Ok my new rx8 has a little over 2000k's on the clock. I figured I probably should do my first oil check (I hadnt bothered yet because I assumed they'd do it at my first service).

I checked it though and it was a little hard to see clearly where the oil was up to. Got a picture I just took here:

The picture may not help because i had to hold it level with my hand behind it to get the camera to focus

Its also pretty hard to see in the picture too, but I'm wondering just how obvious the oil along the dipstick should be? It sorta looks like its up to the top dot faintly, but very thin and hard to see. It is a lot thicker down the bottom where the low level line is. Should it be that thick all the way along the dipstick and is my oil level dangerously low? Conversely I'm worried that faint bit of oil up to the top dipstick is really where its at and it doesnt need much at all?

I feel like such a noob but my past cars have been pretty obvious where the oil was up to, but was surprised by how hard it was to see any oil on the thing (and shocked that it might be out of oil already. I know the rotary burns it up but I didnt think that quick - unlike my old jetski!!).

Also I did follow the procedures described in the manual for checking oil of getting up to temp and letting it settle for 5 mins.



Oh and another question, I noticed when I'm idling with the clutch out and not in gear I can hear a faint noise, almost like a running tap which goes away when I put the clutch in. I'm told its normal but I'm wondering if and what it is??

Thanks

 

You wouldn't empty it in 500km but they may not have topped it up.

Try drying it with paper then blot it onto clean paper.
Any oil will show clearly

 

I have to say it is a very very good picture.

It is low, add 1L of oil please.

You will have a pop every 5 seconds or so because you have a rotary.

 

How much oil is there roughly between the dots again?

 

In owner's manual 1.7L, real life is just over 1L

 

I agree with Taka - looks low to me from that pic.

When your oil is still fresh, it can be hard to see it in some light conditions. I tend to check it a couple of times just to be on the safe side.

 

I'm guessing that's the sound of the thrust bearing.

 

Which I might add is normal.

 

Oh yer ... sorry.

 

I put half a litre in this morning and still finding it damn near impossible to tell what the oil level is.

But, I can see it very faintly it up on the full line now and there's a little bit of oil accumulating there just like it does on the bottom mark. But its still not really any clearer than before!

I tried the paper blotting lastnight and while it was still pretty hard to tell it led me to believe it was up around the top dot.

 

The oil is very very thin and light... like I've held it up in the light and theres a very thin coat on the stick but its just not easy to determine where it goes up to on the stick

I think it might be slightly overfilled now because there's a bit accumulating on the top mark. Hopefully it didnt go over by much then because i've got 4.5l left in the container so i didnt put very much in.

 

I have trouble checking my oil for about 3000km after I have a service.

Thing is, the oil level doesn't drop below halfway with normal driving until 5000km, which is where it's picked up enough colour to be checkable.

On another note: if you overfill a bit (I mean by 500mL) it doesn't matter all that much, you'll just burn it anyway.

 

Sorry to be pain here but be careful if you show your fingerprints on the internet, even a partial one.

Identity fraud is one of societys fastest growing crimes, and in order for someone to fake one, they transfer a digital image onto a transparency (OHP) with a laser printer. The toner forms a relief, which is then replicated using a letter style press print....its becoming a big issue for police organisations around the world...!

BTW I agree with the others...1 litre should do the trick...!

 

[QUOTE=mx5geek;2257072]The oil is very very thin and light... like I've held it up in the light and theres a very thin coat on the stick but its just not easy to determine where it goes up to on the stick

Get some steel wool and rub your oil dip stick between the high and low markers , this should help you see the oil level far better than before , if you still cannot see it you need glasses

Cheers
Michael

 

Trevor

Your adding to the paranoia and **** behaviour of this forum even though you are right concerning identity fraud

Personally i allways used to collect my sperm samples from the ladies during my single wilder days or get them to hide (sw---low) the evidence for the same reasons you never know to which crime your sperm could be linked to

Cheers
Michael

 

Very interesting...didn't know that!

 

it might help if you look at the other side of the dip stick. I find it if I can't see on the side with the dots, the other side quite clearly shows where the level is.

 

Hehehe, and these are people who care about their cars talking.

I wonder whether or how often Joe/Josephine Punter check the oil on their RX8's between services! I shudder to think.

Hopefully, series II has made the job a little easier...

 

Reminds me of all those ads for cars where the female owners think it is a good idea to say that it has been owned by a female driver.

No offence to those female drivers here who are in the know but i would never buy an rx8 from Marlene, mother of 3 from Mona Vale.

 

WHOA...If this is what you did in your 'single wilder days', you must have been a hell of a kid to bring up...!