have you checked your dipstick? I have sludge and water!
 

Well I have a new RX-8 about two months old.

I have water on the dipstick and there is an exseive amount of sludge being made.
I have had two different Mazda shops look at it and they both said "its normal" and to "drive it"

I am calling BS on that one.
Sludge in any amount is not a good thing in a new motor.

Has any of you seen this with your engine?

Please let me know, I am currently looking into my consumer rights and asking Mazda to take care of it.

They are calling it "condensation"

LOL, god the dipstick is like a lake!
and I had to wipe it off three times to clear the sludge.
oh and yes I have had my oil changed and it it still doing it.

you're screwed

Yeah, I have the sludge you're talking about, and I'm trying not to let it bother me. I don't think we're screwed, but I would like to hear Mazda's tech department's answer. I don't want to bring the car into the dealer and have the rear axle replaced, or some damn thing, to try to fix it!

There are other comments about this on the forum, try doing a search on condensation, or froth on the dipstick.

What brand of oil do you use? What weight oil are you using? How far do you drive to work or school? do you park outside overnight? If so what has the temperature been like lately. Stuff like this might help to determine if there is a pattern.

well I use castrol 5-20
I drive about 4000 miles a month.

its cold and wet here. around the low 50's to mid 40's


but do you expect this from a 2004 car????

oh and the comment about me being screwed....
your only as screwed as you let yourself get :P

thanks guys for the response

-Castrol 5w-20

-18 mi. morning and evening weekdays, 2/3 freeway.

-Temp. here from 15F to 40F in the morning, lately, climbing to 25F to 45F.

-I park in an unheated garage.

-Didn't notice any condensation before the below 50F temps.

I do not have the situation happening to me.

But if I did, I would be draining my oil. Since oil rises, ANY moisture would settle to the bottom, and that would convince me if there is any cause for concern.

I think dark oil that is brown or black on a paper towel is normal for the 8 after a few thousand miles. The oil coolers don't have a thermostat that I know of and the engine water temp gauge will clearly show a lower reading going down long hills in cold weather. Despite these observations I've never seen true water sludge goo - the kind that crackels and pops when heated :) (don't try this at home, there are safer test kits for water)

PS- rxeightr you are right, some equipment service procedures recommend draining the oil COLD to see if any water comes out first!

wonder if Gordon up in freezing Canada has noticed any change on his dipstick? anyone else in Canada where it's regularly < 0C?

here in ak we have had -15f mornings and i have the froth only on the rubber seal at the top of the dipstick.we have talked about this on another thread and seems to be normal.no water in the oil or on the reading portion of the dipstick,just a white build up at the seal end.if you have water in the oil that is a problem.

My 8 also gets a little condisation on the upper end of the dipstick. All the rotaries I have owned would get condensation in cool weather. However, the condensation on the other rotaries would be on the oil fill cap.

Start looking at your coolent level. I don't think you would get the grey crud on your dip stick. I have seen the grey crud on the filler oil cap on various cars mostly older cars 60- 70's. I don't think this is normal. I believe some one had this problem also had to have a new motor. Sounds like a seal leak.

I will ask about this tomorrow and get back to you guys....

Ok, I asked and I was told that condensation is normal to a point. A little is fine, but if its extreme then you have issues. I wish I knew what the exact point to be worried was, but I dont. But I asked, and was told " You'll get that " lol

Ohhh, lol, if you add washer fluid into the oil it turns grey lol (I had a customer do it)

I live in MN. Took a trip over Thanksgiving to ND. The car sat outside. Got down to the low teens at night. On Saturday I took some family members on some short rides so they could check out my new car. So basically there was a lot of starting and driving just long enough for the car to warm up, and then I would shut it off again. Probably did this 5 times, giving rides and visiting friends and family. When I went to check the oil Sunday before heading home there was a LOT of sludge on the dipstick.

I've never had any sludge before, but my car is usually in my garage, and if I drive it, I usually go at least 20 miles.

My extreme stop and go that cold Saturday leads me to believe condensation is the most likely culprit here.

so...

from what I have learned over the years is that this sludge which in my car is a LOT also but I drive 2500 miles a month, is NOT a good thing to have in a motor.

and....


Mazda DOES NOT CARE about that
thank god I bought the warrenty