. Don't want no hot oil in the car

And so I learn

[Rupert]

Is it a vacuum line?

[Rich]

i guess it's an oil pressure line that uses the brass fitting tapped into the engine block.  I think if I turn the engine on that oil will flow out the fitting?  I'm not sure.  It'll be towed to a shop on Monday.

A vehicle maintenance guy that oversees the contract on base is coming by tomorrow morning to take a look at it.  the fix should be as easy as taking out the brass fitting and finding a bolt that will plug it up. 

Unless there's a similar fitting/line out here in Spain... VMX guy said that should only be a 10 Euro part.

[Rupert]

I asked because that's a dumb way to get oil pressure, but it sounds like you're on it.

[GoCougs]

Can't use duct tape or the like - oil pressure is typically 10 - 50 psi and that is actually a lot - that will make a huge mess in no time and drain your oil fairly quickly. It needs to be fixed proper which means either a new line or a plug. I'd just head to the hardware store and buy random brass pipe thread plugs in sizes that look to be about the same and then test 'em out.

[FlatBlackCaddy]

Have you tried sucking on it and seeing what comes out?

[MrH]

Have you tried sucking on it and seeing what comes out?

that's your solution to everything.

[Rich]

LOL

is it a man or a woman? 



Suck on it!

[Rich]

The coworker stopped by and took the fitting out and threw a bolt in it.  All's good in the hood.

Time to figure out what to do with the middle of the 3 gauges that was oil pressure.  See if autometer sells an electronic sender rather than an oil line into the dashboard?  If not, then replace the gauge with another type of reading?



I also need to figure out what to get him as a thank you.  He doesn't drink anything but water so beer is out.  Spain doesn't really do gift cards.  Money seems impersonal/snobbish

[CaminoRacer]

Take him out for tapas?

Autometer has electric senders but you'll probably need a gauge made for it.

[GoCougs]

But that is very likely a pipe thread, not a regular bolt thread. Pipe threads are tapered such that the fitting also acts as a wedge. The distinction is important because of the high pressure - a regular bolt in a pipe thread may not provide enough wedge contact which could lead to leaking. Probably okay in the short term but you'll want to watch it and then get it fixed with the right fitting soon.

[Rich]

But that is very likely a pipe thread, not a regular bolt thread. Pipe threads are tapered such that the fitting also acts as a wedge. The distinction is important because of the high pressure - a regular bolt in a pipe thread may not provide enough wedge contact which could lead to leaking. Probably okay in the short term but you'll want to watch it and then get it fixed with the right fitting soon.

[Raza]

The coworker stopped by and took the fitting out and threw a bolt in it.  All's good in the hood.

Time to figure out what to do with the middle of the 3 gauges that was oil pressure.  See if autometer sells an electronic sender rather than an oil line into the dashboard?  If not, then replace the gauge with another type of reading?



I also need to figure out what to get him as a thank you.  He doesn't drink anything but water so beer is out.  Spain doesn't really do gift cards.  Money seems impersonal/snobbish

Get him a case of water.  I mean, like nice water.  SmartWater, Fiji, Voss, something like that. 

[shp4man]

I cant believe Mazda would use a nylon oil pressure line. This has to be some Pep Boys shit installed by a PO, right? 

[Rich]

Nope that was done at a reputable shop back in Idaho. I bought the autometer gauges but I guess the ones I got needed this setup. It will be changed

[Cookie Monster]

My oil pressure and temp gauges are electric. The sensors are installed on a sandwich plate on the oil filter so the only wires going into the car are electronic signal wires.

[68_427]

Rip it off.  Ain't nobody need that fancy shit

[CaminoRacer]

I've had both types of gauges. And I think both were reading from a fitting on the back of the intake manifold.