Just did the first oil change at 2215 miles and 3.75 quarts filled the beast up. Just a data point.

Vince

 

so what kinda oil did the dealer put in?

 

Did your dealer even have the recommended 5W-20 in yet or did you just pick a viscocity at random?

 

Just changed mine for the first time today. Castrol 5w-20 (Wal-Mart), ~$2/quart, they had others.

3.75 quarts did the trick also, but (as with every other new car I've owned) the OEM filter was almost impossible to get loose.

I do my own maintenance. Dealers don't touch my car, except in the event of a warranty issue. The only exception is when I'm in Austin! The guys at Mazda South have my complete trust (Okay, mostly complete) with the car. A better experience would be hard to imagine.

Thanks again, budaman!!!

 

I went to a local oil change place and used 5w-20 that they stocked and my OEM filter.
Vince

 

So your car came in at last, or did you opt for the unoptioned Yellow Sport that came in last week?

 

It doesn't look quite impossible. But - tips? How do you get it loose the first time? Enough room for a filter wrench, or use some other device? How do you keep most of the oil in the filter from running out all over the car when removing it? TIA.

 

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the manual says our cars hold 7.1 quarts. If this is the case, how does only 3.75 quarts get removed ( or left room to add back I guess ) - or is there 2 drain plugs? anyone?

 

I started a thread in RX-8 Discussion forum to ask about this - the manual does specify 3.7 quarts for a oil change with filter change, it's the marketing information and specs that say the oil capacity is 7.1 quarts...

Regards,
Gordon

 

No, there is only one drain plug, but you cannot drain the entire system from there. The oil coolers and external oil lines do not drain back into the sump under normal conditions. If they did, you'd have zero oil pressure for several seconds every time you started the engine after it had been standing for a while.

So a routine oil change does not replace the entire contents of the lubrication system. This is working as designed.

 

This has been addressed in several previous threads. One method is to use a nail or center punch to punch a hole in the top of the old filter. This allows air in and lets the contents drain more completely. If you do it overnight, you should find almost nothing left in the filter in the morning.

 

Found it - thanks. For discussion sake, does it matter if you remove the drain plug - or does punching the hole in the filter allow it to drain to the drain pan so it doesn't matter?
as a f/u to the earlier thread - has anyone determined yet if we can modify the feed to the pressure gauge with a real pressure sending unit?

 

I don't think it matters, but, I would do it at the same time as I was draining. Since draining is more effective when the oil is hot and thin, I would take it for a drive to get the engine up to temp, park the car, start draining, punch the filter, and then let it stand for a while before returning to complete the process.

 

Punching a hole is for rednecks.

Filters capture debris, and lets leave it in the filter.

Punching a hole risks adding crap into the oiling system that was filtered out.

If the filter has an ADBV, how is punching a hole going to allow anything to get past a check valve(other than what leaks out of the hole you punched which will make a mess anyway).

The best was is to remove the filter in one piece without additional holes. If mess is a concern, use a bunch of shop rags.

 

unoptioned yellow sport that sounds like what i ordered, hmm got any more info

 

I couldn't wait any more! I picked up the unoptioned car (more correctly known as your spare car), paid for all of the options, and they will install them when they arrive. Don't care how long, I'm DRIVING the car............

Stripped old wax - two coats of Z2 Zaino (Z6 before and between coats) on Thursday.......

Windows being tinted today, Xpel kit ordered (install next weekend), going to an Autocross today (co-driving the 10AE with the new owner). Life is looking up, blood pressure coming down.