So I just purchased a 2011 RX8 R3 and I am very new to this game.... bought the car for my son who loves these, and I am an old school guy that has rebuilt more than his share of SBC and BBC's....
But very new to the Rotary game... One of the first questions I have is what do I need to know about mixing oil with the fuel?? I understand the motor drinks some oil to lubricate apex seals, but am wondering what I need to understand for this car as part of regular ongoing maintenance... type of oil it uses, type of oil to premix fuel, etc... thanks in advance...

 

First welcome.
Second, read the new owners thread, then read it about 12 more times no really read this!

 

Will do, thank you!

 

Some people premix, others don't. I do. I add in the recommended dose of 1/2 ounce of premix per gallon of fuel, which is about 1:250. I use Idemitsu, but you can use any 2-stroke oil that meets JASO FC or FD. Don't add 4-stroke to your fuel tank.

As for oil, if you live in a cooler climate and you don't do more than monthly Autocross, 5W-20 conventional is fine. I sent in oil analysis twice to confirm. If your climate is hotter and/or you track your car, XW-30 and XW-40 should be used. I use conventional just because it's dirt cheap and does its job just fine, though some people use synthetic and it works just fine.

Just make sure you change oil often. I usually change my conventional at 3k miles. Synthetic can go on a bit longer, maybe 5k miles or so. Remember each oil change drains about only a little more than half of the oil capacity, so change often and keep it fresh.

 

 

Oops, a typo. I meant half.

Fixed it.

 

If it's a 2011 it could very well still be under warranty (mine is) so I would advise against pre-mixing. Use the OE spec 5w20 and keep it topped off. Check it every 500 miles or so, I probably add about half a quart every 1000 miles.

 

 

It's actually 5W-30 outside of North America and 5W-20 in North America.

It was supposedly done for emission purposes and to squeeze out last bit of gas mileage.

But again, 5W-20 is adequate for daily driving in cooler climates.

This is not an uncommon practice, BTW. Lots of car manufacturers do this.

 

Wonder if that's why more engine failures are in US ? Also we only have 1 oil cooler on high HP engines and i believe with 2 coolers the oil pressure was reduced ?

 

What's the percentage failure rate of the 8 in the US versus in Europe/Australia? Curious to see. It's not like the 8 is regarded as a reliable car in Europe AFAIK.

If you look at Series I failures, there is a lot of places to go wrong. The crap ignition coils were one reason, and then there is the inadequate oil injection from 2 injectors, etc. I'd be curious to see how many daily driver cars in cooler climates actually failed from bearing wear from using 5W-20 oil.

Now if you visit a track, I have talked to an FD owner who has witnessed some Renny teardowns and said they have consistently observed much more bearing wear from using 5W-20 versus XW-50 oil, and that's not surprising as the thinner oil will break down at the high loads and temperature you see at a track.

As for oil cooler, that seems to be just a design choice with Series I. Series II has higher oil pressure and the MT ones still come with 2 oil coolers.

 

thanks for all the comments... can new members not post questions in other forums? minimum post requirement? thx

 

Welcome, There are 2 links in my sig, one has already been recommended. I like the other as well...