Im curious, I know the rotary burns more oil but im curious if anyone has considered or done the synthetic oil change. I know several dealers locally here will guarentee any part that synthetic oil touches, as long as you do all oil changes with them on schedule, for the life of the car. It would seem that this would be a boon for RX-8 owners. So my question is has anyone out there done the synthetic oil change or just the old fashoin one.

 

Not on the RX-8, but my RX-7's been running synthetic for 160K miles. I haven't decided yet whether to go synthetic on the 8 - personally, I'm in the "Synthetic OK for rotaries" camp.

 

When i changed my oil at mazda the tech told me dont use synthetic but do a search for more info

 

I've been using Royal Purple synthetic in my FD for a while now, despite Mazda's comments about it. IMO it works great. However, the turbos are probably benefitting more than the motor, and the 8 won't have that to worry about. The other thing...since Mazda is so gung-ho about telling people not to use synthetic, if you need a new motor under warranty and they know you've been using synthetic, I could see them denying the claim.

jds

 

I plan to use the free maint. for the first 50K miles. I use Mobil One in my Tunrdra becuse it is a real pain to change. I have used Castrol GTX in the last 10 of my cars they always have gone over 200,00 with no problems or excess oil consumption. Has anyone tried to change their oil yet ? I wondered how easy it is.

 

Doing an oil change on the 8 is fairly easy, assuming that the factory didn't over-tighten the oil filter. I would strongly suggest having the correct oil filter wrench available prior to draining the oil (available online or at Pep Boys). I learned this the hard way.

With the oil filter wrench, the change is as easy, if not easier, than on a Miata.

Dave

 

I ALSO HAVE USED ROYAL PURPLE 10-30W IN MY 8.
THE ONLY REASON MAZDA RECCOMENDS 5-20W IS TO OBTAIN THE MILEAGE THEY HAVE REPORTED TO THE EPA.
10-30W WILL PROLONG THE LONGEVITY OF THE ROTOR BEARINGS AND THE SYNTHETIC BURNS JUST LIKE REGULAR OIL. NO WORRIES!

 

Also, I have been unable to locate anything in the owner's manual about not using synthetic oil. I'm not sure where people are getting this notion that it is bad for the RX-8.

 

BTW Royal Purple makes a synthetic 5w-20 oil. Been using 10w-30 Royal Purple in my 3rd Gen RX-7 with no issues. www.racingbeat.com says Royal Purple works fine (they are the outfit which does the MazdaSpeed Protoge` and the Bonneville racing) and give about 2% additional HP. I believe that Royal Purple is quoted on the Mazda corporate website at last year's SevenStock that synthetic is fine for rotaries. If you go to the Mobil 1 website, you'll see that they recommend synthetic for my '93 RX-7 13b-REW twin-turbo rotary.

 

Well, they're getting it from Mazda, although not directly about the 8. For some time now, Mazda has steered people away from synthetics in the RX-7. No one really seems to know why, although there are plenty of unconfirmed theories around. The bottom line as far as I'm concerned: I've run RP in my 7 for a few years now and I haven't had any oil-related troubles that I'm aware of. I haven't actually heard from ANYONE...and I've done a lot of asking...who has any sort of real story about synthetic oil causing problems. There are actually a lot of pretty knowledgable rotary folks who have quietly been using it for years, they just don't often talk about it in order to avoid the inevitable giant flame war that solves nothing. Me...I'm not smart enough to keep my mouth shut :D

 

I checked my dipstick at 500 miles and then again at 1000 and it the oil level still is at full. I am confusedb/c the dealer told me I would have to add a tiny bit of oil after 1000. My Rx8 still is at full on the dipstick and now Im almost at 2000 miles. For youguys that check your oil dipstick after every 2nd gas fill up, did any of you have to add some oil yet?

 

I had dealer change oil at 2900 and I didnt add any before
Many people on this forum added oil, however like me some didnt so It just depends on the 8

 

I check the oil just about every weekend and added a half quart at about 2600 miles.

 

My oil light came on at 2600 miles and I added 2/3 of a quart, now at 3000 still full. No more oil lights. Does not appear to burn as much as most of us were told to expect.

 

I added a quart during the first 3900 miles; I ran it hard around 1300 miles for a couple days ; that quart was added in probably 5 or 6 different times. I recently added nearly a 1/2 quart after about 2500 miles on the current oil change. I personally think it's using more than they told us but that's based on 1) my own use and 2) my belief that it was a quart per 10,000 miles as the estimated use. If you change the oil by 7500 miles and don't mind the oil level going to the bottom of the dipstick (1.8 quarts down) then in theory you'd never have to add any between changes. I prefer to keep mine within a 5-6 ounces of full so I have close to the full 7.1 quart capacity being cooled and circulating in my engine. IF there is only one important thing to remember (there are two) about a rotary it is that it needs oil fresh and abundant (not to be confused with overfilled). If you've only had piston engines that is lesson #1 in the rotary world.

oh, the 2nd. The cooling system needs to be kept in proper working order. All the time.

 

Changed my own oil at 2,000 miles. Before that I checked the level periodically -- never had a need to add any.

 

I'm at 4000 Km still doesn't need oil.

 

Im at 2100 miles now.

At approx 800 mi and 1800 mi, I added 4oz each time or total 1/3 qrt. Each 4oz brought level to just over fill.

Never did the oil level get below 1/4 from full mark on stick.

At 2000 miles changed oil and filter (4qt drained).