bon911

I had oil change the other day and noticed MPG got worse, so I checked the oil. It's over the top notch on the stick. I doubt any relation, but just wondering if you can actually have too much oil. And if so what that could possilbly cause.
Thanks in advance.

93rdcurrent

Yes you can, and yes it has been discussed. Do a search the answers are out there... somewhere... Pressures in the engine are the problem with too much oil. And if it is oeverflowing it could relate to MPG. Have you noticed any more then usual of a smell to your exhaust? Who changed it? Oh and did you check it when it was cold? (whew almost fortgot that one).

bon911

dealer did the work. Yes, checked it when cold.
I do not notice anything extraordinary... just the MPG.
I know the search, but it comes up with too many threads and takes long time to find one I am looking for.
Thanks tho.

zoom44

a little over is not bad but way over could cause engine damage.If the oil level is too high (overfilled) a piston engine will exhibit excessive friction loss (churning), resulting in high fuel consumption, loss of power and possibly also engine damage. Furthermore, the engine will burn too much oil, and so pollute the environment. i am not sure if the same thing would happen to a rotary but i would thinkmost of those things would apply. i think it would have to be like a quart over filled though.

bon911

so it could actually affect MPG I suppose. It is not way over, but it IS a little bit over the top line of the dipstick.
It is kinda interesting that when I just got the car MPG was bad, then it was getting better. Maybe it was overfilled at that time too, then as I was burning oil MPG was actually getting better... does that make any sense??

zoom44

bump

RotorManiac

Instead of starting a new thread, I did search. So I have the same problem...

WAY TOO MUCH OIL, that is because dealer changed it for the service of 10k kilometres (6k miles). Talked to mechanic and he said 4L needed, I remember manual stating 3,5L. I was in a hurry, so I had no time to argue with him.

Used the dipstick and I just found out it is about 1-1.5cm above the top line!! Checked the 5litre bottle I was given and less than 1L remains in there. To be more precise, its up to the point where the stick is no more flat, but round!

Help me out people, please! Should I not drive the car?

takahashi

Drive it RotorManiac, down to the dealer and yell at them. :D

4.5L is actually about right. They ususally use 4L and give a litre to me. They did not check the dipstick warmed up but they must know the exact volume to put in to make right at the line. They said "it is in the book, Taka"

Silly me I asked :p

SpinninAgain!

Like Taka said, sort of. Straight back to the dealer. Insist on speaking to the Service Manager, or to the Owner if he's not available. When you get to that level, speak very nicely when you explain the problem their employee caused. They'll fix it and they'll remember you're a customer that:

• speaks nicely and understands they're great guys who have to supervise idiots all day long
• doesn't tolerate incompetence regarding your RX-8.

The message will get through to the knuckleheads on the floor, but probably not in a way that will antagonize them into doing something stupid or careless the next time you visit.

RotorManiac

Well, I'll give them a call tomorrow...

Taka, I checked the dipstick 10minutes after I shut off the engine. Did YOU check when the engine was cold? Maybe yours was as high as mine. Did you notice any differences?

All the way back home, I observed only this: the gauge, which is a bit more to the right when normal, now it is even more to the right...

ptiemann

I would let the car sit for a while (cool down), lift it, crawl under the vehicle, drain about a liter, keep my hand with the closing cap ready and then quickly screw the cap back on. That might be a bit messy and I'd wear some protective googles and old dirty cloth.

I know... the dealer should... but do you really want to do that?

They probably would drain it completely again and refill it.. hopefully with the right weight oil.. hopefully without doing other damage.

And it would cost several hours of your time when you can do it yourself in 10 minutes.

takahashi

I let the car cool for 5-10 minutes just because I don't want to burn my hand. I did check it warm at all times.

What gauge RotorManiac, unless you have the real oil pressure gauge, the one that you see in the dash is a "on/off" or "1/0" gauge. It does not give you measurement. It will only be your eyes causing that right shift :p

RotorManiac

Ok guys, thanks for the answers!
At least, when I was driving back from the dealer(25km) nothing was wrong with the car.

I'll see what I can do... maybe rev the hell outta of it and burn it all in no time:p