Oil related, system clog?

[N.RotaryTech]

Car, engine, etc:
'89 rx7 gtu, S5 n/a, engine has 36,000+/-miles on it. New oil pump w/rebuild. Oil press. has always been around 60(stock gauge), past half year or so, its dropped to 45 at idle. Still have the MOP. Been premixing for a year. Oil changes every 3500+/-miles. Use mostly Purolator oil filters and Castrol 10w30.

Problem/something Ive noticed:
The past two oil changes, when I take the oil filter off, oil spills out an over the pedestal, Oil is puddled in the pedestal.

Thats pretty much it, other than that Ive had no problems.

So whats going on here?

I assume the oil system is getting clogged, which can be bad and can get worse and lead to cause catastrophic failure.
I'm thinking an oil-change-flush might help.

Any other ideas or remedies?

[My5ABaby]

I've found a bit of oil left in the filter and never thought anything of it.

[Max777]

well, purolator oil filters... they have an anti-drainback valve built in, which should keep the oil from spilling out like that.

Are you sure you took the filter of AFTER you drained the oil from the pan? Taking the filter off first would cause your problem...

[N.RotaryTech]

yep, I always take it off after drainedge.
There's always a good amount of time for the filter to drain, or at least the pedestal to drain.
Changing the filter is the second to last thing I do when changing the oil.

[Max777]

ok just wanted to check... also, I got this comment a while back that aparently the stock gauges are not that accurate.... I am no pro, but it might be the pressure regulator.

if it was the OP sending unit, then the gauge would peg, like mine is right now for example... so it cant be that.

lol, it does sound like you got a clog of some sort ya know! Why dont you get a magnetic oil drain plug and check for metal on it after you flush the oil?

[Spooln2]

Use a screw driver to poke a hole in the filter(right before you take it off) and it will drain better. That is what I do for the dripping all over thing. It works great for me. I had the same problem but my pressure is good. I don't think low pressure would be the culpret here.

[RETed]

First, spilling oil like that is normal.
If you want to minimize the spilling, just wait a few hours after you've driven the car or...overnight.
Yes, I realize that some people recommend running the engine just prior to draining the oil, but you still got a shitload of oil sitting in the oil cooler which isn't going to be removed in a normal oil change.

Second, always check your oil pressure with a known, good mechanical oil pressure gauge.
Stock oil pressure senders tend to go back pretty frequently, so always confirm first.


-Ted

[StarSpeedRacing]

Let it sit overnight.