Oil topping up
 

Hi!
I'm a fresh owner of a wonderful Titanium Grey RX-8 in Italy.
I read a lot about this car before deciding to buy it, including the fact that oil level must be checked with a certain frequency... no problem, of course, but what I did not realize was that the dealer insist on the fact that I CANNOT DO the topping up by myself: I have to go to the dealer's shop and have them do it for me!
Isn't this a little absurd?

Ciao
Nicola

I agree this is absurd. The dealer hasn't told me not to do mine myself. That like telling someone they can't do there own oil change. I mean how hard is it to check your oil and add more. I feel safer doing it myself than having the dealer do it anyway.

I asked them to give me some oil to do the topping myself, when needed: at this point, they said I could not have it, because this had to be done at the dealers place!!!

Ciao
Nicola

So go to the store and buy a quart ...you can do that ya know its about 2 bucks. Psssst....Don't tell the dealer and it will be ok little buckaroo.;)

Yeah, I definitely feel safer doing it myself. My dealer put 5 quarts in after the first oil change! They've learned and now they only use 4, but sheesh.

Ok, I'll buy it myself... ;-)

Another question: is it normal to smell burnt oil in the first hundreds km? :-/

oil topping up
 

Floriano,

the manual actually says to check the oil every other fill-up and top up as necessary. It says nothing about this being a dealer service. I just wouldn't worry about it if I were you.

yes burnt oil smell is normal should go away in a couple more Km's.

The smell won't go away for many miles (or KM's). I just broke 2000 miles and it still smells like buring oil.

Re: Oil topping up
 

And what - they charge you $25 (whatever than is in lire) for the service? Nice little scam.

What was the dealer's reason for having them check the oil? The owner's manual makes it clear that the owner can top it up, I am interested in why the dealer suggests otherwise. Did you ask them?

Mr. M,
yep, I asked why, he told me something about the rotary being complex technology, or something like that (I was too excited to go away with the car to investigate further).
I got the impression they wanted this operation to be done properly, and that this was the reason they were not giving me a quarter of oil (which I asked and was refused).
It is a very large Ford/Mazda dealer in Monza (the only one in the city, actually), but now I'm going to ask directly Mazda Italy!

Really the burnt oil smell won't go away for so long? It is really not pleasant at all, I fear it could be even dangerous for the lungs (I carry with me my 2 and a half years old child)!

Otherwise, this car is really magnificent! I only regret the Italian version has no cruise control, that is very practical (I have it on my MOTORBIKE!!!)...

Ciao
Nicola

Don't bother asking them; just tell them how your dealer lied to you.

I can't imagine anybody in the world is taking their RX-8 to the dealer to top off the oil. The person who told you this is playing a joke or trying to get you to spend money needlessly.

i agree. i've never heard of such a thing. your dealer is insane.

(Looking at RX-GR8's pic)...that's like the pot calling the kettle black. :P

Nah, McMurphy suffered from an overabundance of sanity in an insane world.

I think it would be a good idea to confirm what Mazda Italy's standpoint on this is. Also, tell them about the oil smell, and maybe they will contact the dealer for you. Good luck!