this sucks - Mazda says 1 qt of oil consumed/ 600 miles
10-28-2004, 01:04 PM
#51
Insanely Yellow
Having had both a 12A first generation RX-7, model year 1985, and a current RX-8, I can speak uniquely to this. Again, the 600 mile number, despite your desire to not listen to this, is a benchmark for Mazda to set as "normal" - it doesn't mean it does it in practice. My car, with 3000 miles on it, has burned exactly 1 quart of oil. I don't know if this is what it will settle to, but that's perfectly acceptable to me.
My 1985 RX-7 burned a quart every 1200 to 1500 miles - about double the apparent consumption of my current car. Now, I don't have my original manuals or anything, but I seem to remember that Mazda said back then that the "acceptable normal" rate of oil consumption on that car was a quart every 300 miles!
What they say is acceptable is to merely keep outraged owners from insisting on a new engine, when the engine is operating within specification tolerances.
I'm sure the horsepower number has a fair variation too - the quoted 238 is a benchmark number - and I'm sure some of our cars make more, and some make less (now don't hijack this thread about that).
Just because Mazda says that 600 miles/quart is acceptable doesn't mean your car will do it.
Please untwist your knickers.
My 1985 RX-7 burned a quart every 1200 to 1500 miles - about double the apparent consumption of my current car. Now, I don't have my original manuals or anything, but I seem to remember that Mazda said back then that the "acceptable normal" rate of oil consumption on that car was a quart every 300 miles!
What they say is acceptable is to merely keep outraged owners from insisting on a new engine, when the engine is operating within specification tolerances.
I'm sure the horsepower number has a fair variation too - the quoted 238 is a benchmark number - and I'm sure some of our cars make more, and some make less (now don't hijack this thread about that).
Just because Mazda says that 600 miles/quart is acceptable doesn't mean your car will do it.
Please untwist your knickers.
10-28-2004, 02:23 PM
#52
Administrator
Originally Posted by yamajj
the hp number of 250 is most likely a crank hp number. this number will then trickle down to 238 because of the linkages and shaft parts the power must go thru before actually reaching the rear wheels.
10-28-2004, 03:23 PM
#53
Insanely Yellow
Sandia:
Why so shrill about this? Geeze, your outrage is entirely out of synch with the severity of this issue. Also, do you actually even have an '8? Your profile says you drive an '81 "winning blue" RX-7 ... not a color that even existed then.
I had a "Rennaisance Red" 81 RX-7 - a dark metallic red a bit darker than Velocity Red. Then after that, had a "Tender Blue" 1985 RX-7 GS.
Why so shrill about this? Geeze, your outrage is entirely out of synch with the severity of this issue. Also, do you actually even have an '8? Your profile says you drive an '81 "winning blue" RX-7 ... not a color that even existed then.
I had a "Rennaisance Red" 81 RX-7 - a dark metallic red a bit darker than Velocity Red. Then after that, had a "Tender Blue" 1985 RX-7 GS.
10-28-2004, 04:44 PM
#54
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ha ha ha....
ahhh.... This is hilarious. Absolutely hilarious. Complain about gas mileage, complain about horsepower, complain about oil consumption. Hmmm. Is money a question? Is Horsepower a problem? Let's just end all of this and take a look at how small this whole oil thing really is.
Let's just say we get 16 miles per gallon. Let's say we drive 600 miles and we need a quart of oil (this is worst case). To drive 600 miles we will need 37.5 Gallons of gas (67.50 @ 1.80/gallon). Let's add 2.50 for oil (gas station price).... now we are paying $70.00 for 37.5 gallons. That put us at $1.8666~ per gallon. That means all this is over $0.06 cents per gallon.
If you really want to save money, don't buy oil at the gas station. You can get the same oil at Wal-Mart for $1.24 a quart....which would bring you down to $0.03 for oil per gallon of Gas.
ahhh.... This is hilarious. Absolutely hilarious. Complain about gas mileage, complain about horsepower, complain about oil consumption. Hmmm. Is money a question? Is Horsepower a problem? Let's just end all of this and take a look at how small this whole oil thing really is.
Let's just say we get 16 miles per gallon. Let's say we drive 600 miles and we need a quart of oil (this is worst case). To drive 600 miles we will need 37.5 Gallons of gas (67.50 @ 1.80/gallon). Let's add 2.50 for oil (gas station price).... now we are paying $70.00 for 37.5 gallons. That put us at $1.8666~ per gallon. That means all this is over $0.06 cents per gallon.
If you really want to save money, don't buy oil at the gas station. You can get the same oil at Wal-Mart for $1.24 a quart....which would bring you down to $0.03 for oil per gallon of Gas.
10-28-2004, 08:29 PM
#56
car for 2 and the dog
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no 'stew'
my logo says 04 MT WINNING BLUE -81 RX-7
yes, that's a 2004 manual trans winning blue rx-8 (of course)
the -81 rx-7 (notice the hyphan) was a gold gls with sunroof power windows
and no a/c
I do own an rx-8 and had a rx-7 - mercy!!!!
