hey everyone im new to the forum. Looking forward to posting here.


I had a question, is it true that the rx8 requires alot of oil. Ive heard that after every few times you fill it up with gas you need to add more oil. Is that true? ive even heard every 5th time you fuel it up. Is that really true or just some1 talking crap?

I don't think 1/2 quart ever 3,000 miles is a lot. But you MUST check the oil frequently this is not an Honda Accord

I check mine about every 1,000 miles to be on the safe side and keep a quat of oil in the trunk.....you never know! :D

ive noticed it needs a quart every 1500 miles or so. however i drive the car hard. REALLY hard.

Welcome to the club. Hope you'll find it useful, informational and entertaining.

It is true that the rotary engine "burns" oil... a lot in comparison to any new piston powered engine. The rotary is DESIGNED to use that oil. Granted, that's NOT something alot of people want to hear, but it's one of the things that makes our cars unique.

As recommended in an earlier post, it doesn't hurt to keep a quart in your trunk. Do a search and you'll find plenty of threads on this topic. I check my oil EVERY TIME I'm at the gas pump and have noticed that I go through one quart every 1000-1300 miles.

The way I understand it, a person who drives with his/her foot to the floor most of the time will burn more oil than the calmer driver at the same mileage.

I think the oil thing is blown out of proportion. When I first heard it I was worried about it. I checked every 3rd fill up only to find that my oil levels were fine.

My oil hasn't gone to the "low" level. I've done crap loads of fill ups. In fact I only added more oil recently at around 2200 miles. The stick read like 1/4 to empty so I filled up a bit. I think you're safe if you check your oil every like 5th-6th fillup, or every 3rd if you drive it hard. I do keep a quart in my trunk - though since I used it up I probably need to buy another one. :)

On a side note my TPMS actually went off last night. Freaked me out. I was wondering "uh oh, what did I break?" until reason led me to the conclusion that it was the tire pressure monitoring system. And yep, the air was low.

..... On a side note my TPMS actually went off last night. ...... And yep, the air was low.

How low was it? Just curious 'cause it's supposed to come on if the pressure is < 26 or > 49 PSI.

How low was it? Just curious 'cause it's supposed to come on if the pressure is < 26 or > 49 PSI.

mine goes off on cold mornings but goes out once the tires heat up.

How low was it? Just curious 'cause it's supposed to come on if the pressure is < 26 or > 49 PSI.
Would it have killed mazda to add a indicator to show what tire was low rather then hunt for it?

On the oil topic; I've also been putting in a qt every 1500 miles or so. My questions is, the owner's manual says to use 5w-20, but I cannot find that viscosity anywhere. Is it ok to use 5W-30?

I have never put a drop in it and I stopped checking after 3k miles because it was a waste of my time.. There are over 5 quarts of oil for a 1.3 liter motor I i really doubt being 2/4 of a quart down will make much of a difference. besides, I get the oil changed every 2500 to 3000 miles.

Yes cold will equal less pressure in the tires.

Also I wouldn't put any other viscosity than what is recommended. If you can't find the oil, call the dealer.

How low was it? Just curious 'cause it's supposed to come on if the pressure is < 26 or > 49 PSI.
Hmmm... I think it was around the 27-28 psi? It could've been 25-26 though I didn't think it was that low. And I filled up ALL my tires. They were all around that level. I think the pressure was a bit low already and then add in the fact that it was cold...

I have no idea about the 5-20 vs 5-30 thing though. The first store I went to (Target, I know, I know) they didn't have any 5-20 so I bought a 5-30. But I stopped by PepBoys a few days later and picked up a quart of 5-20. I bought the 5-30 though because it was back when I was always afraid of the rate of oil consumption and I had the fear that at some random time the oil level would drop like crazy and I was going to ruin the engine if I didn't have some oil right then. :)

One quart every 3,000 to 4,500 miles...11,500 miles on the clock. :D

Regards, Art

On the oil topic; I've also been putting in a qt every 1500 miles or so. My questions is, the owner's manual says to use 5w-20, but I cannot find that viscosity anywhere. Is it ok to use 5W-30?

Check out Advance Auto (or any other similar parts place for that matter), and if 5W-20 is not on display, ask them to check in the back. I did that and they came up with a case of Castrol in the back.

On the oil topic; I've also been putting in a qt every 1500 miles or so. My questions is, the owner's manual says to use 5w-20, but I cannot find that viscosity anywhere. Is it ok to use 5W-30?

I think you'd be fine with 5W-30. I've looked for and seen Castrol 5W-20 (cause that's what I use) at Walmart, Advance Auto, and Pep Boys.

mine goes off on cold mornings but goes out once the tires heat up.

Measure your tire pressure with an accurate digital tire pressure guage and I'll bet you'll find one or more to be too low (stock tires should be 32 PSI cold).

What could an over consumption of oil be from? I had to put in 2 quarts about a week ago and now it's at the half way point....

I've added about 1/4 quart in the 1200 miles I've had my car.

Man.. this is outrageous then.. I am taking my car in tomorrow to have them look at it.. There is no way it should consume 2 quarts in a matter of a week.

I would pay very close attention to how you are reading the disptick. The side of the dipstick with the markers is never right on my car. I flip the dipstick over, and I get a good reading. If I followed the marked side of the dipstick I would always be putting in oil. Remember that the total capacity of the oil system is about 7 quarts, and you will never get all of the oil out of the front mounted oil coolers on a 6sp.

I add a quart every 800-1000 miles .... but that's probably because I drive REALLY aggressively ALL the time. :D

Love the engine .... it's so completely addicting ... :p

The oil consumpton is definately related to how often you a get on the car. If you are pegging the RPMs you will burn more, a lot more. I believe I read somehwere in this forum that the oil injector is regulated based on the RPMS. So the higher the RPMs the more oil it injects. :rolleyes: Recalling from memory.

I just caught the part about using 5w-30 oil....The answer is no. Use the 5w-20. The use of this lightweight oil is needed due to the metering pump that sprays oil in key locations. The pump will not last long if you force it pump thicker oil. That is the reason why Mazda employed dual oil coolers on the 6sp. To keep the oil cool, so that thermal breakdown of the thin oil would not be a problem.

I just caught the part about using 5w-30 oil....The answer is no. Use the 5w-20. The use of this lightweight oil is needed due to the metering pump that sprays oil in key locations. The pump will not last long if you force it pump thicker oil.......

Wrong! Have you seen the European RX-8 Owner's Manuals, they have a whole range of viscosities listed including 5W-30.

The US manual says 5W-20 to help Mazda make their CAFE mileage.

Read this thread also http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=32270

Just got to 1500 miles, and i'm about to add a quart, with moderately aggresvie driving

I've added about 1/4 quart in the 1200 miles I've had my car.

Same here, exactly.