The dealer suggested that I check the oil level every time I buy gas. I haven't checked the oil level in any car I've owned in the past ten years (cars don't bun oil anymore).

How much oil consumption can we expect on the RX-*?

 

From my experience so far about 1 quart every 2.5k miles. I check every other fill up, because it was suggested I do so, certainly does not look like you need to check more than every 4th.

 

I am just over 2000 miles, mostly gentle to moderate, high revs a few times a week, in all types city-highway conditions. I check it every time I get gas (mostly to have something to do while waiting for the pump), and today it was finally down to about 3/4 quart, and I added 1/2 quart. From what I had read, I expected it to consume more oil. I carry the right oil in my car.

 

I only have about 1200 mi on it and like Trx8 my driving style is gentle to moderate with the occasional high rev zoom-zoom. I too check it @ every fill-up and have yet to see the oil level move one bit...

 

If you are driving only in the city, not on long jaunts but just commuter trips of 10 miles one way or so, daily, I would check it about every third fill up, that's about 600 - 800 miles, depending on if you get decent gas mileage or not. If you do a lot of revving and spirited driving, this should be sufficient.

I first put oil in mine at around 1500 miles, it took about half a quart. Yesterday while on my first real road trip, I was about 300 miles from home and around 2500 miles on the odometer and my oil light came on. I was a bit surprised since I was only driving it at an average of around 70 - 78 mph on cruise control and under 4000 rpm but was doing so for the 300 miles. Thankfully I had my other half quart because the gas station I stopped at didn't have any weight of oil any where near what they reccommend. This half quart took me from the bottom of the "lower" mark on the dip stick to the middle. As soon as I got to civilization, I got the appropriate quart of the right weight. and topped it off with another 1/2 quart.

Of course, this car is the hardest of any I have ever had to check the oil in. Not that it is in a difficult position but you have to dip it about three to four times to clear off the milky looking sludge that somehow forms in the oil on these. If you do a search on oil, I am sure you will find your answer to what that sludge is, it does not, however, effect the performance or integrity of the engine.

I would consider it finatical to check EVERY fill up except to see how much the oil recedes in each 200 - 300 miles ran. Every other fill up isn't as bad but I think every third fill up and keeping a 1/2 quart minimum on hand is the best and most logical of all.

That, of course, is just my opinion.

 

D MENAC 7 --

The check under the hood at every fill up is a left over from the rule when I learned to drive. The policy was to check under the hood at every fillup to see if the fluid levels were OK (battery, washer fluid, oil), look for things going awry, and to note any trends. Recently I was surprised to read this:

The Tech Garage > Why is the battery not a maintenance free one?
https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...threadid=18836

 

the dealer which is a god friend of mine said it would use about 3/4 qt every 1200miles.it holds 7.5 qts of oil when you get down to 5qts there is a buzzer that will sound to let you know .but it is not a good idea to let it get that low blue rx8

 

You should check out the TSBs online.
Yours sounds like the oilpan issue, causes an oil light after long, consistent cruising.

 

I make it a point spend some quality time in the garage every weekend and check the oil level/condition, belt condition, brake/clutch fluid condition, etc. So far my RX8 has consumed one quart in the first 2200 miles or so. The first 800 miles or so there was almost no visible oil consumption... but once I felt comfortable that the motor was fully broken in and started revving higher and driving more aggressively, I could see the level dropping slightly every tankful.

 

Funny thing is for the remainder of the trip there and back it didn't do it again, it stayed off so long as the oil level was in the safe zone. I am going to read the TSB on it though I am not too keen about going to my dealership for service because of a dispute I am involved in with them.

 

Beat me to it, Reeko. The oil pans in the early production cars had misplaced baffles and they've been generating Check Oil Level warnings. They warning occurs at high speeds, typcially driving straight and slightly down hill as discussed in this thread. (there are many others). The TSB on the oil pan issue is here.

 

I have about 4500 miles on the 8 and I just added my second quart about 300 miles ago. When I first got the car, it was over-filled (surprise!!) and so I'm not sure how much oil I really had. I put in about half a quart at roughly 1500 miles and another shortly thereafter. I'd been holding off on adding this last one since it's passed time I'd intended to get an oil change but as I was driving, the light came on. I tend to believe that it was not in error since my VIN is outside the range of the recalled vehicles with the baffle/sensor problem. After seeing the oil-light, I did stop and check the oil and it was exactly on the bottom mark.

I check the oil about every 3 or 4 fill-ups depending on the weather and how big a hurry I'm in.

So far, I'm foam-free and from what it sounds like, I hope I get to stay that way.

 

I check oil every 1000 miles or so... virtually all highway in my case.

So far, the car seems to take a quart every 2000 between oil changes. I always carry at least one quart of 5-20 in the car at all times.

 

Just did a quick but gentle 3,500 mile road trip and the car consumed exactly one quart of oil. When whacking the rev limiter a lot on more engaging drives it takes about twice that.

{{{{