I'm in NJ, and the dealer insists the service interval is 3,750 mi.

According to the owner manual if I drive the car in ideal conditions, the car gets serviced under Schedule 1 every 7,500 mi - and if I operate the car in an environment that has any one of a dozen conditions (hot outside, cold outside, short drives, dusty, etc, etc) then I'm supposed to observe Schedule 2 every 5,000 miles.

I'm using the car normally. Is there any reason (other than enriching the dealer) that I should be servicing the car any more frequently than Schedule 2 in the Owner Manual?

Thanks.

 

I would change your oil every 3k miles. And also check your oil level every other gas fill-up since the rx8 burns oil. I carry a qt of oil in the trunk. Listen to your dealer on this one

 

Most of us here go along with 3000 mile oil changes. I do. My dealer also does, even during the first two years when oil changes were on them.

There is a counter-philosophy that the 7500 mile changes most car makers recommend are adequate, and that more frequent changes are a myth perpetrated on the public by oil companies and environmentally irresponsible accomplices.

Ken

 

Oil lasts virtually forever, but the detergents in the oil break down. 3000-5000 mile intervals for oil changes is about right, any longer than that and you lessen the protection to the internal components of the engine…(depending on driving condition....if you are hard on the car- change every 3k...otherwise you can stretch it longer)

The more and the bigger changes of temperature that oil goes through - the faster it brakes down.


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Go with 5w-30 oil - it is thicker when fully warmed up - provides better protection, longer life, and cooling as oppose to 5w-20

 

One thing we never talk about on here much is the other end of that schedule the amount of time. My days of a thousand a week are gone (with my back now I can't imagine it). How much time should I wait between changes....3 mo....6 mo???

 

Six months.

Ken

 

Thats what I use.....6 mos is what Mazda says.

 

Well at 3750 mile intervals.............

The dealer can save you from blowing up your motor.

By that time you may be two quarts low on oil.

A lot of people don't check the oil often enough and destroy the engine.

Until they know you are not an idiot, the dealer advises 3750 oil change.

While I agree on 5-6k for a piston engine...... the RX8 is different.

You can not change all the oil. two quarts are in the oil coolers and lines.

Hence you are only flushing your system at each interval.

I recomend 3k mile oil changes for this reason.