buckZor

Bought a 2009 GT as a surprise for my Wife. Ordered the big red magnetic bow to go with it even... hehe Anyway, she'll get it on Oct 20th. Purchased it over in Hillsboro, OR and drove it home to Bend, OR. What a ride!!! I forgot how much fun driving a sports car can be. This thing is a beauty. Just turned 16K miles on the drive over. Super clean, 1 owner, clean carfax. She runs like a gem. I purchased the bumper to bumper 7/100 warranty extension.

Anyway, the question.. I know I should change the oil immediately. I'm not very wrenchie.. should I just have the dealer change the oil for me? I hate dealers.. but I know the rotary can be touchy about oil. Noticed already that I need to be sure it gets the S2 filter. Any oil specific advice would be much appreciated.

Anyone know a good service shop for Mazda's in (or near) Bend, OR?

Any thing else I need to know? Anything I should be reading besides poking around on this cool forum?

Thanks in advance, here's a pic for your viewing pleasure:

MariesRX8

Congrats to both of you! She's a beauty! What a wonderful gift Has your wife been specifically wishing for an RX-8?

What else to know? Oh my... I'm not into working on cars either. But this car can force you to learn waaaaay more than you ever wanted about how it works, lol. The car is the most amazing driving experience ever (I'm a bit biased). BUT... it can also be a seriously quirky, unique, pain in the... and yet you'll love it even more because of it, lol.

Mostly, just read the stickies at the top of forums. Dig up the TSB's and be sure the issues have been addressed on your car. The more you learn, the more you begin to appreciate just how clever Mazda was in designing it, even with it's "flaws..."

buckZor

Nope, she had an RX-7 years ago and loved it. I just know she wants another sports car and the RX-8 is one of very few with a little back seat for the kiddies to have a joy ride too!

What about recommended oil? Just synthetic? Any brand? I hear "Chuck's Auto Shop Inc" is the Rotary service shop around here (besides the dealer)..

RX8Soldier

iTrader: (24)

congrats on the new car!

I know that most of these apply to the series 1 rx8, but they should point you in the right direction.
FAQ’s https://www.rx8club.com/new-member-forum-197/rx-8-faq-please-read-before-posting-959/
New and Potential Owner’s, Start Here https://www.rx8club.com/new-member-forum-197/new-potential-owners-start-here-202454/
Congratulations, you got an 8 https://www.rx8club.com/new-member-forum-197/congratulations-you-got-8-a-202548/
New Owner FAQ’s https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...&highlight=FAQ

Also, make sure you read the “stickies” in each sub-forum

As for your oil question, I'd recommend that you read through the oil debate sticky. That debate has gone on since rx8club began... It boils down to personal preference

MariesRX8

LOL, funny you should ask that (I had a little meltdown about that today in another thread, lol)...

Mazda recommends AGAINST using synthetic oil. Says so in the 2010 manual anyway.

BUT... there's a ton of debate (to put it mildly) about it on here. I'm just repeating what the manual says

PatHammer9

That's my car. lol Yeah change the oil, always change the oil when you buy a car and if you have the dealer change the oil, buy your own oil and filter, don't let them us theirs. Their goal if to make a profit and cheep oil if more cash for them. No synthetic.

You asked if there was anything else you needed to know. Do you know that all Rotors use oil, so you will have to check your oil regularly. I check mine ever 2 weeks, some time I have to add just a little, other time no. Second always warm it. Don't drive off till your car is warmed. Don't start it and then change your mind and turn it off. You may regret that. Those are the 2 basic things with a rotary, read around and you find other info that may help you. Most important enjoy it.

buckZor

No synthetic!!??!? SERIOUSLY?? ACK.... This goes WAY against what I've always been told. What brand should I buy then? What about a synth blend? Man, I dunno if I can put standard oil in this car...... *sigh*

MariesRX8

From the 2010 Manual, big scary (!) symbol and everything:

AerialEight

iTrader: (2)

It is personal preference, so get involved in the great debate if you like. I can tell you that I run regular dino oil 15-40 in the summer (its hot here in Savannah). I regularly track my 09 R3 and no issues to this point. I do premix at the track, but not on the street, since S2s have the upgraded oiling.

Congrats on your purchase, enjoy many miles of fun.

ASH8

Welcome, YES,
Read the stickies and ONLY use the Genuine Mazda Oil Filter in S2's..N3R1-14-302

DO not listen to what anyone else has to say...no other after market (like Ryco, Mobil, K&N) are making the correct Oil Filter...most look the same, but it's what is inside..

Again not going into a great debate on filters..read the Stickies

buckZor

Thanks Ash, yes I've read the Filter sticky and am insisting upon the Mazda genuine oil filter. Sounds like Castrol GTX 5w/20 is the way most have gone, so I'm putting that in on Friday.

New Yorker

I am not a mechanic nor am I an automotive or petroleum engineer, so what I'm about to say are merely my hunches and nothing more.