I really doubt that any documentation will say the rx-7 had 300 mile per quart
that's real funny. I got 3000/qt no ands, ifs or buts.
my logo says 04 MT WINNING BLUE -81 RX-7
yes, that's a 2004 manual trans winning blue rx-8 (of course)
the -81 rx-7 (notice the hyphan) was a gold gls with sunroof power windows
and no a/c
I do own an rx-8 and had a rx-7 - mercy!!!!
I really doubt that any documentation will say the rx-7 had 300 mile per quart
that's real funny. I got 3000/qt no ands, ifs or buts.
10-28-2004, 09:24 PM
#57
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I was just posting worst case scenario... I travel back and forth to Little Rock a lot (about 1,000 miles round trip) and have notice it takes about a quart for that trip. But, oposite of what one would think, I (used to) put a quart in about 1 time every 2500 miles or so driving in the city. But I guess after having a Ranger that took a quart every 100 miles it doesn't bother me so bad...
10-28-2004, 10:00 PM
#58
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Originally Posted by Slims8
I was just posting worst case scenario... I travel back and forth to Little Rock a lot (about 1,000 miles round trip) and have notice it takes about a quart for that trip. But, oposite of what one would think, I (used to) put a quart in about 1 time every 2500 miles or so driving in the city. But I guess after having a Ranger that took a quart every 100 miles it doesn't bother me so bad...
10-29-2004, 12:11 AM
#59
Originally Posted by sandia8
I can read what Mazda said, and I know that not each owner will get the 600 miles per quart usage. But some probably do, my 8 is damn close to that.
But any current usage under 3000 miles is poorer than the old rotary engine. FACT!
I plan to use 10w-30 or even 10-30 and try to stop this oil consumption problem
FYI
My old vehicle was a NEW 1981 Rx-7 (12a of course)
No bloody oil cooler needed
Drove it (full out) 130,000+ miles over 13 years
Used 1 qt per 3000 miles period!
Changed the oil every 3000 miles (43 times at least)
SOLD THE CAR – IT WAS STILL WORKING JUST FINE
(the car worked just fine as long as you did not let the manual choke
go in , as it wanted to automatically, until the engine warm)
if the choke was allowed to close, the car ‘would not start until the engine was 100% cold) no matter how long that took – seems mazda has never fixed that problem – totally
But any current usage under 3000 miles is poorer than the old rotary engine. FACT!
I plan to use 10w-30 or even 10-30 and try to stop this oil consumption problem
FYI
My old vehicle was a NEW 1981 Rx-7 (12a of course)
No bloody oil cooler needed
Drove it (full out) 130,000+ miles over 13 years
Used 1 qt per 3000 miles period!
Changed the oil every 3000 miles (43 times at least)
SOLD THE CAR – IT WAS STILL WORKING JUST FINE
(the car worked just fine as long as you did not let the manual choke
go in , as it wanted to automatically, until the engine warm)
if the choke was allowed to close, the car ‘would not start until the engine was 100% cold) no matter how long that took – seems mazda has never fixed that problem – totally
Every rotary vehicle mazda ever released HAS AN OIL COOLER. In your 81, its right below the radiator. If you owned a first gen rx7 and never could tell it had an oil cooler by looking at these TWO OIL HOSES comming out of the front cover and rear cast iron piece, then thats just sad. Quit your bitching
10-29-2004, 02:58 AM
#61
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The Renesis' electric oil metering pump injects oil dependant on the coolant temperature, RPM, and charging efficiency (amount of intake air)....the PCM controls the pump.
If you fanged the thing around Boulder with a stuck thermostat, you may get that oil consumption...??!! I've done 13000km's now, I used just over a quart for the first 10000k's (6000miles).
Gomez.
If you fanged the thing around Boulder with a stuck thermostat, you may get that oil consumption...??!! I've done 13000km's now, I used just over a quart for the first 10000k's (6000miles).
Gomez.
10-29-2004, 11:55 AM
#62
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Originally Posted by hornbm
DUMBASS
Every rotary vehicle mazda ever released HAS AN OIL COOLER. In your 81, its right below the radiator. If you owned a first gen rx7 and never could tell it had an oil cooler by looking at these TWO OIL HOSES comming out of the front cover and rear cast iron piece, then thats just sad. Quit your bitching
Every rotary vehicle mazda ever released HAS AN OIL COOLER. In your 81, its right below the radiator. If you owned a first gen rx7 and never could tell it had an oil cooler by looking at these TWO OIL HOSES comming out of the front cover and rear cast iron piece, then thats just sad. Quit your bitching
10-29-2004, 10:02 PM
#63
Race one on the track, you may use a quart in 200 miles or less. It depends on the load of the engine. If you drive the living **** out of it (9,000 RPM constantly) you may use a quart in 600 miles. This is not a 1981 RX7, it has over twice the horse power, higher RPM limit, higher compression & heat loads. Average street driving is typically 2,000-3,000 miles per quart.
