I have received different directions regarding routine maintenance for my new 8. The salesman said that oil changes should be every 5000k, the service manager says every 8000k.

What is the general consensus?

 

The service guy is correct - every 8000 kilometres/or 4 months.

The Canadian manual says to follow schedule 2, on page 8-5.

S

 

Thanks for the info.... it is cheaper every 8000 as well.

 

hmm..i'd say it depends on your driving habits...if you do a lot of stop and go driving (city) then i'd change oil every 3k miles or about 5k kilometers. if not then go with 8k kilometers. just what i've learned being a tech.

 

Just for all you "change oil frequently" types, the Euro RX-8 manual says to change the oil at each annual service.

At 12,500 miles, or every year - one filter - one oilchange.


S

 

The Americans get to change their oil every 12000 kms, for what it's worth.

What I don't understand is how Canada and Puerto Rico have the same service intervals, for the same maintenance work. I can't believe that it is simply due to 'extreme weather'. I can't even think of one Canadian city that remotely resembles Puerto Rico in terms of weather...

 

ahh.. screw oil changes.. my engine simply burns it all and lights up a 'reminder' , when i need to refill it, just like filling gas..hehe

 

I do every 5000k

 

Extract from Motor Oil Bible

Rub the oil between your fingers. Does it feel gritty? If so, your oil filter is probably either not doing a very good job or is completely saturated. Change your oil and filter. Smell the oil. Does it smell burnt? If so, your oil is beginning to break down under the high temperature conditions within your engine. It needs to be changed.

 

Oil is the cheapest thing you'll ever put in your engine. It can't hurt to change it often. I change my oil at or before the 3000 mile mark.

 

Dude forget what the manual says, they design those things so that you perform just enough service to have to pay for repairs. Read up on the rotary engine. This forum has a lot of great information.
Bottom line, rotary engines run hot and break down oil easily. So frequent oil changes will do your engine a world of good and make it last for a real long time. You should also change your rad fluid more often then noted on the manual.
I change my oil every two months regardless of KMs. I just changed by rad fluid at 53000km and will do so again in another year.

 

If you read the Maintenance Guide you got with your car, there are different intervals for different driving conditions. We in Canada come under the severe driving conditions with our wide swing of seasonal temperatures etc. 4 months or 8,000km is the Canadian way!