Hey guys,
I am buying a 2004 RX-8 this week that has 100k miles on it, but an engine swap due to recall at 50k miles. My main question is that I have read that Mazda recommends 5W-30 in the Renesis engine in all countries other than the US, I have also read some "conspiracy theories" saying Mazda only makes people put 5W-20 in US engines to make sure they break down earlier.

With this car being out of warranty, should I put 5W-20 or 5W-30 in it? I want to preserve the life of this engine as long as I can because its going to be my main car and i would hate for it to blow up or break down in like 2 or 3 years and feel like I wasted the money that I am spending buying it.

Thanks guys!

-Shane

 

Here it comes......

 

read the oil/premix sticky.
After that, click the google link in my sig to learn to better search the forums

 

Oh geeeeeze....not another one...

 

Where did you read that? Specific links, please.

Yes. Although there are some who would suggest 10w40 or 0w40 or other weights.

Ken

 

Wow... You guys are really nice around here! Anyway, heres the link where the guy rants about Mazda being the devil...

http://forums.automotive.com/70/6210...lem/index.html

I was just wondering what you guys personally would do, I'll look at the stickied post and see what I can learn.

 

Personally, I use 10w-30...but you're safe with 5w-30 as well.

 

All right, I think I'll try the 5W-30 and maybe add some pre-mix from time to time...

 

As I've said before, my hunch is that it's far more important that you change oil every 3-4 months or 3-4K miles, check the level every other fill-up and add oil, if necessary, to keep it near full on the dipstick.

I know it's a radical opinion around here, but I believe the difference between 5W-20 and 5W-30 is negligible. Much ado about nothing.

 

Holy god...I change mine about every 3 to 4 weeks...lol...but then again, I drive about 800 miles per week.

 

I found this somewhere on here...

I use 10w-40 myself.

 

I change it once a year or 5k miles, and the lab tests say the silicone ( additive and ground up dirt ) is low enough to go further. The virgin oil Mobil 1 0w40 has 3 - 4 ppm silicone, and 12-15 ppm is considered the limit, so at 10 ppm @ 5100 miles that means 7 ppm dirt, and I could go twice as far to 10k miles before the oil is too dirty to run. I also live in West Texas that has had major construction and blowing sand for the 4.5 years I've had the 8; the air filtration is very good.

One characteristic of modern oils is that they "condition" the metal somewhat, so excessive changing can be corroding the very metal you don't want to wear.

Come and get me!

 

Who makes a 0w-50? That is what you really want.

 

I assure you... You're not the only one with that opinion.

Now, let's move on to a more urgent topic... Which brand of oil is best? (LOL!)

 

Eneos makes it.

Mobil1 has it too, but they label it as their racing oil

 

That's the usual rant about 5w20 being specified to help meet CAFE...not at all the way you described it in your first post.

The Australian manual page that 1.3_LittersOfFurry posted gives the full story. Almost any grade of oil will work, with some limits if you're in the tropics or the arctic. There are some versions of the shop manual that list all of those grades of oil without even specifying temperature ranges.

IMHO, engine failures are from improper assembly and from issues regarding oil injection and carbon buildup, rather than oil weight. But I'm not an expert - I've reached that opinion by digesting stuff I've read on this site.

Personally, I get my changes done at the dealer, who uses 5w20.

Ken

 

YES, any grade of oil will do I prefer 10W40, you can even use 20W50...WHAT! shock Horror

 

Clearance is very important on this engine, that's also why over time, pathetic oil like 5w20 is like poison to this engine. It will work, even olive oil will work, not ideal, thats all.

 

I'd love to read the proposed business model for THAT scenario...
Seriously - you really need to ask about this?

 

http://www.mobiloil.com/USA-English/...ing_0W-50.aspx
http://www.eneos.us/product/2

 

I'm going out on a limb and concluding that 5W30 is ok.

 

Since no one said yet go for 10w60. I did.

 

Hard to get w60 oil in the us, even tho rest of the world use them everyday.

 

Thanks for all of the great replies guys, I appreciate all of the input!

 

True. I order mine from saferacer.com for 10.95/qrt and free shipping on orders over 100$US. Certainly not as easy as stopping by a mart on the way home from work though.