I've heard it mentioned that some of the early 8's shipped witht he wrong dipstick and others had the oilpan recalled. I checked www.nhtsa.gov and I saw no recalls. Anyone know what the deal is?

Not exactly a recall, but a technical service bulletin. Depending on your VIN or if you get false low oil lights, take the car in and they will swap the oil pan. Don't know about the dipstick; I think that was a rumor when our first-increment cars were delayed at the POE.

what if your VIN is affected but the light never has gone on?

The bad oil pans had faulty baffles. So at highway speeds over extended time, the oil would move to the back of the pan, thus triggering a low oil light. If your light hasn't come on, you either don't have the bad pan or just haven't spent enough time at higher speeds. The only time I got mine was after a few hours on the interstate.

Um, if your VIN is covered by the TSB, then you're eligible to go and have the condition corrected. There's no "burden of proof" that you have to satisfy. You're frankly better off having the situation corrected since your car is recorded by Mazda as having been seen for the TSB and a savvy buyer several years down the line will check to see if a particular car of interest has had all the relevant TSBs performed.

I think he said "or" so if your VIN matches, bring it in.

Correct me if I'm wrong.

All the early RX-8 owner exchanged the oilpan at mazda Dealer, in JAPAN.
Of course, cost free for them.
But, Mazda didn't said words "recall".

The reason of the exchange is for sounding the warning which was sometimes wrong in the oil temperature sensor.
I don't have that experience yet, But I will exchange them next month.

Thanks
EAST MOON

Originally posted by TheColonel
I think he said "or" so if your VIN matches, bring it in.

Correct me if I'm wrong.

he did and you are correct. i was just verifying. i will be bringing mine in.

Had my oilpan on order and just had it switched out today.

Mine still needs it, but my dealer apparently didn't understand what I was telling them when I explained what was going on. I'll try again at 8k miles when I take it in.

Mine has been done, and I have read other posts about it being changed out. Got an oil light on the freeway after about an hour of driving. My VIN is 6557 if that helps anyone.

Check this out. I got that low oil light at high apeeds when i first got the car in July. (my vin is within the TSB range) I put oil in it and it made the light go away, but after I got my oil changed at the dealer (Irvine Mazda), I have never had that light come back on. Do you think it is possible for the dealer just to swap out the oil pan without them telling me? Does anyone have an explanation why the oil light is not coming back on, because they didn't change the oil pan (to my knowledge)...

Originally posted by rgonzal3
Check this out. I got that low oil light at high apeeds when i first got the car in July. (my vin is within the TSB range) I put oil in it and it made the light go away, but after I got my oil changed at the dealer (Irvine Mazda), I have never had that light come back on. Do you think it is possible for the dealer just to swap out the oil pan without them telling me? Does anyone have an explanation why the oil light is not coming back on, because they didn't change the oil pan (to my knowledge)...

When I got my oil pan changed, the dealer wanted to keep the car overnight to allow the silicone sealant to dry that they use on the new pan...gaskets aren't used for some reason. So if you got your car back in a matter of hours, they either didn't change it, or the dealer isn't looking out for the longevity of your car.

When I made my appointment for later this week and said my car's VIN was covered by the TSB so I'd like a new oil pan, the service writer said "fine" without asking whether the light had gone on. Will report whether it's questioned on Thursday.

Has anybody else had a dealer request for time for the silicon sealant to dry? If so, how many hours from the time they actually replaced the part?

My dealer ordered my replacements back in August. Still not here. :(

What is the VIN range for the TSB?

Interesting comment about the oil pan not needing a gasket. I took my car in this past weekend and I was told that they ha the oil pan in stock but needed to order the gasket. Was I being told wrong?

