Rotary Titus

hmm... from watching the technical training video clip from the FAQ forum, it says that one of the spark plugs (forget trailing or leading) tends to foul up at low rpms (something with the rotary combustion cycle) but cleans itself out at higher rpms. So I guess if you never rev your engine, that could contribute to stalling?

oosik

Well, i know i never had a problem revving the engine. :D

oosik

Tru dat! I looked over the documentation from the service done and it just mentions "...reprogrammed PCM..." It's no longer idling like it was so it must have done something.

oosik

Here is what I e-mailed Mazda in regards to the oil issue. Though it doesn't answer how I'm supposed fo follow up on it.
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I recently went into Ed Morse Mazda, Port Ritchie, FL for my first service; oil change, tire rotation. It wasn't until the next morning that I realized that the service dept put in 10w-30 motor oil instead of the recommended 5w-20. I called asking them what type of oil goes into an RX8, their response, "Well that's a good question?" He then proceeded to inform me that they put 10w-30 into all mazda vehicles and that it was approved by mazda for the RX8. How can it be approved for the RX8 when he didn't even know what's required in the first place.

Please explain to me, what kind of response is that from a service department that is responsible for servicing vehicles by mechanics that are supposed to be ASE certified?

And how is it that they still don't know what weight oil goes into an RX8 after it has been on the market for around 6 months? I knew what kind of oil it required before purchasing the vehicle.

My understanding of the warranty granted by Mazda is that if I don't take proper care of my vehicle, as per, the owners manual and what Mazda requires, that Mazda has the right not to honor the warranty due to my negligence, i.e. not putting in the proper, recommended oil.

The information I require from Mazda is what is the oil that is SUPPOSED to be put into the RX8? And if 10w-30 is the improper oil, how dows Mazda plan to rectifiy this situation?

Understand, my situation is not rare. There are several instances where service departments are not servicing the vehicle to Mazda specifications and that the owners are given the "run-around".

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Here is their response:

Dear Drew,

Thank you for contacting Mazda North American Operations. I appreciate
the opportunity to respond to you.

In regard to your inquiry, Mazda recommends using 5W-20 engine oil or
the 2004 Mazda RX-8. The use of 10W-30 engine oil probably will not
harm the engine. However, we do recommend using the oil recommended by
our Product Engineers in Japan.

We continuously work with every dealership in an effort to provide only
the highest quality services to our customers. Your feedback regarding
your experience is important and is valued.

I have documented your comments regarding Ed Morse Mazda for our
corporate record. We continuously evaluate these records as part of our
ongoing commitment to provide only the highest quality products and
services.

Please take a moment to give us your opinion about our e-mail service.
Click the link below to complete a brief, online survey.

http://www.zoomerang.com/survey.zgi?...7GC4NHRSHLSH44

Regards,

Lisa Lasky
Specialist, Customer Assistance E-Business

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So what's anyone's advice from this point? Take it up with the service department or Mazda NA?

93rdcurrent

The dealer needs to replace the oil and give you a new filter for free. If Mazda has a specified oil grade for your car the dealership should use it period. Any deviation from that and it is their liability. I would not stand for it myself and I am fortunate because my dealership sees things the same way I do. They have been very accomidating and courteous. Good Luck and thanks for keeping us informed.

Mitch Strickler

You asked a question that Mazda didn't answer -- what are they going to do about your getting the wrong oil. They didn't even give a straight answer to your question of whether the warranty would be endangered, just weasel talk about how your engine "probably" wouldn't be damaged.
I suggest putting Mazda's feet to the fire with very specific questions, best answered yes or no.
Does Mazda officially state that my warranty is completely in force despite the use of 10-30 oil for the first change? (You don't have to ask about other changes, because you'll buy 5-20 yourself -- I use Castrol -- and bring it to the dealer, unless he's convinced you that he's reformed.) If Mazda will not give this assurance in writing, why not?
Will Mazda take action, through the dealer or by reimbursing me, so that I can replace the 10-30 with 5-20 right away? And if not, why not, because substitution of non-recommended oil wthout the owner's knowledge is the fault of Mazda/the dealer Mazda allows to use its name and give authorized service.
On a less yes-or-no basis, you might ask them why they think it is enough to put dealer misconduct like this in THEIR files, to be avaluated, rather than giving the dealer an immediate reprimand and monitoring its compliance. You could add, to cut off a possible excuse, that they should have said so if they really are taking this action.
And copy all of this to the next highest level in Mazda, above the one that replied to you.

8_wannabe

Yeah, their use of the word "probably" doesn't give me that warm fuzzy feeling. Does that mean there's a 51 percent chance the dealership didn't trash your car?

93rdcurrent

Excellently put Mitch. I agree wholeheartedly that Mazda should answer what "probably" meant. It becomes a legal issue then and one that Mazda will have to stick behind.

oosik

Okay, unfortunately I didn't get back on here in time to post what has happened since I posted the e-mails.

I had mentioned I sent a copy of the e-mail to the dearlship/service center, whether Mazda NA contacted them or my e-mail got to them, they responded.

