jimbobjoe

Autoexpress article this morning.

morganrogers

Gary Fenton of Stevenage obviously knows nothing about rotaries then...

Gary Fenton of Stevenage also seems to drive a Z3.

I check my oil every week anyway !
What's the problem ?

The Ace

Check the oil every two gas tanks ?

Who the hell did they talk too ? The specific reporter and Mazda dealer must have had their conversation at the local pub, over a couple of pints :D

Like I have said in my previous post about oil, rotaries burn oil. Its wise to check the oil as often as possible, more often than in all other cars (because only the RX has a rotary engine), and certainly dont leave the "Low Oil" (which is actually "Low Oil Pressure") unattended

But come on: how hard is it to pop the hood, grab the stick, pull it out, and see what the oil level is ? :p

And if someone doesnt pay attention to the "Low Oil", he/she deserves to be deprived of the car, simply because he/she is too STUPID to be allowed to have one......

M-ster

I think he should get a Toyota Corolla.

RobDickinson

Bah, I know I'll have to check my oil more frequently.


Buy these idiots dont ever check their car? You cant just rely on dashboard lights and servicing, no matter what car you buy - highway code recomends checking lights/fluids more often that every 6 months...

The Ace

Not to mention that mentality/stupidity JUST LIKE THIS is what has given the RXs their "bad" reputation.....

.....simply because some people are just too lazy or too stupid to do some elementary, simple and very easy checks every 2 weeks or so......

sixspeed

TVR suggest you check the oil on a Tuscan *every day*. Not every month, not every fill up - every day, regardless. Of course, after a while you get an idea of how much oil is being used - and I find every 1000 miles is usually when it needs topping up, though I probably check it every 500 or so. (which is actually every other time I fill up, more or less).

It's not really much of a chore. I'd consider it wise to check most engines for oil anyway. I don't think I've ever had a car which I haven't checked the oil level on at *least* every 1000 miles.

Like someone else said - I think we should be glad Mr Z3 is sticking with his hairdryer. :D


-andy-

RX-Late

Yes - I hope his oil dashboard light fails!

garygfx

Why do some people in RX8 and Rotary forums think that Mazda created the RX8 only for rotary fans? :p That's not true. They're trying hard to market it to Joe Public who would otherwise buy a 350Z, TT, Z4, or other 2 door coupes or 4 seater sports models. I'm writing this as someone who's fascinated by rotaries, I'm not an advocate. Maybe a devil's advocate but that's about it! :D

Chaps, humour me for a minute. Forget your own knowledge and experience of rotaries and pretend you've never heard of a rotary engine until now. All of your motoring life you've bought a car to primarily get you from A to B in style. You get in the car, drive to your destination and get on with your life. That's how the majority of people think of their cars, they're not all as passionate {or obsessed! } as you guys. Oil checks are probably only done before long journeys and during annual services.

Then this new car comes onto the market with fantastic specs, good looks, and a pretty decent price tag to boot. Yes, it's the RX8. Mr Average Car Enthusiast walks into his Mazda dealer, falls in love with the car, opens his cheque book, and then finds out some maintenance has to be done every week or two. Outside of rotary and classic car forums this is unheard of. Mr Average would be alarmed by this as 99% of other new cars require virtually no regular oil checks or top ups. Of course it's wise to check every 6 months but in reality what percentage of people do? Having to remember to check every two tanks is also probably a concern for newbies. What if they forget? What damage will happen? Will Mazda make repairs under warranty?

The RX8 is not an exclusive buy for rotary fans. This is a mass production car marketed to Mr Average. Mazda want their engine to become more main stream as they're very proud of it and rightly so. This oil issue (or attitude) is one of the hurdles that Mazda need to overcome to get rotaries accepted as equally as pistons.

Feel free to disagree (I'm sure you will!), but I'm just saying you need to look at it from Mr Average's point of view.

The Ace

No one said that the rotary will explode if you forget one or two oil checks.

No one said that you have to check the oil every two gas tanks.

No one said that rotaries are soooooooo sensitive, that require constant care.

HOWEVER......

How stupid can you be to ignore a "Low Oil" red warning light ?

How difficult is to pop hood, remove dipstick, look at oil level, place dipstick in hole, close hood ?

No other car in the world requires as much attention, because no other car has a rotary engine.

And since when ALL other cars require NO attention to the oil level ?

Check every six months ? I have never, NEVER NEVER seen a car that requires so sparse oil checks. What car is this, pray tell ?

morganrogers

Every six months ???? geez....

Scares you from buying a 2nd hand car somewhat doesn't it.... !

RX-Late

Absolutely, as others have said - its not like checking the oil regularly is a pain in the ****.

Wing

I NEVER checked my oil in my previous car, I changed it every 6000Km and it NEVER was down even a drop!

Now my RX-8, I check every week, so far so good, it's down a bit, but not much and I have 2500Km on it.

It's not really a huge issue, check it every month and it would probably be ok, or at least every 2500Km

RX-Late

But if you didn't check it then how do you know its wasn't down? :-)

MarkW

I really dont see the problem here for most people.

