I live in pakistan were temperature varies between 2 degree celsius to 50 degree celsius around the year.

I read in the the manual that the recommend lube for rx8 is 5w-20 but this is not available here. I usually fill my car with Caltex Havoline Formula which is 10W-30. Am i killing my engine?

Can somebody please also explain what this 10W-30 or 5w-20 means.

 

10W-30 is the smart choice there. It's a thicker oil- the numbers refer to the viscosity (lower is more runny). There are two numbers because the oil viscosity changes with temperature. 10 is the most runny it gets, 30 is the thickest it gets. There's a school of thought among RX8 owners that the 5W20 requirement is to meet emissions standards but the engine actually survives longer using thicker oil. I personally use 10W-30 or 10W-40.

 

See here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motor_oil

 

Look at the chart in the first post in the following thread:

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?p=2749156

5w20 is recommended in the US and Canada because of fuel economy requirements.

Ken

 

You should see the bearing damage that 5W-20 causes.

Anything less than 10W-40 is asking for trouble. Read "Lets look at expos over 100K Renesis Motor" thread

Use your 5W-20 in your paper shredder

 

Exactly right. Same thing for my Jeep Patriot 'beater.'

I do use 5w-20 in my generally cooler area, but also do pre-mix in Summer.

Here's the short form insight:

"The SAE designation for multi-grade oils includes two grade numbers; for example, 10W-30 designates a common multi-grade oil. Historically, the first number associated with the W (again 'W' is for Winter, not Weight) is not rated at any single temperature. The "10W" means that this oil can be pumped by your engine as well as a single-grade SAE 10 oil can be pumped. "5W" can be pumped at a lower temperature than "10W" and "0W" can be pumped at a lower temperature than "5W". The second number, 30, means that the viscosity of this multi-grade oil at 100°C (212°F) operating temperature corresponds to the viscosity of a single-grade 30 oil at same temperature. The governing SAE standard is called SAE J300."

 

I use 5w30 but also use premix of 6oz to 12gal or so! 10w30 will not "kill" your engine it will b perfectly fine!

 

use 10w40 or 5w40

 

ken, could you link that thread please?

I'm terminally stupid tonight (hopefully just tonight)....

 

Just click the links in nycgps sig.

 

OK, you've convinced me nycgps, especially after reading thru RotaryResurrections' linked engine teardown/rebuild thread. I'll move to 10W-30 (or -40) when my '8 comes out of hybernation this Spring. Will go to 10W-30 in my Jeep Patriot as well.

 

ugh i didnt know any of this.... i read the manual and ive been using 5-20 for 3 years now

 

At least mazda won't try to void your warranty for using non recommended oil when your engine fails

Just kidding, I bet they'll still try.

 

Go with 10W-40 winter and 20W-50 summer.

At 100C most 10W-30 oils are THINNNER than a 5W-30. Read the spec sheets

 

....but why would you want thicker?

S

 

See the links in nycgs thread. Most all engine builders recommend 10W-40 or 20W-50 based on similar findings

 

Hussian well am from Pak too .. i hve been usin redline 10w40 since two years so my advice would be to shift from caltex to redline ..

Faraz..

 

what do you mean by redline???

 

redline is a syn oil maker / seller... and check pm..

really. i think running 10 w 40 year around would be a fine for you..

beers

 

swoope, what weight do you run?

Also, to the OP, you might want to consider Idemitsu 10W-30 Rotary oil. It's synthetic, but it's supposedly formulated specifically for rotary engines, as the name implies...

 

I use 10W-40 and although im FI but yeah you should be fine

 

wow i think i may b moving to 10w30 next oil change....

 

hussain redline is an oil brand ... i dnt want u to rely on caltex cuz caltex oils which are available in pakistan arnt tht fit for the car soo .. i think u should shift

 

covered that in pm..

and thanks for pointing that out! good job..

beers

 

i am running 10 w 40. for about a year.. i think i took a small fuel mpg hit. very small. but who knows!

so far i have run, stock. 5 / 30 syn. royal purple.. good stuff..

then 5 / 30 dino. it works.. and now 10 / 40.

i am happy with what i am running right now with where i live..

btw, i cant tell the difference in how the motor runs. or how it feels.. but i do look at temp gauges often..

beers