I suspect for all cars – and especially the RX-8 – how often you change the oil is far more important than what oil you use. If I had to bet, I would wager that most RX-8s in the world that suffered engine problems had them because the oil was not changed (or checked) frequently enough. So obviously, stay on top of that.

Regarding particular kinds of oil, I've used 5W-20 since I bought the car new over 5 years ago. Mazda (and Ford and Honda) specify 5W-20 in North America to help meet fleet mileage requirements; 5W-30 is what the rest of the world puts in their RX-8s. I suspect either oil is fine and the difference between them insignificant. Since a higher percentage of engine replacements seem to be in the U.S., many here suspect that 5W-20 is "too thin" and that Ford/Mazda have traded engine longevity for an incremental increase in mileage. Personally I think oil formulation is a complex chemical subject; to me, comments like "too thin" strike me as simplistic and, I suspect, naive. And I believe correlation does not imply causation; there appears to be a correlation between engine problems and use of 5W-20, but the cause of said problems could well be something else: failure to check and maintain oil level and failure to replace oil frequently. Again, this is just me talking; I could be wrong.

Regarding synthetic, there is much anecdotal evidence here that suggests synthetic oil is perfectly fine – if not better – for the engine. As I understand it, once upon a time one particular synthetic oil — Mobil 1 — was found to be detrimental to the engine's seals. The prevailing feeling here is that, not wanting to specify avoiding the use of one particular brand of oil, Mazda simply said (and continues to say) that synthetic oil should be avoided.

For me, it's rather a moot point, as I change my oil every 3 months/3,000 miles and, as I understand it, the main benefit of synthetic is that it's effective longer.

Anyway, draw your own conclusions. I believe that, regardless of what oil you choose, you'll be fine if you check level and change oil often.

buckZor

Thanks New Yorker. I'm just gonna run 5w/20 Castrol GTX and change it religiously and watch my levels like a hawk!

buckZor

Took 'er in to Robberson Ford/Lincoln/Mazda dealer here in Bend for the first Oil change. Specified that I wanted to work with their Mazda tech and meet with him prior (they have a "quik lube" service lane at the dealership, I did NOT want that). Anyway.. met with Jacob, nice young guy. Told him I was concerned to find out what type of Oil filter was on the car, he was cool with that and called me into the bay once he got it out. GRRRR!! as feared, the car had a Series 1 filter on it, part number: B6Y1 14 302 9A.

I asked and Jacob said he would have put the same exact filter on it if I hadn't specified the other. Surprises me that this is happening. Anyway, I believe I educated the tech and maybe he'll remember for the next late model RX he sees. They had the correct oil filter in stock (I'd called the week prior and put one on hold) and we put 4.6 quarts of Castrol GTX 5w/20 in.

Could be my imagination but she seemed to run MUCH smoother on the drive back to the storage garage (wife gets the car on Thursday).

The question:
Is there anything I can/should do for the engine knowing that it had the wrong Oil Filter and probably HAS had the wrong Oil Filter for most of it's Oil changes? Or should I not worry since the car only has 16,000 miles on it?

ASH8

Umm, you are not going to see any difference in the running of you car because of the Oil Filter...just a perception.

Oil Filter...why am I not surprised...it all depends on how and where the Dealers Filters are supplied from...does the Tech go to a cabinet and self serve, then it is his fault, that is if there are N3R1 S2 Filters in said cabinet...or does he go to the Parts guys?..then it is their issue and really inexcusable...providied they are stocking N3R1-14-302?

This is WHY I dislike MULTI franchise dealers.

But in the end it all goes back to how much the INDIVIDUAL cares about what he is doing, the S2 Oil Filter is not the same to look at as the S1 B6Y1 and is in a totally different location on car.

Don't you think these guys would "question" something?.

Then the "well this is the Filter that came off" attitude, so this is the one I will put back on.

Then you have such a **** poor Mazda distribution set up that says nothing until something goes wrong.

In the end to answer your question about any issues because you have had the wrong Oil Filter..I would say forget it.... I take it you are the second owner...nothing you can do, just use the correct one from now on.

You will never know if the wrong S1 Oil Filter was going into by pass mode or not.

buckZor

Thanks Ash, I mainly wanted you to know that your efforts on the Oil filter issue are much appreciated and you may have saved another engine! I will be relentless about the Oil filter, each and every oil change. I plan to buy a few to be sure I always have the right filter, regardless of availability at a shop.

buckZor

Oh and the general update is that my wife received the car, blew her mind and she LOVES IT!!! Life is good. This is her view when she swung open the garage door.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/62321755@N08/6276898270/http://www.flickr.com/photos/62321755@N08/6276898270/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/62321755@N08/, on Flickr

ASH8

Good idea...I have a number of Oil filters in stock and 100's of other Mazda Parts..

Nice 8...White (like mine) Silver, Diamond Gray and Black for the young-ies are the best colors for the Series 2...ALL Class...I like the R3 but hate the side skirts they just don't look right.