I have a '04 RX-8 that I have owned for just under a year. I went to check the oil yesterday and found that it was a funky milky white color. Now I don't know about rotaries, but thats a serious panic attack on any other engine. Is this "normal" with a rotary?
I seem to be putting alot of engin coolant in it over time too. Like maybe I have a cracked block leaking engine coolant into the oil...?
Thanks!

 

See "sticky" in issues/problems about the gunk on the dipstick in cold weather. It doesn't cause any problem other than making it hard to read the oil level. Mine does the same, I could not see taking it in to have the retro-fit. Plenty of reading there and see the finishlineperformance.com website for the RX-8 TSBs.

Not sure what you consider a lot of coolant, that may be worth checking into.

 

Thanks for the redirect!
Lots of coolant would be about a gallon in 8 months. Seems like alot as I have never had to add coolant to other cars I've owned; but the RX-8 seems to like eating fluids as a common habit.

 

any coolant consumption is too much. a gallon is something you should get checked ASAP.

the milky oil seems to be because the oil doesn't get hot enough to boil the water condensation out when the ambients drop. That's the price of having 2 large oil coolers hanging off the front end. there are work arounds for it. I don't particularly like water in my oil either.

In your case some of the foamy oil *may* be due to coolant. What does the oil (on the dipstick) smell like?

 

It should not be using coolant. Are you sure you're not overfilling it, with the excess being blown out as overflow?

Ken

 

I had the same problem, I took it to my Mazda dealer with this TSB and they fixed it for free since I was still under warranty
http://www.finishlineperformance.com...0-06-1664A.pdf

 

https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-multimedia-photo-gallery-6/milky-oil-dipstick-108331/

 

Search keyword : Foam Oil Dip Stick

In Section = Issue and Problems

Results = TONS

3 Post newbie dunno how to search ? You think you're cute by putting Utada's pic ?

You dont even know how to check your coolant, god, go RTFM or something.

 

Same here, complained about the problem and they installed the new breathing system.

 

As discussed this cold weather moisture condensation in the oil is not a grave concern, but there is a breather available and you should get it installed.

Your '8 is definitely using too much coolant. Check carefully for any leaks on the ground where you park. And don't overfill the expansion (aka overflow) container. The coolant, obviously, needs room to expand.

 

yea i had the foamy oil to scared me change your oil

 

To me the foaming oil was not a big issue but the installation of the new breathing system is. What I am worried about is my intake system carbon locking up and costing me $2,000 for a new one later on. I believe a lot of this contamination that ends up locking up the intake system was introduced by the the engine venting which enters the induction before the Intake valving system. The new breather has it entering after this system so there is less contamination of the intake values(vales in the variable intake system).

This is why I say get it done even if the foaming is not a big issue.

 

So... cracked block, leaked into engin... supposedly covered under warranty.
We'll see when I get my car back next month...

and yes, Utada is the **** hamburger boy...

 

U damn right nub, Utada is the ****.

Is that your butt ? cuz its butt ugly.