oil ?? - has anyone seen this?
 

Hello,

recently i was checking my oil level in the 8, when i pulled the dipstick out it was covered with a coffee colored, thicker liquid, almost like the oil was "frothing" up or gelling. I understand that it has been cold around here lately, but not too cold....just mid 30's. has anyone else seen this or could anyone else tell me what this is?

thanks

Might want to report that to your nearest dealer right away. How many miles do you have on it now? (I'm at ~3700)

well in piston engines that's an indicator of a blown head gasket, which is really bad news. but i don't know if the same symptoms apply for rotaries

It may be nothing to get worried about. If you are burning gasoline with ethanol blended with the gasoline it tends to leave some amount of moisture. This is what I have experience with my vehicle anyways. Just a thought.

If it was moisture it would have a grey color to it. When you put it back in did it come out the same? Doesn't sound lke a problem if it didn't. Was the car up to operating temp when you checked it ? You would be surprised how thick oil is at 30.

There's a few recent threads about foam on the dipstick - look or search around and see if you can find them. It's suggested that it is from condensation due to short trips, meaning the engine never gets hot enough to evaporate the inevitable condensation.

Regards,
Gordon

ok, i have just shy of 4000 on the car. i dont normally go on short drives, the shortest i normally run is at least 15 min. i have checked it bot when the engine was cold, andafter about a 40 min drive.

i will have to have it put in and taken a look at.

thanks

sounds like a good idea, ramfann -- keep us posted on what you find out?

Ramfann, did you ever look? I'm asking because I am noticing white residue at the top of the dipstick (not anywhere near the oil level). I have done 1000 miles, and the temperature here has been cool but above freezing most of the time. I usually only do long journeys (20 miles or more). Oil itself looks ok and it has hardly used any.

the car goes in in a day, i will tell you what i have found out when i get a bead on it.

FWIW, I have a short commute (3 miles each way), and about 1,400 miles on the car with many short trips; no foam.

ramfann, what did you find out? I had the same substance on my dipstick last night. Checked the oil after it cooled off. Car is running perfectly, though.

It's pretty normal for the rotary to do this. The PCV system is not very efficient. What I do, is once a week, when I shut off the engine (it's hot) remove the oil filler cap and leave it like that for a few hours (or overnight). This allows all that stuff to evaporate. Just remember to put it back on before you start it up.

BTW, that stuff is corrosive, so keep it off your hands, or wash them right after you mess with it.

Glad to know it's not a problem, Friend. Thanks.

same problem
 

i just checked my oil, saw the same substance remembered seeing this on the forum... now the car was flooded on tuesday a week ago, and i found that out on thursday, and i got the car started, ran the hell out of it and then put the car away thursday night..... had alot of snow over the weekend, didn't touch the car, then i just took the car for a 50 mile drive... the car is running fine, but should i get an oil change, i'm just over 1100 miles, the scheduled mtc is i think at 2500, but i think i might just get one over the weekend. any adivce would be nice, thanks

Take off the oil filler cap and see if has some foam in it. Also check the filler tube. If it does you might have a busted water seal and you should take it in asap.

Do you guys think the expansion and contraction of the housings do to the temperature fluctuations might allow for coolant to seep by the orings into the oil?

No, absolutely not. Heck, that's why they exist.

Go here:

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...light=oil+foam

It's not coolant. It would mix with the oil and be very obvious. If the coolant is red, the oil-coolant mixture will look like Nestle Quick.

So what did the dealer have to say when you took it in?

i checked my oil again, a few times, the next morning still was there after a quick 15 min drive, but seemed less, then after another 45 min in the car i checked again and it was all gone, but there is less oil in the car.... i've decided that during this weekend i'm just going ot get an oil chance i'm at 1100 miles and even though scheduled is 2500 i'll do it anyway. I'm choping it down to condensation, and instead of just adding a little oil i figure ater flooding hte engine i should jsut get an oil change.

is cold weather real hard on the engine??

My 8 wouldn't start this evening (I'm assuming it's flooded) after a few cranks I checked the oil and found the same thick foam. It's at the dealer right now. I will inquire about the oil situation and if it needs to be changed.

The interesting thing about the 8 and this stuff is it appears more often on the dip stick than the filler tube. On the 3rd gen 7 it appears on the filler tube, and not on the dipstick. Probably because the filler tube on the 8 is plastic and doesn't run as cool as a metal one would. The dip stick tube is metal so it runs cooler.

I have the same foaming on the dipstick, was a little worried about it myself and am keeping a close eye on it. I'll be keeping a close eye on this thread as well now. I'd like to know what the dealer has to say about this.

can someone post a link to the TSB from mazda about this oil foam?