DIY: RX-8 Oil Change for dummies
#176
Or..you can invest in an additional 2 Qrt of oil to flush out the old oil, before adding in the standard 4 Qrt..I do and notice that the drainage is alot cleaner looking than if I did not (dark black)....only cost me $2 more for the oil change ($1/Qrt specials)
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#177
No means yes
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Hey all, thanks for all the tips! I want to do this myself soon (hopefully I can master the art of putting her up on ramps
). Just a couple quick questions if you don't mind -
1) I see alot of people using 5W20. I was under the impression the manual recommended 5W30? Or am I way off? (Sorry, I can't seem to locate my owner's manual right now....)
2) I will occasionally be doing some "winter" driving to upstate NY (possibly as often as every week... for this http://www.icerace.com/). Anyway, should cold weather driving affect your choice of oil at all?
-D
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1) I see alot of people using 5W20. I was under the impression the manual recommended 5W30? Or am I way off? (Sorry, I can't seem to locate my owner's manual right now....)
2) I will occasionally be doing some "winter" driving to upstate NY (possibly as often as every week... for this http://www.icerace.com/). Anyway, should cold weather driving affect your choice of oil at all?
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#179
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Originally Posted by ZoomZoomH
mazda specifies 5w20 for the north america market
however, 5w30 is compatible as well.
however, 5w30 is compatible as well.
#180
I changed my oil this weekend for the first time at 960 mi. It was a piece of cake . . . except that some gorilla cranked the oil filter in place way too hard and I could not get it to budge. I tried both hands, with and without gloves, a strap wrench and the size F filter wrench. Nothing budged it. I have to take it to the dealer now because the outside filter casing is somewhat mangled. No leak, but I dont want to push it.
Access to the filter is not bad, but you have very little room to get leverage, so I cant remove it. It's a heck of a lot easier to get to the filter than in my miata, which requires a bit more limb contortion to get to. Getting the oil pan bolt on the RX-8 is easy.
My oil was somewhere between black and olive green, looked bad, so I'm glad I changed it. Now I'll probably change it at 2k mi too, because of the dirty filter.
Access to the filter is not bad, but you have very little room to get leverage, so I cant remove it. It's a heck of a lot easier to get to the filter than in my miata, which requires a bit more limb contortion to get to. Getting the oil pan bolt on the RX-8 is easy.
My oil was somewhere between black and olive green, looked bad, so I'm glad I changed it. Now I'll probably change it at 2k mi too, because of the dirty filter.
#181
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I would like to thank everyone who contributed to this thread! With your great instructions, changing the oil on the 8 for the first time was a piece of cake!!
I put the car on ramps (one of the benefits of no body kit
). I slapped on a PurOne PL14612, and fed her some Castrol GTX 5W20. Removing the filter was not too hard (it wasn't torqued to death), but I did spill some oil out of it, even though I had punctured the top first.
For fillup, I first poured half a quart and let it drain back out, to try and some more of the old oil outta there. Put the drain plug back in (with a gasket from Advanced Auto Parts that has a slightly larger OD than what was on there previously... not a big deal, the ID is the same), then poured the rest of that bottle, and 3 more. Check the oil level, about 4/5 of the way up the dipstick. Open up the 5th bottle, pour about 1/4qt, measure again and it's spot on. Thanks to whoever it was that posted the diagram about how the dipstick scale is not linear.
Cap back on, let her idle.. No leaks. Pack everything up, put the old oil in a gallon water jug, and off to AAP again to have it recycled. On the way back, I test it out a little, and I can feel just how much more eager she is to rev!!
Now, I have a couple questions:
1) For those of you that do track days / autocross / drive like crazy around town. How often do you change your oil?
2) Where do you buy oil? Online?
The GTX was over 3$/qt at AAP / Pepboys etc. Is this a decent price? Can it be gotten cheaper? (Fortunately for me, they only had 3 bottles of 5W20 left, so the guy at the counter just gave me two more out of his trunk - they "gey it for free" ... Thanks!).
Peace,
-D
I put the car on ramps (one of the benefits of no body kit
![Wink](https://www.rx8club.com/images/smilies/wink.gif)
For fillup, I first poured half a quart and let it drain back out, to try and some more of the old oil outta there. Put the drain plug back in (with a gasket from Advanced Auto Parts that has a slightly larger OD than what was on there previously... not a big deal, the ID is the same), then poured the rest of that bottle, and 3 more. Check the oil level, about 4/5 of the way up the dipstick. Open up the 5th bottle, pour about 1/4qt, measure again and it's spot on. Thanks to whoever it was that posted the diagram about how the dipstick scale is not linear.
