Car has 67K.

In the last 3K miles, the oil light has been coming on several times without the oil level actually being low. The first time it was when it was 0.5qts below full (which is not low).

Yesterday, I filled it up to full, it was 1qt low. This morning after driving to work on the highway, I parked at Dunkin Donuts on a slight sideways incline (so car was tilted a bit to the left). When I came back to the car and started it, the oil light went on with several beeps! I was like, oh ****, did I just loose all my oil? Checked the oil level and it was full. I began driving and as soon as I pulled onto the road, the level light went away. It stayed off until I parked at work at a slight forward incline. It was off when I shut the car off, but I restarted the car for ***** and giggles and the oil level light came on (w/o any beeps this time).

Is it possible that the oil level sensor is bad? I hope that's the only thing it measures and that there isn't any other problem.

Or is maybe the sensor connector loose? (but wouldn't that manifest itself as a continuous oil level low light? or a CEL if it can't talk to the sensor?)

I have no CELs and the dummy oil pressure gauge never leaves the center (so I know the oil pressure isn't critically low or something).

 

Astral,
Go to the Rosenthal Mazda website. finishlineperformance there is a TSB for Oil light on when oil not low near the bottom of the RX8 bulletins. You've had yours for a while, so likely your VIN is in the TSB. Calls for oil pan replacement. My 8 was manufactured just after the date. Hope this helps.

 

SilverStreak, thanks, I looked at it, but it only applies to 2004 model year RX-8s and mine is 2005.

I also wonder, how does the PCM determine whether to beep alongside the oil level light or not? Based on the service manual, it seems that the oil level switch is just that: voltage less than 1.0V if oil level above dipstick L, full B+ voltage if below. So what makes it beep?

 

Ahh, should have known that you would be up on the TSBs. Good question on the beep though, I looked at my service manual and can't find anything that describes it, I can't see how it would be related to the oil pressure sensor. If the light comes on when full, the pressure wouldn't be low. Teknics the Mazda Tech that visits the site, in the NE Forum, may want to drop him a PM.

 

The beeping was my TPMS sensor. Nail in right rear tire. I guess I was used to seeing the TPMS sensor on when I ride on winter tires, and so I kind of ignored it even though it stayed on.

Right rear tire was at 24.5psi, nail in tire :/

Oh well.

This means that the oil level sensor is merely being random (so maybe it is a loose connector) and there is no "really low beep" or anything like that.

 

I know someone that has a 05 and has the same light on and the Engine light on too! Told her to take it in to the dealer. Should be a old *** TSB

 

Well, from my experience with a couple of nails the TPMS beep only happens after you first start up once it reads the pressures it beeps when the light first comes on. After that the light just stays on until next time you shut down. Haven't had the oil light come on, so I don't know if it has an audible warning or not.

Regarding the oil light on when the level is OK, if you don't have the 04 model then it must be a sensor error/loose wire. PIA though, especially if it comes on on the highway. Even if you just checked the oil, you still have to get nervous when it comes on, I'd want to pull right over and check.

Lately, I've been getting the low coolant light on then off after a few minutes. From what I've read here, I may try pulling the tank and cleaning it. If that doesn't work, I'll disconnect and keep a check on the coolant level myself.

 

I've had the oil pan silicone re-sealed (the old silicone was chipping away and there was a very slow oil seep starting), and while at it, the tech cleaned any gunk he saw from the bottom of the pan (the oil level sensor is actually right in the middle). I haven't had the light go on for several days now. Hopefully that fixes it, between the gunk cleaning as well as a disconnect/reconnect of the oil level switch.

So there is no audible warning for the oil level light, it's just that I had a TPMS thing happen at the same time.

 

Nope, just the TPM

 

My TPM light is always on due to my after market wheels.

 

There is a difference in that if you have aftermarket wheels, the TPMS light will be flashing after 10 minutes of driving or so. In my case, the TPMS light went on solid and beeped 3-4 times.