Ok I finally got my Rx8 and it is time for adding more oil!. I have read the million page long debate about 5w20 v 5w30 but i am still pretty darn confused. So i went to the pdf manual and wikipedia to read about it. So far all I got is that higher the number the better lubricant, less mpg, and for hotter temperature, less oil being pumped in and higher oil pressure.

I keep reading how people say that mazda recommands you to use 5w20 but on this manual it says to choose the best oil depend on the temperature. 5w20 is on the center of the meter with is around 0C and in oklahoma it gets over 30c in the summer so 5w20 seems to be way too low for where i live (Oklahoma) summer at least. And from pages like http://www.carbibles.com/engineoil_bible.html it seems like i should be using 20w40 or something like that.

Anyone use anything as heavy as that??

Anyone know why mazda recommands such light oil and only in USA??

How the hell do i even use the chart that mazda tells me to use to determine oil weight? What is to the right of 5w20 10w20 or 5w30 then what is after that??

Last question is that since i dont know what kind of oil or what number he put in there can i mix it with the oil i buy or do i have to drain it and put new oil?

 

Not so. The higher the number, the thicker the oil. Whether it's better or not depends on whether it's right or not. Too thick can be as bad as too thin.

CAFE.

The chart says to use that for all temperatures. If different weights were recommended for different temperature ranges, there'd be more than one line at the bottom.

Just put in whatever you decide on. Make sure it's Service SL or better. All brands and types (conventional or synthetic) that are SL are compatible with each other.

I leave it to others to give you the definitive answer on whether you should use 5w20 or 5w30, and whether you should use dino or synthetic.

Ken

 

where do you live? For hoter climate areas you should use 5w30, for colder 5w20... Although I would recoment 0w30, but thats only me

 

Just get 1 quart of 5-20wt castrol GTX.

 

I've used 20-50 on the track.

If I didn't live near the beach and in the hot climite I would use 5-30 minimum.

 

I take mine to the dealer for oil change, $25 and it gets a free car wash also.
Why mess with it?

 

Because the car wash puts swirls in the paint.

 

I live in oklahoma and it is FREAKING hot in summer. so 5w20 for winter and 5w30 for summer?

 

It's not just the center. The shape surrounding "5w20" is it's rough range. So -30C to 50C use 5w20. So 5w20 should be a safe bet year round.

 

It's freaking hot in Virginia too. I use 5w20 all year, including at the track.

 

I say listen to Rotarygod and use 5w-30 Royal Purple.

 

5-20 and 5-30 should be fine either way... if you are comfortable with 5-30 in the summer, go for it.. i use 5-20 year round with premix...

as for synthetic vs dino, if you have any hesistations on it, just use dino and change every 3K.. simple as that and dont have to worry about a thing

 

I use 5-30, always have in the rotarys with little problem. I just stick to what works for me.

 

I let the dealership do it.....that way it's their fault if something goes wrong.

I just keep a qt of what's listed on my windshield sticker to refill it when necessary.

No Worries.

 

I use oil

 

what's oil?

edit: Royal Purple 5w-30 heat or cold, it's Houston...

 

black, slippery, floats on water when the barge runs around. use that stuff.

if you really want to get educated on oil there are very few good resources on this site. go to bobistheoilguy.com and read through those forums. A site with almost as many active users as this one dedicated to nothing but lubricants.

 

^ sounds like a pr0n site - are there any smokin hot lay-dees?

 

5w-20 Castrol GTX is all that ever goes in mine ... dealer or at home. Runs like a champ.

 

i use 10w40

 

I use WD40

 

^^But that will take the paint of the internal components!

 

No, just the teflon coating.

 

Mazola all the way.

 

I just did a search on "oil" and it came back with no replies - yet here is a thread with oil as the title - go figure .