I went to get my first oil change on the rx-8 today. I always read the topics about which oil to use, and I always thought that the rx-8 and mazda itself preferred non-syntheic.

I went to a mazda dealership (not the place I bought it from) to get the oil change, and I asked to guy out of curiosity what oil they use. He told me that they use a partial synthetic blend of oil. I was suprised because I thought they wanted customers to use non synthetic, and I bought a bottle of non-synthetic blend of oil before this. I was just wonder if I could mix this oil with the one the dealer used, or should I call the dealership and ask him exactly what brand and such and buy that bottle.

The guy also told me that he had to put a new gas cap on my car because there was a recall on them :|

 

I am at work so I don't have time to research it, but there will be someone along in a sec that will know. I believe that the oil Mazda uses is a bit of a blend. From what I understand (which is not much) 5-20 is a blend to get the weight.

 

You can use the oil you bought. It's OK to mix different brands. In fact, when they change the oil on an 8, they only get about 60% of the old oil out, so you're always mixing old with new.

Look for the sticky/cumulative threads on oils for details on the differences between regular, synthetic and synthetic blends.

Did they give you a recall campaign number for the gas cap? I just had my check engine light go on, with a code that's often caused by a loose or bad cap. If there's a recall, I can visit my dealer and demand a cap. If not, I'll wait til it becomes chronic.

Ken

 

I don't think so :| All i know is that when I went to the service department, the man told me that there was an unfinished recall on my car. The mechanic then came over to me and just told me that there is a recall for the gas cap, and he replaced it with a new one. The man at the department told me that if I might recieve a letter in the mail, but everything was done.

 

Here is two documents I found on Mazda-Rotary and Syn-Oil.

 

Again. and again. and again.

Mazda's Document is Bullshit. Pre-Renesis engine problem has been solved long time ago, and it wasnt all Oil company's fault. Since Mazda should've tested their stuff before releasing it. Meaning they should've test the Oil with their Rubber O-Rings before they release it. thats also one of the reasons why They HAVE to CHANGE their Rubber O-Rings material. Not to mention all the other problem the older engine has (hint hint apex seal)

forget about the No-Longer-A-Problem-Rubber-O-Rings. Lets Talk about the oil ok ?

Most of the cooked engine was AT(one oil cooler), and as far as we know it those 8 has been using Nothing but Dino base oil. So where is the Synthetic came from?

The Carbon Build up ? Search RotaryGod's Thread he has a very detailed explanation. but in short, the carbon build up came from Gasoline, NOT Engine Oil.

Not to mention people who had those problems were ppl who mostly dont follow the *proper* Engine cleaning procedure. (rev the engine once in a while, its important for every engine, but its just that Rotary needs it more)

I dont get it, why would people love to choose what they wanted to listen. Even tho its complete bullshit.

Why would people love to believe Mazda's *OH Synthetic oil is Wrong* but COMPLETELY ignore Mazda's *Do Not use Aftermarket Parts*

Hey people. Synthetic is bad right ? You Listen to Mazda ? Oh wait, whats that Exhaust, Cat-less Midpipe, ECU, Turbo ........ ?

Im not saying Dino is bad. I dont have any experience in Dino + Rotary. But hey why Dino users keep bashing Synthetic whenever they have a chance ? Just because Mazda said so ?

Mazda said Aftermarket parts might decrease performance of your Mazda. and Im dare to say that NONE of the Dino users actually listen to that.

 

I thought I had heard something about not mixing synthetic oil with the RX-8 as well. I know the owner's manual should address the type of oil that should be used... but my mind fails me.

 

Here's something I found on royal purple.
http://www.royalpurple.com/techa/faqsa.html

I was told by the service manager that since my car only has 8k on it, I should switch to synthetic. But from what I gather from reading everyones input on synthetic use, the main concern is what's left behind after combustion.

