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Just become a fellow owner of an S1 Sunlight Silver.
Looking to get an Sohn adapter installed and a pack o new coils and plugs to get it up and running for the summer.
And also been reading a lot about the engine oil and made a decision towards the 10w40 full synth because i'll be using the car in warm weather and just as a fun car since i have a daily for the rest of the year.
Hi there, fellow new owner here! I highly recommend this Rotary Revs article for which oil to go with. I started using full synth oil as well and I immediately noticed that my RX-8 started to struggle a bit more on startup. Turns out that a mineral oil base or synth blend is better for the engine. This article has lots of good info for type and thickness on oil you should use. The Garage - For RX-8 specialist services and professional rotary engine help | Rotary Revs
Whatever caused your engine to struggle at startup, it's not the composition. It's fresh oil, it hasn't had time to cause problems yet. Maybe you chose a higher viscosity, but that has no bearing on the blend.
Note the original posters' desire to use a Sohn adapter. This bypasses the entire synthetic/mineral debate because you're no longer burning crankcase oil and can use synthetic in the crankcase to protect the bearings, and run 2-stroke for injection. It's the ideal case.
That aside, note the subtlety in Rotary Revs observations: *some* synthetic oils leave hard deposits that aren't dissolved by fresh oil. It doesn't mean you need to avoid them as a rule, you just need to make informed choices.
Note the original posters' desire to use a Sohn adapter. This bypasses the entire synthetic/mineral debate because you're no longer burning crankcase oil and can use synthetic in the crankcase to protect the bearings, and run 2-stroke for injection. It's the ideal case.
That's why I've choosen the Sohn. Gathering information may take some time but at least someone could stand on it's decision.
And also looking to get a pretty rare i guess, GOODBOX. I'd love to use that display instead of putting awkward gauges over the dash, the fast and furious era it's over from a decade
Yesterday went for the first "mountain road" drive... DAMN this car is FUN! Nothing compared to my F30 daily. It's way more nimble and easy to make it do what you actually want.. need to drive it more the way it's meant to be driven. First twisty road drive The spot i've reached
That's why I've choosen the Sohn. Gathering information may take some time but at least someone could stand on it's decision.
Running full synthetic is really only advisable with a SOHN adapter. People say it’s ok to have full synthetic in the combustion chamber but I just would never do it. I have 7 RX8’s I look after on island and all run 10w-40 conventional Castrol GTX or Valvoline. All 7 cars are still on their original engines and none have had any serious engine problems to date over the last 5 years.
I can see why full synthetic would be better for the engine, but without a SOHN my opinion is that it’s potentially risky. Just run a semi synthetic oil like Castrol Magnatec until you install the SOHN if you are leaning towards using synthetic oils.
Last edited by CaymanRotary; May 1, 2021 at 07:34 AM.
Real answers about the risk or lack of risk with synthetic lie beyond simple labels like "synthetic". Different base stocks behave differently.
I would actually strongly suggest not running semisynth, it's the worst of both worlds. More than likely the synth component is Group IV, which is where you find the most deposit forming and least deposit resorbing stocks. In addition to the mineral component's love for oxidation and deposits. Semisynth exists to sell people better bearing protection at a lower price point than synth., it's a marketing play not an engineering one.
Everything I know tells me a good Group V ester-based synth is far better for your engine in every respect. It's just expensive, think RedLine or Motul.
Real answers about the risk or lack of risk with synthetic lie beyond simple labels like "synthetic". Different base stocks behave differently.
I would actually strongly suggest not running semisynth, it's the worst of both worlds. More than likely the synth component is Group IV, which is where you find the most deposit forming and least deposit resorbing stocks. In addition to the mineral component's love for oxidation and deposits. Semisynth exists to sell people better bearing protection at a lower price point than synth., it's a marketing play not an engineering one.
Everything I know tells me a good Group V ester-based synth is far better for your engine in every respect. It's just expensive, think RedLine or Motul.
I’ve been reading about Group IV and Group V and I think have seen Group III.
Whats are those numbers referring to ? And where is possible to check the Group of an oil of my choice?
Yesterday went for the first time up hill to a “biker” location that I used to go... What a fun to drive .. waaaay nimble than my F30 and prone to do what you actually want “her” to do.
Yesterday had time to do an "all-fluid" service and installing the Sohn adapter. Took a look under the car as it was on the lifter and all the screw and bolt look pristine, nothing is missing not it's cracked, impressive for a 17yo car. Seen from below Engine bay Sohn adapter tank
New owner from Italy