Oil consumption is the same as fuel consumption for rotary engines. The heavier the right foot, the more of each it will consume.
And yes, ALL ROTARY ENGINES HAVE HAD OIL COOLERS FOR GOD SAKES!, Get your "FACTs" right.
Oil consumption is the same as fuel consumption for rotary engines. The heavier the right foot, the more of each it will consume.
And yes, ALL ROTARY ENGINES HAVE HAD OIL COOLERS FOR GOD SAKES!, Get your "FACTs" right.
10-29-2004, 10:26 PM
#64
Originally Posted by czr
khtm's True. I don't understand the big deal. Oil is cheap, and not every rx8 eats oil the same. I add about half a quart every 600 miles.
10-30-2004, 03:39 AM
#65
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For me its only about a quart or a half quart every 1000 - 1500 miles depending how hard I drive. Half quart every 1500 if I drive easy. Maybe a quart every 1000 if I drive really hard constintly.
10-30-2004, 10:46 AM
#66
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I would rather indicate that I have added oil as with all other rotaries rather than being part of the "five engine club" that I knew as a third gen owner...Adding your first quart is as if a rite of passage. Baptised by fire into the world of owning a rotary
10-30-2004, 03:25 PM
#67
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Just a note on the subject of oil consumption. We do not run oil injection on our race rotaries, we pre mix it in the fuel. We run 100ml per 10 litres of fuel that lasts about 10 minutes of running! Our naturally aspirated engine is tight and strong, 220HP at the wheels! So i would be happy if i was burning a litre every 1000KM!! (or 600 miles)
10-31-2004, 09:35 AM
#69
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The ‘truth is out there’
I saw a web page stating 10,000 miles per one quart usage.
So why are some rabid members ticked off about this post?
Are they the same people who got upset with 238 h.p. not 250
Or fuel consumption other than 19 city 24 highway
Or those whose visors have fallen into their laps.
Seems the want it both ways.
Keep us posted as to the change in oil effects.
I saw a web page stating 10,000 miles per one quart usage.
So why are some rabid members ticked off about this post?
Are they the same people who got upset with 238 h.p. not 250
Or fuel consumption other than 19 city 24 highway
Or those whose visors have fallen into their laps.
Seems the want it both ways.
Keep us posted as to the change in oil effects.
10-31-2004, 11:11 AM
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Hey, I found the web article and another of interest!!!!
This article stating the 10,000 miles per quart from and another saying
The RX-8 get better fuel efficiency than a Rx-7
----------------- Both are far from the truth!!!!!!!
http://www.caranddriver.com/article.asp?section_id=15&article_id=4346&page_num ber=6
So if the side exhaust port is such a great idea, why did it take Mazda 35 years to figure it out? Turns out Mazda did experiment with side exhaust ports early in the rotary's development. But the ports clogged up with carbon from the oil that all rotaries use to lubricate their internal seals.
As this lubrication evolved from dribbling oil into the carburetor to injecting it at two locations into each chamber via a computerized pump, oil consumption has fallen to one quart per 10,000 miles. With the carbon-clogging problem solved, the breakthrough in exhaust-port location could finally take place. —CC
http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/roadtests/firstdrive/78911/article.html
What this design means to the consumer is better fuel efficiency and increased performance. Mazda estimates the RX-8 will get 20 percent better mileage in the city than the RX-7 did.
This article stating the 10,000 miles per quart from and another saying
The RX-8 get better fuel efficiency than a Rx-7
----------------- Both are far from the truth!!!!!!!
http://www.caranddriver.com/article.asp?section_id=15&article_id=4346&page_num ber=6
So if the side exhaust port is such a great idea, why did it take Mazda 35 years to figure it out? Turns out Mazda did experiment with side exhaust ports early in the rotary's development. But the ports clogged up with carbon from the oil that all rotaries use to lubricate their internal seals.
As this lubrication evolved from dribbling oil into the carburetor to injecting it at two locations into each chamber via a computerized pump, oil consumption has fallen to one quart per 10,000 miles. With the carbon-clogging problem solved, the breakthrough in exhaust-port location could finally take place. —CC
http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/roadtests/firstdrive/78911/article.html
What this design means to the consumer is better fuel efficiency and increased performance. Mazda estimates the RX-8 will get 20 percent better mileage in the city than the RX-7 did.
11-05-2004, 01:23 PM
#71
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The essential point that I noticed in the original post by sandia8 is that Mazda provided incorrect information. The message didn't state that 1 qt./600 miles is maximum oil consumption, but normal. Maybe it was too brief an answer. It needed some qualification, but as it stands, it is misleading at best. It's an example of poor customer service. It's not at all unreasonable for an owner to expect correct information direct from Mazda.
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