ask for the empty oil containers next time. if they dont stock 5w-20 they'll have to get it somewhere else.

 

Definately call Mazda about this and see what they can do for you!

Most dealers will stock drums of oil as it cheaper. Most of them have not bought 5w-20 in any quantity yet.

That's probably why the dealer is demanding more money, but the owners manual is the bible of service for the consumer

 

I gave my car it's first oil change at 3000 miles. The 5w20 I drained out couldn't even cling to the sides of a clear plastic container. It had the viscosity of somthing like milk. I will not be using 5w20 ever.

 

If you decide to go synth (I did, with AMSOIL XL-7500 5w-20), you should probably wait until you put some miles on the car. I'd do one oil change with dino, and the next one synth. I just used 5w-20, which is what Mazda recommends.

 

I've been to my local store a few times now and want to be certain before topping off my oil. I now have about 1300 miles and its time to add some. I've seen Castrol 5w-20 (SAE). I do not know what the SAE and have been thinking about it with no success. What is the exact type of oil everyone is using. I understand people will and are using different types but I'd like to know. I know there are several other threads about this but I couldnt find a solid answer. Maybe there is not one. Thanks.

 

SAE = Society of Automotive Engineers.

They establish a blue million standards for materials used in cars, including lubricants. The Castrol 5W-20 meets the SAE oil standard called for in your RX-8 owners manual. I personally bought a case of Motorcraft semi-synthetic 5W-20 and am not gonna agonize over oil choices- I'm just going to change it every 1,500 miles or so.

 

Hi KFence27,

I use Castrol 5W-20 (silver/grey top).

Here's a link explaining the markings on a motor oil label:
http://www.chevron.com/prodserv/nafl...ls.shtm#choose

Happy New Year,
rx8cited

 

Thanks a lot for the link, helped out. Theres so much to learn in this forum my head is spinning, but its all good stuff.

 

Hey all,

I heard that the RX-8 (which I should be getting around the 14th) consumes a large amount of oil because of the wankel engine. But I wanted to know your take on things?

Does it need lots of oil..and how much..and how many times per say.month or week. Thanks all!

CM

 

More oil the harder you drive.
If you drive it normal, then maybe 1/2 qt or much less a month.

I've done track days and have consumed a quart in the daily sessions

It's simple, check the oil often, not a big deal!

 

Nice to see you referred to the 8 "consuming" oil. Some people have been using the word "burn," which gives the wrong impression since the RENESIS is designed to use the oil in the combustion cycle.

 

It's not a function of calendar days, but miles and how hard you drive. The highest consumption I've heard of is around 1 quart per 1000 miles, many are finding that they only have to add 1 quart every 1500, 2000 or more miles.

Regards,
Gordon

 

2000 per quart seems about right. But then what I dont get is why the oil gets black so quickly. After a week of driving after doin an oil change. The oil gets black. Does it have to do with the oil being burned?

 

In my 8 (231CV European version)

2.560 km --> 0,2 liters of oil

I think this is not a big consumption

 

I must drive like a wimp, I just added my first quart at 2,600.

 

You are not changing all of the oil - the oil in the coolers is still old oil. There are 7.1qts total hiding somewhere in the system - the most I've been able to drain is about 4 3/4.

 

I get an oil change every 5000 (recommended interval under harsh conditions; normal interval is 7500 miles.) I add one quart between each oil change. It's not that bad.

 

hi pr0ber,

FWIW, I got the same story from a local Mazda service department. He said the ticket will say 10w30 regardless of which oil they put in the car.

regards,
rx8cited

 

I don't want to have to make an appointment at the dealership to get an oil change. Can I go to oil change places??? And will they have the 5w20 oil as well as the oil filter that our cars require? and last is the oil change on this car any different from any other car...by that I mean do we have to drain the oil coolers as well.... these are questions that I want to make sure I get answered before I go to my local shop.

 

The first shop I stopped at wouldn't touch my car because it's not in their computer. The second shop made some phone calls and found the right filter. Unfortunately, they did use 5W30. I'm going to leave it in untill I get to 3K miles. I decided to change the oil at 1K after speaking with some other local owners. When I go back, they'll get the viscocity right, and use synthetic as well.

 

your going synthetic? I thought that wasnt a good idea?

 

Synthetic is all the german dealers use.... it is a Guinuine Mazda Synthetic Oil

 

I had an idea and I don't what it would accomplish but since I've got all this extra motor oil that I'm not going to use, could I use it to flush out the old oil?

We know there are about 7 quarts in the engine but only about 4 come out when you drain the oil pan. If I leave the oil pan plug off and pour in a few quarts, do those quarts mix with the 3 old quarts or so that do not drain? Or do those "flush" quarts go straight through to the oil pan and do not mix with the oil still in the engine? The idea is to get as much new oil in the engine as I can. The way we change oil now we're only getting about 60% new oil and 40% old oil is still in the engine.

 

No, tommy, the new oil would come right out of the plug hole.

The 'old' oil has been pumped into the coolers, and hoses, and a fair bit sits INSIDE the rotors, (they are hollow) so it will never drain out.

If you put the plug back in THEN add 4 jugs of new, you could start the engine, and it would all circulate and mix. Then you could drain it and get some of the 'old' stuff out.

A bit wasteful, but if like you say, the oil is just going to waste anyway, then you can flush it like that.
.
.
.
doc

 

Doctor I wasnt the one that asked the question, but thanks for the explanation anyway