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Oil light on 800 miles before oil change

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Old 10-20-2010, 02:12 PM
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Oil light on 800 miles before oil change

Is it normal for the oil light to come on 800 miles before my next oil change on an 07? I am using regular 5w20 oil and I am not driving hard.
Old 10-20-2010, 02:33 PM
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It would be nice if you told use how many miles you've driven before the light came on. I can speculate that the mileage you've driven since your last oil change is 2200. Is this correct?
The RX8 typicaly uses a qt every 3000 miles. This is just an average. Factors such as driving habits, road type driven (freeway/city) and engine rpm range average can make a difference in the oil consumption.
Old 10-20-2010, 02:35 PM
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Do you check the oil every other fill up? How many fillups since the last oil change?
Old 10-20-2010, 02:36 PM
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^^ Sounds like you arent checking your oil levels regularly
Old 10-20-2010, 02:42 PM
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^^^Or at all, the oil light shouldn't 'normally' turn on. When that light comes on it indicates dangerously low oil pressure, meaning your engine isn't being cooled or lubed as it should.
Old 10-20-2010, 02:48 PM
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Originally Posted by bose
^^^Or at all, the oil light shouldn't 'normally' turn on. When that light comes on it indicates dangerously low oil pressure, meaning your engine isn't being cooled or lubed as it should.
Not sure that is exactly true. The oil light can come on prior to any change in oil pressure (measured at the filter) on the RX8. On other, cars that can be true. Definitely means your low on oil (or forgot to add that last quart, d'oh!)
Old 10-20-2010, 02:51 PM
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There is also an oil level sensor in the oil pan guys. Low oil level,, light comes on.
What oil change schedule are you using? 3000 miles or 5000 miles?
Old 10-20-2010, 03:39 PM
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I am sorry I am at work so I was rushing. I should have added that it was low and I had to add a quart and a half. Yes I am an idiot and have not checked it for a long time, I am using every 3000 miles. But is it normal for it to use that much oil? Do you normally check it after every fillup?

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Old 10-20-2010, 03:48 PM
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Originally Posted by Kmf726
I am sorry I am at work so I was rushing. I should have added that it was low and I had to add a quart and a half. Yes I am an idiot and have not checked it for a long time, I am using every 3000 miles. But is it normal for it to use that much oil? Do you normally check it after every fillup?
yes and yes
Old 10-20-2010, 03:49 PM
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Old 10-20-2010, 03:52 PM
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Okay thank you very much.
Old 10-20-2010, 03:54 PM
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i thought it was a quart every 1000.
Old 10-20-2010, 04:37 PM
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Would it be better to run with 5w30 oil instead? Would it not use as much because of the thicker oil?
Old 10-20-2010, 04:55 PM
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I didn't know it was a level sensor, learn something new every day.

I use 5w30 just for more protection/cooling, it won't use less really. Our engines are design to use a quart or so in between oil changes.
Old 10-20-2010, 05:11 PM
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Originally Posted by Kmf726
Would it be better to run with 5w30 oil instead? Would it not use as much because of the thicker oil?
Wrong thought process here. First you need to understand why a rotary engine requires so much oil before you start trying to figure out how to use less. Second you need to read up and understand what reasons one might have for running a heavier or lighter weight of oil. Randomly changing weights without understanding the why could put you in some trouble.

And just for comparison, with my MM tune I am using 1qt per 1,000 miles.
Old 10-20-2010, 05:26 PM
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is your's a 04 ? thats the main question......04 have faulty oil pan sensors
Old 10-20-2010, 05:38 PM
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He said it was an 07 in his original post.
Old 10-20-2010, 06:08 PM
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Old 10-20-2010, 06:44 PM
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my bad ...missed that part
Originally Posted by DeViLbOi
He said it was an 07 in his original post.
Old 10-20-2010, 07:23 PM
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my 04 uses 1qt every 1-1.5k still on factory settings. I use 5-30w and premix with amsoil and lucas UCL. may have mm change the omp settings now that im going to the sohn adapter but i will not stop premix
Old 10-20-2010, 07:30 PM
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Originally Posted by deadphoenix52
i thought it was a quart every 1000.
You and I must have similar driving habits.
Old 10-21-2010, 02:02 AM
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Originally Posted by Kmf726
I am sorry I am at work so I was rushing. I should have added that it was low and I had to add a quart and a half. Yes I am an idiot and have not checked it for a long time, I am using every 3000 miles. But is it normal for it to use that much oil? Do you normally check it after every fillup?
I use my "B" trip odometer and check / add oil every 1000 miles, although it has never needed more than a third of a quart over that interval.
Old 10-21-2010, 02:22 AM
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Do your car a favor, sell it
Old 10-21-2010, 04:17 AM
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Does no one lift the hood and check the oil regularly , sheesh, Im glad I have a sign in the bathroom to remind to wipe !
Old 10-21-2010, 04:31 AM
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Originally Posted by FastFreddy61
Does no one lift the hood and check the oil regularly , sheesh, Im glad I have a sign in the bathroom to remind to wipe !
Considering that we have diy threads about oil, fluid and spark plug changes... People don't like to read the f****n manual nowadays, let alone the workshop one.
I think that anybody with an IQ of 1 or above would see the oil light, take the owners manual and read. There should be something in it about checking the oil level every now and then -> "Oh **** i never did it, of course it is low!"


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