I received a call today from the service dept manager saying he received word that service put the wrong oil in the car. He was extremely apologetic and adamant about having it fixed. I mentioned I had the oil pan TSB due as well. He going to make sure the parts for that were available then get it done all at once.

so the squeaky "engine" gets the oil.......


oh yea, get this.......the service manager mentioned that they have 5w-20 in stock and that should have been used, duh?

Truthfully, i'm not really all that concerned about the engine after one oil change with 10w-30, or should I be?

The thing that really gets-my-goat is that these service techs are getting paid $60+/hour, essentially by me and others bringing their vehicles in, I figure I'm paying this guy about $5.00 for the time it takes to look up the proper oil if it's not commited to memory. You'd think for a quick $5 he'd do it?!?

8_wannabe

Oosik, glad you sorted this out. If you read my post on Page 1 of this thread (near the bottom) your experience and mine are exactly the same EXCEPT in my case the lowly mechanics knew to use 5W-20 even though the service rep insisted it was 10W-30.

As for whether to be concerned or not, I'm not sure why you should be when Aussie/NZ owners are told to use 10W-30. They've got the same car, right?

S3/P3/E2

Oosik - add me to the list of folks happy to hear that it all worked out. Yeah, gotta go with 8_wannabe that you'd likely have been just fine for the duration of having the 10w-30 in it, but this is just another classic case of the customer having to demand that they receive the proper service. It shouldn't have come to this in the first place, but as I've said on numerous occasions here (in several different ways) - if we, as consumers, demand that a dealer/business treat us the way we expect to be treated then they have no choice but to do so or lose our business to someone who will. If someone makes a genuine mistake (even through incompetence) - fine. The dealership, however, has an obligation to make it right and own up for the actions of its employees if proper procedures weren't followed because they were acting as agents of the dealership. Bottom line - as your customer you can either do right by me and make me happy, or I'll ensure that those above you that you don't want to hear from will make you unhappy (and then you can make me happy).

My recruit training company commander put it best 15 years ago: "I can make you smart, or I can make you strong. Which one I choose is up to you." :D

RodsterinFL

Glad to hear of the resolve. 10W is twice as 5W and I believe that there was a reason that Mazda engineers would require that weight. We know that the tolerances on the rotary are close and that oil is more critical to change earlier, etc. (fuel in oil as checked by other forum members). I would think that everything would be fine if they change it out.

8_wannabe

I'd like to think so, but on the other hand they recommend 10W-30 for Australia and New Zealand. Who can explain that? It can't be due to climate cuz their climate is as varied as the US. Are their cars different, or -- more likely -- there are liability reasons for the different recommendations?

JD32

Just had my oil changed today at 3k miles (first change free from dealer). Dealer did use 5W-20 but the invoice said 5 qts. I noticed it once I got home and checked the oil after half an hour and it was past the top line and past the flat part of the stick. Took it back and they had to drain some out. Word to the wise: READ THE INVOICE.

RX-GR8

i just got my oil changed too. the invoice said 5 qts but didnt say which viscosity. the oil was past the full line but not past the flat part. i talked to the mechanic and he said its about a half quart over. we do that because the rotary burns oil. he said it wont hurt anything.

SCiMMiA

Mine was filled WELL past the flat part. Service guy tried to tell me this wouldn't hurt the engine - I don't believe it. Shouldn't be hard to just get it to the line. I can take care of the oil consumption.

RX-GR8

EXACTLY

JD32

THANK YOU!!
Amazing how hard it is to do an oil change properly when you are getting paid $72 an hour.

hornbm

iTrader: (1)

Just so you guys know, the reason for running such thin oil, is to reduce wear on engine startup. The faster the oil can get into the system, the less startup wear occours. 90% of all engine wear occours on engine startup.

Maximus

Here's some important info found on valvoline website:

"A typical modern car may require a multi-viscosity oil rated at 5W-20, a number that would have been unthinkable a short time ago. But that relatively thinner oil is designed to work in conjunction with the tight engine clearances and provide adequate lubrication from a cold start-up in the winter in Minnesota to a blistering drive across the desert near Phoenix in the summer. If you use a heavier oil because you think it's "better," you'll not only be wrong, you may cause your engine some damage since it won't be properly lubricated during start-up and in cooler weather. Furthermore, if you decide that if a range of 5W-20 is good, then 5W-30 must be better because it's a wider range, you'll also be wrong, since the things done to give that oil the wider range may not necessarily be what your engine needs.

The best oil for your car is what the manufacturer recommends. Use the correct viscosity as outlined in your owner's manual, purchase quality oil from a reputable company, change it regularly, and take good care of your car. "


Would you still put anything other than 5W-20 in your 8???

MaHogoff

>>Would you still put anything other than 5W-20 in your 8???

HELL no. 5W-20 between the lines. Period!!

oosik

Mine will get changed again in about 1000 more miles. I'll take it to a different dealership and ask them what oil they put in before doing it. the only reason I'll have dealer do it again is I'm really curious if this situation happens again!!

PHA RX-8

Damn the dealer. My dealer got me. I'm looking at the invoice and it says 5-30 oil installed. I just called and will be taking it back up there. This trip to thdealer hasn't been a pleasant one.

Gigolo Jason

Welcome to a replay of rotarys vs Mazda in the year 1993.

mikeb

you really have to walk them through what you want

they used 5-30 on me once and they overfilled mine once also