Check Oil Light
 

Hey everyone,

I have an '05 RX-8 and I just had an oil change less than 500 miles ago. This morning, my check oil light came on. I was in a rush, so I didn't check the dipstick and instead just added a quart of oil to it. However, the light stayed on...I drove to work (~15 miles, the light was on the whole time and I was nervous as heck the whole drive).

I'm concerned as to why to light didn't go off. I'm going to check the oil level when I leave work and before I drive, but I'm pretty sure that it should be fine after a recent oil change + 1 quarter of added oil.

Are there any other suggestions on what to do or check? Could/would this light come on and stay on, even if the oil level is OK?

If the mechanics at the last oil change didn't use 5-20W (even though I told them twice to make sure they only use 5-20W regular), could that have something to do with it? Would there be any way to determine if the correct oil was used?

Thanks!

You shouldn't use much oil in only 500 miles; certainly not a quart. Check for any leaks (puddle?). The light should go off, but may need to be reset. Again, unsure why it would go on in the first place given your situation. Could be just an electrical gremlin.

Best to check your oil level dipstick when the oil is warm.

5w-20 is 'recommended' btw, but you can go with a heavier viscosity, e.g. 5w-30, 10w-30, etc. Oil change places, including dealers, typically overfill, but thankfully the rotary doesn't mind as much as most piston engines.

also when you check your dipstick, you might want to check your air filter too. If you weren't actually low and added a quart there is a fair chance you got some oil to run into the intake and filter.

I presume the oil pressure gauge showed the expected pressure, and you know the difference between what the gauge shows and what the light shows.

There was a problem with the oil pan in early RX-8s that caused the oil level light to come on at inappropriate times. Look up the TSB and see if your car is in that range.

Oil weight not being 5w20 would not cause this. Higher weight will not cause a problem, unless you get crazy with really heavy oil. A lot of folks here believe in heavy oil, some using as high as 20w50. So it would not be because the mechanic messed up on the oil weight. But he could have messed up on putting the drain plug back, or replacing the washer.

Ken

I'm definitely no expert, but I do know the different between the light and the gauge (mostly the the car is pretty much ruined already of the gauge is low!).

Mine is 2005 - I thought the TSB only covered some of the early 2004 models? Perhaps I should double check it though, even though I haven't had this problem before (the light has come on once or twice before, but adding some oil made it go away).

In the past, I've always gotten the oil changed every 4,000 miles and added a quart of oil around the 2,000 mile mid-point.

Ugh...I hope this didn't happen (although I do need to replace the air filter pretty soon anyways...). This wouldn't have anything to do with making the light stay on though, would it?

So you add oil without knowing if you need it? I'm just curious?
You should be checking that oil level about every two or so fill-ups of gas.

Yup...based ony my driving habits and what I've experienced, I need to add 1 quart of oil every 2,000 miles and it works out about perfect every time. Sometimes I still check the oil level with the dipstick before adding the quart, but often times I don't since it is the "right" time for a quart every time so far (for me).

Ok...so I checked my oil level and it was WELL above the full line...(of course). However, the check oil light was still on. But, about half way through my drive home, the check oil light turned off.

So the good news is that the check oil light went off...the bad news is that I created a new problem...to much oil.

What are the repercussions of having to much oil in it? Can I just ignore it and continue on or is there a possibility of it causing a problem? If it can cause a problem, what? And then do I need to drain a little bit of the oil? I imagine that wouldn't be very easy and I'd have to just drain all of it
(basically do an oil change without changing the filter).

Thanks for any suggestions, they are much appreciated!

Since the oil is so new, I would drain it all into a clean container then add it back in until you reach the proper level.

The excess oil, by design, will flow into the engine intake [which is why many have substituted oil catch cans with breather filters]. A small amount of excess runoff oil is designed to burn off (not to be confused with the oil metering system for the apex seals), but in this case best to drain some.

Well, as Huey52 already said, too much oil can eventually lead to it getting into the intake and potentially gumming that up over time. It can also get into the air filter box and make a mess out of the air filter. You actually could drain out a little bit by just lossening(not taking it all the way out) the oil drain bolt and letting some drip into a pan. Then when you think you have enough out, just tighten it up by hand, wipe it all off with a rag, and then tighten the rest of the way with a wrench. If it's not overfilled by a whole bunch, then you could probably let it go for now, but for sure check it before adding anymore down the road. Even if you feel like over time you know what it needs, it's still good to check the level.

:sad:UGGGH. My check oil light came on this morning after I began backing out of the driveway. It was cold this morning, in 50s (so cal)....It started up normal. I let it warm up a few minutes - but maybe not long enough. Anyhoo, the engine sounded rough as hell and like it was struggling and grinding. The light didn't go on until a minute after I backed up....I put it in first and drove right back in the garage and turned off the engine, then I jumped in my other car so I wouldn't be late for my appt. at the doctor this morning. I didn't have a spare minute to check the dipstick. I will check it when i get back home, but the engine sounded soooo bad I am freaking that it is damaged.....input please.....

The oil level is always at its lowest when cold and just starting up. So if the light goes off when warmed up you're marginally low (but should still check/add). If it stays illuminated when warm then you're significantly low and again should verify by dipstick and add.

Not to lecture, but if the light comes on (its rare that it's simply an instrumentation fault) then you haven't been checking your level often enough!

If you have been checking often (every other gas fillup or so) then you've got a leak somewhere. Look for any pooling/staining on your garage floor.

Short use with very low oil is not good, but you probably didn't do any damage - just don't make a habit of it.

btw: Hopefully you warmed it up enough to preclude flooding.

Dont believe that light --- if there is a short somewhere, you get the light. even the oil level is fine.

Check and see if the level is right, if it is, ignore the light, or buy a new updated part and replace it at next oil change.

LOL Don't believe anything on nycgps's RX-8. He's truly the master of turning a lemon into lemonade (or is it the other way around?). ;)

i dont understand y some ppl think it is so hard to check oil....yeah the dipstick is in a stupid place but still no reason not to check it

Checked my oil like I always do, level was fine. Drove back to work (5 miles) light came on during drive, checked oil level again when I got to my destination, level was fine (exactly at the half point on the dipstick). Had the car for 10,000 miles (1 year) never happened before.

chalk it up to another failed sensor- 2004 RX8