Hercules -

VINS: 40000000 - 40111043

Check here
http://www.finishlineperformance.com/rx8/docs/01_027_03.htm

and here for other TSBs
http://www.finishlineperformance.com/rx8/docs/index.html

Bulletin No: 01-027/03
APPLICABLE MODEL(S)/VINS
2004 RX8
VINS: JM1FE17* *40000000 to 40111043
DESCRIPTION
The low oil level warning light may come on while driving with engine speed 4500 to 4800 RPM and the oil level
is within specifications (1/4 above L on the dipstick).
All vehicles within the VIN range should have the oil pan replaced using the following procedure:
REPAIR PROCEDURE
1. Remove the oil pan.
a. Disconnect the oil level sensor electrical connector from the side of the oil pan.
b. Remove the oil pan bolts (22-10mm)
c. Separate the oil pan from the engine
2. Install the new oil pan and level sensors assembly.
a. Clean all silicone sealant, oil and dirt from the engine.
b. Clean all silicone sealant from the oil pan bolts.
c. Apply a 2.5 to 6.5mm (0.10 to 0.26in) bead of silicone sealant to the oil pan as shown.
d. Install the oil pan bolts and torque to 8.8 to 11.8Nm (77.9 to 104.4 inlb).
3. Connect the oil level sensor electrical connector to the side of the oil pan.
4. Fill the engine with oil.
5. Verify Repair.

Parts Needed:
N3H8-10-4AXA Oil pan with oil level sensor 1
8527-77-739 Silicone sealant 1

Hope this helps!

Originally posted by PHA RX-8
Interesting comment about the oil pan not needing a gasket. I took my car in this past weekend and I was told that they ha the oil pan in stock but needed to order the gasket. Was I being told wrong?

You were told wrong. There is no gasket.

Originally posted by RX8Lover
When I got my oil pan changed, the dealer wanted to keep the car overnight to allow the silicone sealant to dry that they use on the new pan...gaskets aren't used for some reason. So if you got your car back in a matter of hours, they either didn't change it, or the dealer isn't looking out for the longevity of your car.

I had the pan changed a few weeks ago and asked about this. I had a Toyota that needed a 24-hour cure time on the sealant, but was told the RX8 sealant cures solid in a few hours. They did keep the car overnight, but road tested in 4-6 hours after initial install.

Anybody out there got the facts on cure time for the oil pan sealant used by Mazda? I'm curious if the dealer was right or if I'm riding down the mis-information superhighway. :mad:

I just took my baby in for her first oil change and told them about my oil light coming on and mentioned the TSB. They had a pan in stock, so they did the oil change and replaced the pan, no questions asked, no charge. I'm sure glad the service dept is much more competent than their sales dept. They even provided me with a rental for the day (and it was a Mazda 6). Can't complain about that.

I just printed that TSB out so I can go in and HAND it to the dumb dealer when I take my car in next.

Originally posted by Elara
I just printed that TSB out so I can go in and HAND it to the dumb dealer when I take my car in next.

good idea. thats what i plan on doing.

I got mine changed on 12/4, @ 3,124 miles. I was getting the false oil light only in the last 3 or 4 times out, so that was good timing. It was due for its 4 month checkup.

They had 4 of the new oil pans in stock & when I told the guy on the phone, he said, yeah, he knew all about it, in fact he did one about an hour ago.

I had the TSB in-hand when I took it, but didn't need it. When I told the guy who took it when I dropped it off (different guy, I think), that it needed it, he just wrote it down & that was that.

4 hours later, I got the call that it was ready to be picked up. Totally painless. (Wish I'd have gotten a rental though, but my fault for not asking, I guess. But my situation was pretty painless in that respect too. That rental process is a pain in itself.)

They were swapping oil pans out on some of the RX-8's down here last week.

Kirk

I'm scheduled to get mine changed tomorrow. Dealer gave me no trouble whatsoever. I will be getting a rental.

Originally posted by ATL RX-8
My dealer ordered my replacements back in August. Still not here. :(

I'd say your dealer did not place the order, at least not back in August. Sounds like most people have been getting them a lot quicker than four months. Mine was less than a month.

my car fits the vin
but I have never had a oil light come on
do you think I should have it changed anyways?

Originally posted by mikeb
my car fits the vin
but I have never had a oil light come on
do you think I should have it changed anyways?

I'd say if you fit the VIN and have the bad oil pan, get it changed, regardless of the light.

Originally posted by mikeb
my car fits the vin
but I have never had a oil light come on
do you think I should have it changed anyways? Get it changed but schedule it inbetween your regular oil change that way you get an extra one.

I told my dealer about the oil pan issue back when we first learned about it weeks/months(?) ago. He called me yesterday and said they got the TSB and they'd change mine whenever it was convenient. They have twelve cars on the lot to do, so he would order a pan for me and have it in early next week. Sounds like they have this campaign rolling!