Cap back on, let her idle.. No leaks. Pack everything up, put the old oil in a gallon water jug, and off to AAP again to have it recycled. On the way back, I test it out a little, and I can feel just how much more eager she is to rev!!
![Rock](https://www.rx8club.com/images/smilies/rock.gif)
Now, I have a couple questions:
1) For those of you that do track days / autocross / drive like crazy around town. How often do you change your oil?
2) Where do you buy oil? Online?
The GTX was over 3$/qt at AAP / Pepboys etc. Is this a decent price? Can it be gotten cheaper? (Fortunately for me, they only had 3 bottles of 5W20 left, so the guy at the counter just gave me two more out of his trunk - they "gey it for free" ... Thanks!).
Peace,
-D
#182
Registered
Pep Boys regularly has specials on Castrol in southern PA. Price after rebate is $1.59 per qt. Watch the sunday paper inserts for their fliers. Or check in at a store periodically.
#184
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Originally Posted by ZoomZoomH
Wal-mart/Wally World usually have Castrol GTX in 5qt jugs for about $10, best price I can find w/o using any rebates.
personally i use Motorcraft 5w20 semi-syn, same price as GTX in a 5qt jug, but with proven higher grade base oil (grp III + II)
personally i use Motorcraft 5w20 semi-syn, same price as GTX in a 5qt jug, but with proven higher grade base oil (grp III + II)
Someone mentioned on here that the storage thingie that opens into the trunk happens to be the perfect size for a 1qt oil container. I would like to add to that - it fits perfectly, a 1qt bottle, a half-full roll of paper towels, and a funnel (one of the long blue ones from Pepboys)
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So does anyone order oil online? I guess 2$/qt is good enough.. Although with the filter, that adds up to almost 20 bucks per oil change. Still better than taking it to Jiffy Lube. I would rather get
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#185
Guns, God, and Country
Let me add to this thread by stating that I wish someone would add suregrip to another filter besides Fram. I was using the Frame on my old engine every other oil change (the mobil 1 filter was getting expensive) and it was a damn cinch to get of compared to the Mobil1. Now with my new engine I decided to just use good ol' GTX 5W20 and a WIX filter. I have heard good things about WIX filters but what do you guys think?
#187
afaik Wix makes good filters. Why dont you guys just use the Mazda filters? Even at the walmart sized dealer that I buy filters from they are only $6.50. Then you have no problems with mazda in the future either?
I dont think any of these filters is any better than the oem.
I change my filter EVERY oil change. Why not?
I dont think any of these filters is any better than the oem.
I change my filter EVERY oil change. Why not?
#188
Mulligan User
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^yes Mazda OEM filter is quite good, that's all i use
I actually bought a 10-pack special from Rosenthal Mazda Arlington for $52.50, they're a very good vendor on the forum and happen to be 20 minutes from my work, so I go there to pick up stuff at their internet price A LOT
I actually bought a 10-pack special from Rosenthal Mazda Arlington for $52.50, they're a very good vendor on the forum and happen to be 20 minutes from my work, so I go there to pick up stuff at their internet price A LOT
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#190
Mulligan User
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Originally Posted by clarencel
Whats the OEM part no for the Mazda oil filter?
don't know the part # off my head, but it's the one ALL older Mazda 4cyls and rotaries use.
#191
Originally Posted by KimiFelipe
I changed my oil this weekend for the first time at 960 mi. It was a piece of cake . . . except that some gorilla cranked the oil filter in place way too hard and I could not get it to budge. I tried both hands, with and without gloves, a strap wrench and the size F filter wrench. Nothing budged it. I have to take it to the dealer now because the outside filter casing is somewhat mangled. No leak, but I dont want to push it.
Access to the filter is not bad, but you have very little room to get leverage, so I cant remove it. It's a heck of a lot easier to get to the filter than in my miata, which requires a bit more limb contortion to get to. Getting the oil pan bolt on the RX-8 is easy.
My oil was somewhere between black and olive green, looked bad, so I'm glad I changed it. Now I'll probably change it at 2k mi too, because of the dirty filter.
