MrAdam5

The rundown: Earlier today my "Check Oil" light came on after filling up and stayed on until I stopped at a store. When I stopped and turned off the car I could still hear something running but thought it was something in the area making the sound. Afterwards I got back in my car and drove home without any problems and the "Check Oil" light had turned off. I pulled into my driveway and turned the car off and could hear that sound again. I got out and stood by the front of my car and it almost sounded like part of the engine was still running. So I hopped back in and turned the ignition to "ON", but didn't start the engine, and the noise stopped. I then turned it off again and the noise started up again for about 2 seconds and stopped.
Approximately 2 hours later I got back in my car and tried to start it but it would not turn over until the second attempt.

The facts:
It was 33C (~92F) today.
I nearly redlined in 1st two times (once before the oil light, and once after it had turned off) and once in 2nd (ofter the oil light went off).
I'm about 2 weeks away from 4000kms since my last oil change.
The odometer is at 133,000kms.
I do not know when the last time it had a full service done.

I speculate that the sound I heard could have been the car trying to cool down the oil still.

Could my battery be on the verge of dieing? The heat making it worse and the reason for the rough start? Should I be worried at all? Possible this was a one-time occurrence and probably wont happen like this again?

Anyone know what could really be causing this, or possible of solutions or checks I could do?

carbonRX8

iTrader: (1)

What was running what your fans.

I don't see any issue here.

Spinning Sushi

iTrader: (21)

Oil Light - DANGER! ADD OIL IMMEDIATELY. It means that you are a quart of oil low, it doesn't matter if it turns off, you're still a quart low. You're suppose to check your oil at every other gas fill-up. 1/10 8 owners don't check their oil and guess what? Their engine dies around 20k miles and they have to go in for a brand new engine.

The noise is your radiator fan running, it was trying to cool down the car. It's normal, they tend to stay on for 10-20 minutes to cool down the car.

dozer

iTrader: (3)

^+1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!! Add oil!!!!!!!! Not good

carbonRX8

iTrader: (1)

Oh, when you said filled up, you meant with gas??? I read it the other way around.

Fill up the oil!

Spinning Sushi

iTrader: (21)

Yes, add one quart of oil, lol.

Spinning Sushi

iTrader: (21)

Oh, and for the rough start... what year is your car? They have a TSB for a new starter.

MrAdam5

Wow fast replies!

That's kinda what I thought, but with the Oil light and the rough start I thought it might have been somewhat worse. That also hasn't happened to me before.

As for the year, its an '04.

dozer

iTrader: (3)

thats how we roll...check your oil level and add oil. also ^+1 to what renesis said...

also your fan comes on to cool down your car, you can turn it of by putting your car on the on position then just turning it off

Spinning Sushi

iTrader: (21)

Dude, the oil light means you're dangerously low on oil. It turns on because you are ONE QUART LOW!

Do you want your engine to die on you? Do a search on this forum and see how many people are replacing their engine at the 20,000 miles mark.

dozer

iTrader: (3)

wait so i should just not oil at 90k so i can have my engine replaced?

JinDesu

iTrader: (2)

Aim for it to break down at 99,999 while you're in front of the dealer.

Spinning Sushi

iTrader: (21)

And as they roll it into the service drive-way, it goes to 100,000 and they will say that you're out of warranty.

MrAdam5

I realize this, however, isn't the light suppose to stay on? It turned off once I had stopped the car and hasn't been back on after starting 3 times after. I also don't happen have any oil at the moment so it will have to wait till tomorrow.

I just checked the oil as well. Its sitting at half-way between the "low" line and the "full" line on the dipstick. The oil its self is fine.

Spinning Sushi

iTrader: (21)

If it's half way then that's one quart low.

Spinning Sushi

iTrader: (21)

The light turns on and off, it's like your gasoline light. When it turns on, you park on a level surface, turn off the car, wait for about 5 minutes, turn it back on, and the Low Gas light will go away for a good 10 miles.

JinDesu

iTrader: (2)

Tell them that you don't trust them, and sit in the drivers seat and clutch in : D

carbonRX8

iTrader: (1)

I do not believe that is true.

At low it is one quart down. And even at low, the light should not come on.

It might have been random. Or something else.

JinDesu

iTrader: (2)

I could have sworn the light comes on when you have 1 quart left. Your dipstick is 1.8 liters, you're total capacity is 3.5-4 liters or something.

MrAdam5

Thanks, Renesis and others, for the insight on oil levels.

Now that we're here, would topping off the oil and canceling my oil change I scheduled for 2 weeks from now be my best course of action? Theres still just over 1000kms before the 5000 mark that is recommended for the next change, but I believe I've seen posters in the Mazda dealership saying every 8000kms for the RX8? Or am I just on crack and should change it at 5000...

And by the sounds, it was the heat that caused the other two issues.



Edit:
O rly?

Spinning Sushi

iTrader: (21)

Everyone here recommends changing the oil at every 3,000 miles or 5,000 km even if you added more oil to it. You don't want to clog your oil filter with dirty sludge.

carbonRX8

iTrader: (1)

Yeh. If there is oil on the dipstick, you are not low enough for the light to come on.

At low, it is a perfect quart.

MrAdam5

Interesting. We'll I guess I'll see what the next couple days hold for me. It may have very well been some random series of events. Or the heat made my car go crazy.

Old Rotor

You dont show your year but this might be you....check your VIN....

http://www.finishlineperformance.com...13-04-1341.pdf

MrAdam5

Well look at that! My VIN is in that applicable model range. I guess if its still doing that when I go to the dealership next to get the oil done I'll get them to check that out. Thanks!