When I had company cars I admit I never checked the oil as they dont. need any , so maybe this could be a problem for people who have company cars. Even so, if people dont check that regularly you have to be an idiot to ignore a warning light.

Since I have had my own cars, I have checked the oil regularly until I know how much it uses. My current car hardly burns oil so I only check every 1000-2000 miles or so, but if it needed checking every 500 miles then so what. I bet people who never check oil dont check their tyre pressures either.

I will hopefully be taking care of it by washing it every week, and it will take 2 minutes to flip the bonnet and check the oil.

I think he would be better off sticking with his Z3.

Autocar just seem to have a downer on the RX-8, it would be interesting to see if any other mags have similar articles.

RX-Late

The AA http://www.theaa.com/allaboutcars/avoid_breakdown.html recommend on their Ten Vitual Checks:

1. Tyres
2. Toolkit
3. Engine Oil - "Check the dipstick at least every fortnight and before any long journey. "

Whatever type of car/engine you have if you don't - your risk!

garygfx

Mazda said that any damage caused by not checking as advised would not be covered by the warranty. While they didn't say that the engine would explode they did say that the results of not checking as advised wouldn't be covered by the warranty.

Yes, the dealer said so according to the article. I just checked with Mazda's helpline about "every 2 tanks" and they confirmed that was a fair guideline. I wonder what the owner's manual says? It would be cool if there was a downloadable version (Acrobat or something) from Japan or America. It'll keep us ticking over until the Nov launch!

Assuming that indicator is accurate (not according to some threads elsewhere) then it shouldn't be a problem.

Pretty easy if you remember to check or trust the lil' red light. But it is an extra chore if you're not used to doing it regularly.

Bear in mind that Mr Average doesn't read the owner's manual from cover to cover and relies on his dealer for advice and servicing. My familiy have/had a 325, 206 GTi, 306 XSi, Mondeo v6 2.5. They only get/got checked during services or every 6 months or so. The oil seems to stay in the engine pretty well! Modern piston engines are designed to be of very low maintenance. I'm sure Mr Average checks no more than that. Unfortunately there's no way to tell unless someone commissions a Gallup poll!

Wing

Because I checked just before pulling the drain plug

morganrogers

I am pretty sure my Honda owners manual says check every fill up.... it is just a standard throw away phrase.

My prev roary was fine , checked every week or two , no problemo. Renesis is better than prev gen , so should be even better.

This is like the 'torque problem'. There is no 'torque problem' - get over it ! There is no 'oil consumption problem' - get over it !

Stuartt

If checking the oil is so difficult for "Gary Fenton of Stevenage", how often does he top up his washer bottle???? It would be very close (within an arms length) of the oil.

Every 2 or 3 weeks I spend 5 mins max doing washer bottle, oil and tyres. Is 5 mins too much to ask?

I bet "Gary Fenton of Stevenage" hasn't ever owned a 2 stroke bike........ (topping up the 2 stoke oil)

Anyway, don't you want to have a look at the lovely engine once in a while?

Stuart

simrjor

Garrygfx try this:-

http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/pdf/...004_owners.pdf page 124 or 130

bugbear

sorry guys - i have to say i can see his point.

modern cars regardless of whether company or not really do not use oil and the highway code etc was written at a time when you used your wifes stockings to fix the fan belt! i seem to remember even 10 years ago reading of an american car with a service interval of 100,000 miles. people just expect to get into a car and drive, taking it for it's standard service when required. a lot of people will be put off this car in a modern hectic no time for anything world. i know checking the oil takes just a couple of minutes but when it's pissing down, you're late, you're in your suit, the last thing you want to do is get the bonnet up.


having said all that i also agree that if you ignore a warning light you deserve everything you get. if nothing else the warning light comes on and you phone the free mazda 3 year assist that comes with the car - dont even risk the 'limp' home mode.


ps any better uses for wifes underwear?

RobDickinson

Americans tend to treat oil topups/changes as separate from services, 100,000mile service isnt without an oil change, and oil changes are far more common three - its like quick-fit type stuff.

Now - as for not checking ever, so your dash light is faulty, engine siezes and you end up killing people. not clever - does happen too.

I'm glad people like this dont buy proper sports cars like the elise/tvr, god knows what state they'd be in afterwards.

eccles

Minor point: the oil pressure gauge indicates pressure or the lack thereof; the oil warning light indicates low oil level.

The Ace

What Mazda said is correct. You buy a specific machine from them, which has its instructions, and one of them explains what happens if you neglect a specific check. If you do, its your fault.

The dealer said so obviously trying to exaggerate. Anyway, with 2 tanks of fuel, you should make anything between 500 and 1000 kilometers. I'd say thats a pretty good assumption......

I agree with what you're saying about the oil light. Thats why I said it myself You ignore the warning light, its your fault!

And I repeat what I said: rotaries burn oil. Other engines dont! Thats a pretty huge difference. Dont compare rotaries with any other engine. If Mr. Average wants to buy this car AND keep it in shape, he better wise up and read the friggin manual :p