What is the best way to change oil types, given that only about 4 quarts come out? I'd like to move to 5W30 in my new R3 at the next (2nd) oil change at 3000 miles. Should I drain, refill, run then change oil and filter? Is it ok just change normal and change again in 3000 more miles running mixed? I know there are many, many threads on oil, didn't see this answered though. Thanks,

 

there is a method whereby you take out the drain bolt and raise and lower each side of the car one side at a time... this helps to get as much oil out as possible. However when you refill, you need to take note of how much oil you drained out. Some people get as much as 5 qts. out.

 

Just start using the new oil type. They are all compatible. In fact, very very few oils hold their viscosity to 3,000 miles in our engines anyway, so the oil you are draining is below 5w20, and at 3,000 miles of 5w30, it will be below the 5w20 you have now.

the "types" are literally just thicknesses. It's not like one is water and one is oil paint and one is whipped cream and one is liquid silicone and one is sludge.

 

Drain and refill.

 

^ that. The numbers on the bottle mean very little.

 

Great, thanks all! I'm an RX-8 newbie, after having a Miata the past 8 years. I'm still trying to understand why folks say the RX-8 is slow..... sure drives quick to me.

 

I wonder how much oil comes out if you use a pump to evacuate the oil through the dipstick tube...
Something like a Pela or Mityvac pump should get a lot more out than just raising and lowering both sides when draining the oil.

 

I got just shy of 4 qts using my extractor.
Not as much as when you fiddle with the jack but a whole hell of a lot easier and faster.

 

I think schools should add this class called "Common Sense" ...

 

Except the answer to his question isn't exactly common sense. Without some background with oils, the question of whether oils of different viscosities will just blend into each other is an intelligent one. One can't assume they will.

 

hummm, I dont even know what the dealer is putting in my engine.

 

Not to mention that different dealers use different brands of oil. A 5W-20 of one brand of oil maybe be equal to a 30W of another brand.

 

errrm really? they say its mazda oil, I loled.

 

Only if it's mislabeled.

 

The label don't mean a whole lot. I have tested a bunch of samples of different oils in my 8 and if I didn't post the weights you would have a hard time figuring out which was which. Some oil just break down quicker than others in as soon as 1000-1500 miles.

 

This was posted in another thread on here, but its so good it deserves a re post. This tells you everything that you ever wanted to know about oil and probably more.

http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=136052

 

Since rotaries burn oil, it seems to me the best way to "phase-in" the new oil is to just start topping-off with the new oil. Eventually all the old oil will be gone.

 

Best way is to drain, fill with new oil, drive around for a few until car is hot again, drain, and fill, drive around again, drain, the refill.

 

I still believe this belongs to the "common sense" group ...

 

I lower and raise just the drivers side and everything comes out.... warm up the car a little and this process is greatly accelerated!

 

Unless you're changing from one synthetic to another, there's really no need to worry about draining the maximum amount of oil. If anything, a gradual change is going to be easier on your engine.

 

If the factory says 5w20 why are you switching to 5w30?

 

^Stop talking.

 

You might should do a search and read a bunch of threads on oil in this forum first.

 

Now you're just being silly.