Kusanagi

Hi All!

Owning a rotary powered car is always my dream, and now my dream finally come true!

Bought the RX8 from a second hand car dealer, a very very good deal I had, 2005 car done only 23000km! mint condition inside and out, so well looked after I can barely distinguish it's a used car from new.

Anyway, here is my frustration, the dealer gave me 3 years warranty on the car, however provided that I must service the car with them, the price is very reasonable, BUT! they're not rotary or Mazda specialist, they have just serviced the car before I picked it up, and I have no idea what kind of oil they put in, although the car has been running really smooth.

Questions (please note that I have read through many threads, google searched for days, but still couldn't find what I wanted to know):

(1) I would like to know whether I can just use any oils as long as it is the right grade? What brands and what grade of oil everyone here uses most? For those who comment on this question, please state that how long you have been using the specific oil as well, and issues/drawback if any.

(2) Take a look at this link, and look at the last paragraph at the very bottom http://www.mazda.com.au/Owning/Maint...Tips/Oils.aspx
Does this mean only Mazda has the equipment to reset the factory computer for every oil change?

(3) I will need to buy some spare oil for top up purpose, is it bad to mix oil? since I have no idea what oil was put in before I picked up the car.

I'm so thrilled with the car, just can't describe the feeling of the buzzing coming from the rotary, so sweet so wonderful

Thanks,

K

ASH8

All engine oils will mix OK...

Are you in Australia?, if not or if you are use a good quality oil, a 5W30 or better still IMO a 15W40, buy a container ( 5 litres or whatever) and top off every other tanks of fuel or when it is needed.

Don't worry about the "Computer Reset" after oil change thing..it is bulldust...

If you can change your oil every 3000 miles (5000 KM) and if you can replace the oil filter..
You can do this at home.

If you have an owners manual READ it, if not BUY one from a Mazda Dealer.

I STRONGLY Suggest you Pre-Mix (Synthetic 2 Stroke OIL for Bikes, etc) in your fuel tank at a rate of 4 mils per litre or 8 ounces per tank.

YOU do not have to tell the dealer you bought the car from..OK..

There are plenty of threads here to read up on info.

Get into the habit of warming up your car until needle (Temp Meter) moves.
Keep the car under 4000RPM until HOT (Normal Temp)

Red-line her at least once or twice a day (only when engine is HOT)

Welcome to the club.

Ash

EDIT: Sorry, I got mixed up, you are in the Australian Forum...(me DUMBO!)

So yeah, I use Castrol GTX 3 (15W40)..ALL mineral and a lot cheaper than Mazda Rotary OIL (5W30) or should I say Castrol Magnatec.

Kusanagi

Hi Ash,

Thank you for your advise!

Yes, I'm here in Australia.

I think I can perform the oil change myself.

Mind if I ask what brand and grade of oil you are using?

And what brand and grade of 2 stroke oil you are using now?

Cheers,

K

(Edit: Thanks for the answer!!! so which 2 stroke oil exactly? Thanks mate!)

ASH8

As I said I use Castrol GTX3 15W40 for engine.

Amsoil Saber Pro 2 Stroke Oil... do not use an oil that is Castor base or TCW (marine use) for a pre-mix.

Find a good quality 2 stroke Synthetic oil and you will be fine for Pre-mixing.

Ash

Kusanagi

Thank you mate! Will buy some for top up

I think I remember reading one of your thread somewhere that you took delivery of your white S2 RX8... and which city you live in?

If my memory serve me right, you have owned an S1 RX8 before the S2 right? If so, what is the differences between the S1 and S2 in terms of driving (not look)? such as better cornering etc etc.

Regards,

K

ASH8

No mate my first 8, yes I am in Adelaide...you?

Kusanagi

Hah! I'm in Adelaide too! Is there any rotary club meets etc here? May be one day we can catch up!

Cheers,

Ket

Kusanagi

Hi Ash,

I have got myself a 5.5 litre of Castrol GTX3 now.

I could only find one Amsoil dealer, but they are in Beaumont, SA, rather far from where I live, who do you normally get the Amsoil oil from? and what is the next best option? if you know the brand please let me know as I rather use oils that have been used by other rotary owner than just pick any 2 stroke oil myself.

Regards,

K

ASH8

Hi K,

I get my Amsoil from a distributor in the Adelaide Hills, her name is Kath Pavier she is in Mylor, they will ship by Couriers Please and only cost about $6.50 to your door!.

Here is her Phone Number, tell her Ashley from Seaford sent you she should remember, Kath Pavier 08 83885294 amsoildist@yahoo.com.au

She is a very nice lady, tell her you want the Saber Pro...you will need a credit card for payment

get back..

Ash

Kusanagi

Thanks Ash!! I will call her on Monday before my next fuel top up!

Wow, you live further south than me, I'm in Trott Park.

Regards,

K

Kusanagi

Hi Ash,

I just called Kath, Amsoil Saber price is good at $16.13 per quart bottle inclusive of GST, and delivery is $6.50+GST. However she doesn't take credit card!! so I either need to go pick it up or post a cheque.

So I'm looking for alternatives, something that I can just pickup on the way home from work everyday (Supercheap Auto at Darlington).

Since I'll be using Castrol GTX3 in the engine, a mineral based oil, would the Castrol Activ 2T as premix work? which is also mineral based, info on the Castrol Activ 2T as follow:

http://www.castrol.com/castrol/multi...tentId=6008633

http://supercheapauto.com.au/product...additives.aspx

Or is it better to use full synthetic?

