I have always wanted an RX ever since I drove one at 18. Now i'm 29 and found an RX8 that I can play around with. I have looked over these forums for a couple weeks now and have good idea of what i'm dealing with.

The car im getting is a 2004 RX8 Touring, manufactured in 08/03. It did not have the 4206F recall done to it. I told them I need that done before I drive off with it. So its at the mazda dealership right now getting some love. I did test drive it and it drove very smooth, as to power, im not sure if it was weak or not, it reved very smoothly up to the 7-8k's. Did not go any higher, was scared =p. Any suggestions from you guys would help too since its been about 2 years after the recall has been done and if it affects anything else other than the cat/engine.

As for oil I know 5w20 is what they recommend but im here in East Texas and it gets steaming hot, was thinking about going 5w30 like some of you or maybe 5w40?

Thanks for all the great info here and I'll post some pics after I get her.

Doug

 

5w20 is what I use, it burns through it so I'm always adding more. Seems fine, though some people will tell you 10w30.

Don't be afraid to rev - the car likes it rough!

Just make sure to do a full inspection on the car, don't want to discover an oil leak or a gas leak or that the water pump is bad, or that you need a new engine because the compression is low. Better to know up front, than to find out there's a lot of work to be done and you end up paying much more for it than what you originally had calculated.

 

congrats and welcome to the club.use the search option it comes in handy when you are new and will possibly solve some if not all of you questions before going to far,

 

NICE! Enjoy! I have an 04 and love it, no engine problems. There's members rolling around with well over 100K on their 04's. Treat it right and have fun.

 

I'm in Florida so we get nearly the same heat here, I used to have to fill up on oil every thousand miles (oil light comes on) with 5w20, I've since put synthetic 5w30 and I've put 1,500miles since the oil change and it's still happy, so you may want to use something heavier than 5w20

 

PLEASE dont be afraid to redline, HIT that 9K!!!

 

you drove an rx8 11 years ago?

 

He never said RX8

 

Congrats and Welcome!
Also, if you don't hear the beep, you've suffered premature-shift-ulation.

 

He said RX, more than likely a first or second gen RX-7. I'm kinda curious what he drove before so he can compare the two new for new!

 

FAIL... learn to read

Yeah I have an '04 and have had ZERO problems as well. I use 5W30 Castrol GTX for my baby and live in a slightly cooler environment than you. You could use 10w30

 

It was a 1990 RX7 FC I believe, White. The RX8 I know handles better and has more power, course this was 11 years of time that has passed. I just cant wait to get drivin, redline a day, still scary to me but I'll get use to it im sure .

Thanks for the info on the oil, I think ill try 5w30 first and see how that goes. This is my 2nd wife, dont think my 1st one realizes what she is getting into.

 

Just tell her that she can pose for pictures in front of your other wife (car)

 

04 with no problems here...just redline...I use 5W30 RP oil in mine.

 

The RX-8 is like one of those weird girlfriends.

**** her hard, but outside of *******, treat her well.

That's my current philosophy anyway. On the track, I'll drive and rev the engine till it starts getting pissy at me, then I'll drive home, do all the proper maintenance work, etc..

 

If you have warranty, you might not want to do 5w30 just yet.

Read around the forum. You'll find some people sticking with 5w20, people going synthetic, people using 5w30, and engine builders who recommend 10w30.

 

I don't know that that's the best analogy

 

Oh, I *know* it is.

 

im going to throw my recommendation for 5w-30 into the hat.

or anything thicker than the water-like 5w-20.

 

REDLINE the F**K out of this machine that is what it loves. occasionally I notice the beep that comes through the sound of my engine and exhaust i think its 8500 rpm. No matter what kind of oil you choose to use do yourself a favor and check it more often especially if you drive it hard. Good luck and enjoy

 

college has taught me so much