Hey!,

I just finished the paperwork on a new Velocity Red Touring RX-8 to be brought into this world and to me sometime in April, target delivery date. The information on this site has been a great help to me, however I do have a question I think would be best answered by the experienced people on this board.

I realize the rotary is vastly different then regular piston engines and I realize we are suppose to check our oil and add more if necessary every other fill-up. What is your recommendation on actual oil changes or other standard maintenance on the vehicle? I know that the 3000 miles really doesn't hold true anymore for normal piston engines, many of those can go 6000 or more without any problems not that I would wait that long. What is the situation with our new beloved Rotary engine? Can any old place change the oil or will Mazda force me to go to them to get it "done right"? Thanks for you information in advance!

Cerestes

 

I always follow the manufacturers recommendation. On this car, the regular service interval is 7500 miles, or 5000 under extreme conditions. I'm finding myself adding a quart of oil in between (did so yesterday at 8200 miles, after a 5000 mile oil change. Level was just below the low mark on the dipstick.)

You can go to any old place, just make sure they use quality materials or even do it yourself for that matter.

 

My take on the oil is this:

check it weekly - especially at first.

Prep for a change at 3000 - Monitor the oil condition. It is the best indicator - is it semi clear, brown and cloudy or black and smelly? Obviously black and smelly is not good.

Congratulations on your soon to come brand spankin new red jewel!

Owner since 7/19/03

 

I don't know if you change oil yourself, but I had a little trouble getting a filter wrench that would fit it. I never owned a Mazda before, so I was unaware that the filter was TINY in comparison to anything else that I had ever had before. It took several trips to pep-boys with a replacement filter to find a wrench that fit, and the universal wrenches were right out. Way too big.

Other than that, I found my oil looking and smelling funky at around four thousand miles so I changed it then, but I may just be being obsessive. I've been using Castrol 5/20 and that seems to be working well, and it should be pointed out that not alot of people are manufacturing or stocking 5/20 yet therefore be sure that whatever shop youy might take it to has the oil to put in and does not up you to 5/30.

 

Mazda has part that fits perfectly on top of the filter and you could use a socket wrench to take it off. I used it for the Miata I owned. Ask the parts department.

 

Everyone,

Thanks for the information so far. Good to know it's not really anything too different then other cars. I've heard some people complain about the difficult in checking the oil in these because of the engine cover, etc. Is it really that hard/annoying? I guess next time I'm by the dealership I'll just have them show me where the thing is hiding at under the hood.

Cerestes

 

Took my 8 in to Jiffy Lube today to try to get the oil changed. They had 5W-20, but did not have the proper filter. They called the auto parts store next door, and they didn't have it either.

I really don't want to change it at the dealer, so I guess I'll try to get the stuff together to do it myself.

 

Speed-ER doc,

Like the new avatar. So much for the "secret lair theory."

 

I thought it's the "small" filter for Mazdas. Mazda cars only use two size, small and large... I'm pretty sure the RX-8's filter is the same as the Miata filter.

 

yea you can get the filters and wrench here.

http://www.trussvillemazda.com/parts...004/model/RX-8

 

Why would you not want to change it at the dealer if I may ask? In my area Jiffy Lube charges $29, my dealer will charge me $25 so from a cost standpoint the dealer is cheaper...plus since they are supposed to know this car less chance of them doing something wrong...god forbid some Jiffy Lube guy flooding the engine of your 8

I'd do it myself but I'd rather pay someone to do it. I don't like to get dirty and crawl on the ground to change oil anymore. I'm just trying to do my part and keep the U.S. economy growing ...you know that lesson about you earn a dollar...you spend that dollar...someone else get's it...they spend it. I sweated over my car for 4 hours washing and Zainoing on Sunday...that's more work than I did on my last car in the past 6 years combined

 

Look for an "F" size filter wrench at any Auto parts store. Got mine at Pep Boys - it is actually a dual-size wrench, with the outer size being larger than the F.

 

Yeah, I asked the parts department first, and they said that they had no idea about a filter wrench for the car, which I knew was wrong when they told me, but how do you argue that. I mean how do I argue that they should sell me something when they are too stupid to know that they sell it.

Nah, I got one at Pepboys already. Same thing, a filter socket to go on a socket wrench, and it too is a perfect fit. So, problem was solved. Thanks for the advice though.

 

I believe that it is, at least that's what my dealer told me when they sold me one. The problem is that corporations like JiffyLube and Pepboys only update their computer systems with new car information every so often, and it isn't in the computers yet. I tried to buy one at Pepboys, and the computer would not take a 2004 model year number. He asked if there was another year that used that filter. I decided no to risk getting the wrong thing, so I just went to the dealer.

 

The filter is not specified in the manual either, it just says they recommend taking it to the dealer for oil changes!