Note: the door guards I ordered when I picked up my car 8/8 are now expected in January. Unfortunately, my 8 will be up on blocks, hibernating until March!

just called dealer told them # vin and they said no problem bring it in

had mine replaced today and had the car back in 6 hours.when i picked it up they also told me that mazda had them reflash the pcm with a updated program and the service manager was not sure why but gave me a service code # if i wanted to research on the internet what it was for.the # is p0128,anyone have a clue?

Clue:
http://www.finishlineperformance.com/rx8/docs/01-024-03.html

Lemme ask again...I think I saw this TSB before and I couldn't figure out what all that gobldy-gook meant the first time. What the heck is it? (Please?)

thanks voodoo,also found some more info on another thread.

racer x,check out the thread "mpg fix?" in the tech section.

From http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=15784

The trouble code P0128 is the "Coolant Thermostat (Coolant Temp Below Thermostat Regulating Temperature)" code. Apparently it was a "pending" troublecode, otherwise the check engine light - CEL (a.k.a. Malfunction Indicator Light - MIL) would have come on too.

P0128- the PCM monitors the actual and requested engine temp and the request was way out of line.

The reflash also inputs different control maps into the PCM for your A/C.

The "learning" capability of your car is referred to as "short fuel trim" and "long fuel trim" The way you drive the car is constantly being read by the SFT and the averages are calculated to the LFT.

In other words...If you drive your car aggressively for 100 miles. The LFT will learn your driving habits and "bias" the fuel maps towards that. Don't expect to magically get 30mpg on the highway after driving the car hard for a week

SFT = Short Fuel Trim
LFT = Long Fuel Trim
CEL = Check Engine Light

On page 4, the Technical service bulletin text is listed for the Oil Pan change and the P0128/ thermostat sensor code problem.

From http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=14188

MIL = Malfunction Indicator Light
KAM = Keep Alive Memory
DTC - Diagnostic Test Code
WDS - Worldwide Diagnostic System
ESI - Electronic Service Information (Mazda's Online Service)
PCM - Powertrain Control Module

i just got off the phone with the service guy. i told him about the oil pan and he was like you'll have to bring it in for us to check. i said are you going to order the new pan ahead of time he said no not until we check the car out. he said it could be something else. i told him my VIN was in the range he still wouldn't commit to doing it. i hate this dealership.

Ah! Most excellent, Charles Cope! I can read it now! Thanks.

I think you missed one though...what's PTU?

Should this reflash be done on all of us that fall within the vin range? You say the CEL doesn't come on? What is the symtom to look for? Thanks again!

Originally posted by RX-GR8
i just got off the phone with the service guy. i told him about the oil pan and he was like you'll have to bring it in for us to check. i said are you going to order the new pan ahead of time he said no not until we check the car out. he said it could be something else. i told him my VIN was in the range he still wouldn't commit to doing it. i hate this dealership. Shuh! Man, good luck. Is there another dealership nearby? Were you talking to a disgruntled twirp? Dunno. Good luck. He should have done it happily, with no questions or strings attached.

dropped my car this moring for oil pan-- no questions asked at all.

they gave me a kia rio rental--crappy

Originally posted by Racer X-8
Shuh! Man, good luck. Is there another dealership nearby? Were you talking to a disgruntled twirp? Dunno. Good luck. He should have done it happily, with no questions or strings attached.

there is another dealership with the same name a half hour away. i already made an appointment with these nimrods so if they won't do it its going to get ugly.

About free rentals: I thought you only got a free rental if they kept the car overnight? Are those dealers just extending an additional courtesy to you? For example, even if the work being preformed is less than 4-5 hours, should I expect a free rental? Thanks.

they told me to bring it in at 8:00 AM on my appointment date and that i would get a rental. he didnt mention anything about it being kept overnight.

I dropped my car off at 7:30am and was given a rental with no questions asked. They had the car back to me a little after 1pm the same day. It may depend on the dealers rental policy. Maybe its different for each service department.:D

5000 miles beyond warranty and now i'm getting false oil lights. :( have the new pan in hand - gonna swap it out this weekend.

wow this thread is damn near 6 years old....but sucks about the pan being out fo warranty