Here's what mobil 1 had to say: http://www.mobiloil.com/USA-English/...ry_Engine.aspx

Nowhere does it say in the 04 manual or warranty booklet that adding synthetic oils will void the warranty. Nor does it say to avoid it. Here comes a double negative, it doesn't say not to use it. But it does state to use "quality designation SL or ILSAC must be on the label", and to use 5w-20.

So there you have it. For the renisis put whatever you want in it for oil so long that it's SL and ILSAC and a recommended 5W-20. They would have stated otherwise if it was lethal for the renisis to run on synthetics.

 

5w-30

 

I prefer 5w-30. Theres a reason that only the USA has this recent recall. and it has alot to do with the oil weight we use (freaking garbage Ford)

Actually Im thinking about to remove the Oil line that goes into the engine and use Premix only.

Listening to Mazda is like Listening to your mom about which girl you should go out a date with.

 

I don't think anyone has been bashing synthetic oil. Just following Mazda's recommendation. (Or "not recommendation".)

What is in it for Mazda to recommend against synthetics, unless they believed there was a problem? They don't make and sell motor oil, at least not in the US, so it's not part of the "use only genuine Mazda parts" sales ploy. IMHO, rotories are likely to be bought by the kind of enthusiast who understands the superior qualities of synthetics and is willing to pay the extra money, so they're alienating a valuable market segment.

Sure, the problem may be (as lots of people have said) a long-gone one from early Mobil 1. From one of the posts in this thread it looks like Mobil also goes along with that.

But I don't think I've ever seen a post here actually bashing synthetic oils. Just ones believing Mazda's recommendation. Buying a $30K product does imply some degree of belief in the manufacturer of that product.

Ken

 

The only car manufacturer that advises against use of synthetic oil is Mazda.

 

If you look around, you'll see the anti-synthetic thing with Mazda goes beyond the rotary engine.

For example: http://sowhatcanido.blogspot.com/200...hetic-oil.html

Yes, that's right, Mazda piston engines blow up if you use synthetic! Oh nooooes!

 

[QUOTE=mysql101]For example: http://sowhatcanido.blogspot.com/200...hetic-oil.html[QUOTE]

Now that is something I never thought of before. But it raises an issue: if synthetic oil is good for the environment, why do the big oil companies make it? And will they stop once they realize what they're doing?



Ken

 

Nope, 5w-20. I was referring to what the manual says. Anything else you want to know?

 

If the dealer sells Ford vehicles, they probably use the bulk Motorcraft 5w20 Syntec Blend oil that they have in their pumps. They use this oil for most of their cars.
Last time I went to the dealer, I asked them to use Mazda oil instead.

 

I actually went to Roto mazda (Chicago).....but attached to the building was a suburu and mercury delearship. And the man did tell me that they used motorcraft, and I asked him if that was alright for the rx-8, and he said thats what he uses on all of them.

 

Yep, they use nothing but motorcraft oil. You can see all those boxes laying around the area.

 

Hmm, you probably didnt look *hard* enough to all the oil threads.

Mazda actually has their own oil even in the USA market, its just that its really hard to get and cost is actually higher (import) so most dealership actually use their *choice* of oil. If they sell Ford, they would use nothing but motorcraft. others ? Full Synth, Synth blend. Or Dino. depends on whatever the cheapest.

What I dont get is that ppl just wanted to bash Synthetic Oil without any strong proof to back themself up. I mean they can trust a piece of paper (Mazda) but I think I prefer to trust myself(been using Synthetic oil for 23000 miles no problem at all) and Im going to take my motor apart as soon as the warranty is over just to show the world what is it like inside.

 

No, I haven't studied all the oil threads. Enough to learn that Mazda does sell their own brand of oil in some countries, but not enough to learn they had that in the US. I've also read enough to be convinced that synthetic is OK. I still use dino because I think that's OK, too.

23000 miles on one engine isn't really enough to prove anything one way or another. My brother had a Toyota in which he never changed the oil. Engine didn't blow until somewhere around 75,000 miles.

I must have missed threads where people bashed synthetic oil itself. There are more than enough threads where people are bashed for ignoring Mazda's no-synth recommendation, and where people are bashed for believing it.

Ken