Thanks,

K

Edited: I have just spoken with Jason at Revs Performance, who does rotary engine rebuild including the RX-8, when I asked him about the fuel premix, he doesn't recommend it for normal driving, he said that the engine does inject a fair bit of oil into the engine, and not unless you take the car on the track or race it, hmm... :S

ASH8

OK,
Sorry about that , yes, I did direct Bank deposit into her account with her Account # and BSB, only took 3 working days to show in her account, and was delivered on the same day she sent it. You will need On-line bank access to your bank account.

Personally I would stick to Synthetic for Pre-mix.

The Castrol and Minerals types of 2 stroke may, I repeat MAY be partly made up of Castor Oil (which it technically a mineral) and a No NO for rotaries, it also produces a lot of soot/carbon where the synths don't.
Castor base oils usually have a Castor smell to them, that ( I am trying to think of the brand) that, yes the 'FLASH Lube' additive for cars that run on leaded fuel has Castor in it.

As far as Jason's advice, I absolutely do not agree, you have a Series One RX-8 which has been found to be ineffective in Lubricating the Middle of your Apex Seals, this is why Mazda added a 3rd Centre Oil Nozzle to the 2009 face-lift RX-8 and a completely new Oil Metering set up.
Many RX-8 rebuilds have revealed the Apex Seal middle has been wearing in a concave shape due to lack of lubrication.
Pre-mixing is the only way to "help" lubricate this area of your Apex Seals, even with ALL the PCM updates Mazda has done to your model engine oil still does not get to the middle of the seal. Also can be part of the reason for the loss of compression in the RENESIS I.

I would still stick with Kath and Amsoil, it is a very good quality product, but expensive, her price is a good one though...for Australia.

It is your decision in the end, I know what I would do...NO Hesitation.

I am not sure about local Rotary Meetings for SA?

Ash

Kusanagi

Hi Ash,

Thanks for the advice, I think I will order the Amsoil, give it go and see, despite my 8 is a 2004 model, the engine is still relatively young (odo 24000km), and I rather have trouble with the cat or fuel filter than having a rebuild, which Jason told me cost around ~$6000

I will try the Amsoil on my next tank of fuel (BP Ultimate only).

BTW, sorry being so newbie... how do you premix? :P

I assume drive the car to the gas station with a near empty tank, tip the correct amount of 2T oil in, then fill up the gas right?

I have read many of your posts, some posts you mentioned premix at the ratio of 2ml oil per litre of petrol, then you also mentioned 4ml, may be I should start at 2ml for daily driving, increase to 4ml only when I'm going to have some spirited driving?

Regards,

K

ASH8

I was originally doing 2 mils per litre until I was told at that rate it is too little and would not do much, some are going as high as 7, I am at 4 and all seems OK.

Get yourself a small plastic bottle and mark (texta) where you want your rate to be, at 2 mils it is 120 mils per tank full, or double that at 4 mils per litre.
If you want to half fill a tank put half the 2 stroke in.. it does not have to be perfect.

Many suggest to pre mix the pre mix in about a gallon or 4 litres of fuel first then put into cars tank, frankly I can't be bothered, yes I know there are saddle tanks in the RX-8, I usually put in the oil at the service station, then pump fuel over the top of that, I do a few chicane moves down the road to help mix/shake it.

I did a test with Amsoil into a litre of fuel in a plastic clear container, when I put the 4 mils in the very slightest movement of the bottle mixed the Amsoil very thoroughly.

Kusanagi

Thanks for the instructions, I'll do the same

I have just confirmed the order, grabbed all 3 remaining bottles Kath had, she said there will be more coming in next month or soon, guess at 120ml~240ml per tank of fuel they will last me a long time.

Is the 8 your daily driver? I have two other shopping trolleys at home, but I can't help, gotta drive the 8 everyday except knowing there will be rains or extreme hot days.

Cheers,

K

Kusanagi

Hi Ash,

I just put in the Amsoil Saber Pro for the first tank today, and hope for the best

BTW, I'm curious about the fuel consumption on the S2 RX8, I mean real life usage, not figure from the brochure. So far I'm on my second tank since I got it, it average about 14.3L/100km metro driving.

Regards,

K

ASH8

Good,
Yeah, I get about the same, usually 440-460 Kms before the fuel light come on.

BTW, S2 8's have 5 litre larger fuel tank.

Kusanagi

Really? wow, my fuel warning light came on at about 368km, and the needle was just passed the last quarter, may be the fuel warning light comes on at different level on the s1 and s2 8.

This is how I measure the fuel consumption, I fill up the tank, reset the trip counter to 0, drive until next refuel, note the mileage on the trip counter and how many litres of fuel it takes to fill up, then do "litre divide by km x 100 = L/100km".

I have measured two refuels so far, both results are 14.2L/100km and 14.6L/100km, so very consistent.

I do all this not because of worry about petrol cost, I think it is one way of telling whether the engine is healthy or not.

K

Kusanagi

Just gone thru my first bottle of premix (Amsoil Saber Pro) as recommended by Ashley, I know 1 bottle (1200km) isn't much, and almost too early to tell whether it will have any good or ill effects to the renesis, but this is my thought after the first bottle...

I tried very hard to observe and memorise the characteristic of the engine before and after using premix, my findings are:

(1) Fuel consumption, in my case, premix has absolutely NO effect on the fuel consumption, I kept record of every tank of petrol, mileage travelled etc, fuel consumption is only affected by how and where I drive it, the fuel rate is VERY consistent (+/- 0.5L), around 14.6L/100km for CBD driving, and 13.5 or lower for high speed crusing.

(2) After using premix, the engine is definitely sounded less "metal" at high rev (the sound may be from the apex seal grinding against rotor housing?), quieter high rev, the distinctive "metal" seemed to be muffled by the premix, this gives me even more confidence to WOT.

(3) So far, no ill effect or whatsoever, but the throttle response feels better.

The verdict, I will definitely keep using premix, I think it does work.

K