RAM

Search the forum. The guage never changes. It indicates that the pressure is "ok" . . . . or not. There is discussion elsewhere on the board about what can be done about getting a real pressure guage installed.

affenage

Interesting. Do you know that when I met the service manager I asked him about how much oil was I looking foarward to using - a friend has a 7 which pretty much uses a quart a week Anyhow, he TOLD ME to watch the gauge.
I always ignored the gauge on my Hondas, and never needed a drop of oil between oil changes. Now I also drive a Rodeo - which goes through a quart every 1000 or so. If everyone is finding out the 8 is using a lot less than that, I am going to be very pleased.

TownDrunk

Thanks! That answers a bunch of questions that I had filed away somewhere in my head. I wondered why the thing didn't move at all as others I've seen in the past.

Overport

Yeah....it took me a while to find the dipstick and access it the first time i checked the oil level, thanks.

neit_jnf

The Renesis doesn't have a head gasket... :D

Loaded8

Thanks for posting the pictures and instructions. I picked up my car today and fortunately I thought to ask the guy to show me where to check the oil. I honestly NEVER would've found it on my own. (well maybe if I looked in the owner's manual). He showed me the take the cover off method but I'm going to try yours too.

sferrett

Yes- as stated the gauge on the dash is a pressure indicator, not a level indicator. If you ever see that gauge go anywhere other than where it normally resides (a bit past center) then there's something bad happening and you should immediately check things out.

If you sprung a big enough leak in the system, or the pump somehow failed, then you would likely see that gauge deviate from normal - it really has only two positions, "normal" and "oh-crap"

As stated, IMO, waiting for the light to come on before adding oil is just asking for serious engine damage.

Simon.

Mat

I don't have my manual handy right now, but how much oil is there from dipstick "low" to dipstick "full" ? a quart?

And how many of you take your own oil to the dealer for oil changes?

sferrett

It's 1.8 quarts from Low to Full on the dipstick, according to the manual.

Berni

Is Igor your pet ape?


BTW on topic good pics of how to do the oil thing. those other "i gotta remove my cover" threads were pissing me off.

Nubo

Igor is making hand gestures....

:p

D MENAC 7

Thanks Nubo! That was a great DIY. Doesn't ANYONE get the Humor behind this??? Sometime back when I first heard people were taking off their covers to check their oil, I thought WTF?! The damned stick is sitting right there in PLAIN sight! You're "Houdini dipstick maneuver" title should have given away that you were just stating that it ain't magik to figure this one out. Thanks for the chuckle and the further chuckling from reading some of the tongue in cheek replies and then the serious ones too. LOL :D

Nubo

Thanks but I wasn't really trying to be a smartass, at least this time! There genuinely seem to be a sizeable number of folks who hadn't tried this, judging from the number of posts complaining about how hard it is to check the oil in this vehicle. I think the stick is tucked under the maze of hoses just deeply enough to discourage some folks from "just reaching in" to get it and so we get the cover-removal thing.

I see the same kinds of remarks about the filter. Similarly, it is also easy enough to deal with once you've done it with the proper wrench and drive extensions, despite seeming awkward at first.

Now you want something tough - took me 4 days once to change the filter on a Chevy Citation. There was a time when I seriously considered tracking down the engineers just so I could ask them what the H*** were they thinking? I still might.

RX4+30Years=RX8

That's nothing. Wait till you have to change the power steering belt on that Citation. Hint, You will need a 4 foot long extension for your socket wrench to reach the bolt on the front of the engine from the back of the engine.

As for waiting for the oil light to come on before adding oil, I agree that you should just check the oil every 2nd or third fill up depending on your miles per gallon, but oddly enough, a Mazda service manager told me to just add a quart every time the light comes on,... To be fair he also said "or check the dipstick every 2nd or 3rd fillup." :o

RotorMotor04

I have read throught this entire post, and i cannot believe that people are waiting for there low oil level light to come on. My 8 is a beautiful peice of machinery, and i would think that people would take the little bit of time that it takes to check their oil

Mat

While I agree with you (and I do check my oil every second fillup), I would have gladly paid $50 more (on a $30,000 car!) for an _accurate_ oil gauge. Or save $50 by not having a useless gauge at all.

epitrochoid

pffft...i ran an autox with the light on. its fine.

Nubo

Sorry, just bumping with the "add a pic to get the old pics back" trick...

ken-x8

I had a 1971 BMW 2002 with a filter that hung off the side of the block - standard position in those days, normally easy to get to. Except the battery was above it, blocking access from the top, and the air pump (pre-cat emission control days) was below it, blocking access from the bottom.

My opinion of German engineering has never been the same since that car.

Your Houdini maneuver is awesome! I tried it last night, and it was even easier than you described it. Maybe it's because I've got long fingers, but I just stuck my right hand through the "window" overhand (palm toward the rear of the car), put my index finger in the loop, and pulled the stick right out. Like it was made for it. Went back in just as easily.

Ken

DrDiaboloco

And I read your entire "signature", and I cannot believe that you think the rest of us need to know the exact date you installed your seatbelt covers.

ken-x8

Look for the "New engine oil dipstick" bulletin at

http://www.finishlineperformance.com...ins_index.html

for complete details.

Ken

stealitnow

if you wait until the oil light comes on to check it, do you wonder in the mean time if the bulb is burned out?????