Access to the filter is not bad, but you have very little room to get leverage, so I cant remove it. It's a heck of a lot easier to get to the filter than in my miata, which requires a bit more limb contortion to get to. Getting the oil pan bolt on the RX-8 is easy.
My oil was somewhere between black and olive green, looked bad, so I'm glad I changed it. Now I'll probably change it at 2k mi too, because of the dirty filter.
They told us that mazda uses some sort of vacuum sealing process at the factory - presumably after the engine is finished they do a pressure leak test. The filter overtightening is a common problem.
#192
User and Abuser
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Just did my first oil change and it was a snap. I didn't even need an oil filter wrench or jack at all. Socket wrench and oil pan. Thats it. Just reached down there and started budging the filter little by little until it started really unscrewing. 25-30 minutes tops. Including waiting for all the oil to drain.... pretty good for no lift and never even touching an RX8 before.
#193
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I forgot to post here again...da-hur
I had my first oil change with the aformentioned Fumoto valve...and all I can say is WELL WORTH IT!
I didn't even need to turn the wheel to get under it, MUCH LESS put it on ramps! I've never been so pleased with such a simple little investment! Highly recomment it...even over SureDrain, mostly because of it's lack of ANY tools to be needed.
I think i've FINALLY figured out the trick to getting the filter off without getting your engine soaked in oil. As others have said, wrap a towel or something that can absorb the oil around the filter and loosen it up. Right before it comes off, allow the towel to absorb a great amount of the oil. Poking a hole or not, you WILL have some oil that still comes out.
After that it's simple...carefully removed the oil-soaked towel, then remove the filter and voala! simple oil change in less than 15 minutes!
I couldn't have been more pleased.
I had my first oil change with the aformentioned Fumoto valve...and all I can say is WELL WORTH IT!
I didn't even need to turn the wheel to get under it, MUCH LESS put it on ramps! I've never been so pleased with such a simple little investment! Highly recomment it...even over SureDrain, mostly because of it's lack of ANY tools to be needed.
I think i've FINALLY figured out the trick to getting the filter off without getting your engine soaked in oil. As others have said, wrap a towel or something that can absorb the oil around the filter and loosen it up. Right before it comes off, allow the towel to absorb a great amount of the oil. Poking a hole or not, you WILL have some oil that still comes out.
After that it's simple...carefully removed the oil-soaked towel, then remove the filter and voala! simple oil change in less than 15 minutes!
I couldn't have been more pleased.
#194
I did an oil change on my 07 rx8 yesterday, the second in the cars life, at 7000 miles. The filter is in an...odd position, but I managed to twist it just enough to get it going barehanded. I let it cool for about 30 minutes, to let the oil settle in the pan as well. My arms are long enough (I'm 6'3") that if I just lay on my back I can look through the wheel spokes and reach the drain plug with my right arm extended. THe bolt came off smooothly and easily, along with the crush ring, which I reused, but will replace at 10k miles along with a magnetic (or more magnetic I should say) drain plug. Filled up with 3.7-4qt's of castrol 20 weight and it settled just at the top of the 'full' dipstick mark.
I've never had a car where fresh oil makes so much difference in the sound and vibration of the engine, its crazy. I drove to Montreal on the last batch, but damn, it feels like I poured melted butter in there.![Rofl](https://www.rx8club.com/images/smilies/rofl.gif)
oh yah, rotated all four tires, which was ******* fun. not.
I've never had a car where fresh oil makes so much difference in the sound and vibration of the engine, its crazy. I drove to Montreal on the last batch, but damn, it feels like I poured melted butter in there.
![Rofl](https://www.rx8club.com/images/smilies/rofl.gif)
oh yah, rotated all four tires, which was ******* fun. not.
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#196
Registered
HINT: If you raise the left side of the car (or lower the right side of the car when the wheel is off) you will drain nearly an additional qt of oil from the engine. More oil out=more fresh oil in, and when the total capacity of the system is about 7 qts, it's important to get as much old oil out as reasonably possible.
#197
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HINT: If you raise the left side of the car (or lower the right side of the car when the wheel is off) you will drain nearly an additional qt of oil from the engine. More oil out=more fresh oil in, and when the total capacity of the system is about 7 qts, it's important to get as much old oil out as reasonably possible.
I have only used OEM filters and change them every time... i think wix is good too though
#198
I used the Mobil1 110 filter, not the 101. Next time, I will jack up, or park on a steep driveway on the left side to get a full 5 quarts. Since that is the amount in the Castrol jug to begin with.
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