mazdatweaker
+1y
PUll the dipstick, rub some oil on your fingers, and smell a sample of the oil.
If it smells like fuel, it doesn't matter how old it is, because it will not lubricate properly due to thin out.
If it is fuel diluted, it needs to be changed.
If your truck is anything like almost every other Mazda, it is really likely the mixture control solenoid in the carburetor has started to fail. When it does, fuel dumping occurs.
To check a fuel pump for failure internally, if yo have one on the right rear coner of the cylinder head, you can shine a strong light on it, and look for oil on the bottom half of the part that looks like a flying saucer. There is a hole that oil will come out of when the pump starts to fail. It will still pump fuel, but some of the fuel is being pumped past the internal diaphragm into the cylinder head.