blue flash

this is my first rotary engine the dealer told me this car would burn about 1qt evryone 3000miles .the oil usage it to keep the seal from dring out like they did on the rx7's that is why sometimes when you crank it you smell oil .i have 2700 miles on mine now ,and have added 1qt so i quess he was right. how much oil have you guys put in yours and whats the mileage

guy321

I used to put a quart about every 3000 miles or so.. Ever since the L flash, I have not noticed much oil consumption at all.

blue flash

guy 321 is the seal still getting the extra oil it needs to keep it from drying out

guy321

I assume so, I have no real way of telling except to say my engine still runs

blue flash

i gruess mazda would'nt do the L flash if it would hurt the seal

Nubo

Mine took about 4 oz at 400 miles to top it off (it was over-filled a bit at the factory). Now at 900 miles it looks like it needs maybe 1/3 quart (driving harder now ). I'll be changing the oil soon so won't need to top it off for awhile. I have a "pre-L" flash at the moment.

So, is there some consensus that the L flash reduces the oil metering during certain regimes?

guy321

It may just be less fuel consumption in general, though my MPG isnt THAT much greater

MOOSEY

I am a UK user what is a "L Flash" ?

w2aew

Hmm, its hard to imagine that the flash would change the oil usage - I thought that the oil usage was controlled purely mechanically by a metering valve/injector. I guess I could be wrong...

sferrett

Like everything else on the car, the oil metering is electronically controlled.. (I think they started using electronic oil metering pumps in the 89 rx7) Heck even the throttle plates are completely electronically controlled - no throttle cable...

The dealer's information, while in-spirit is correct, is not actually factually good.. There's no seals drying out or anything like that - oil is injected into the combustion chamber to lubricate the seals which are at the apexes of the rotors (akin to piston rings) which are otherwise not exposed to any form of lubrication. The apex seals are what seals off one rotor chamber from the next and they make contact with the rotor housing, in which the rotors orbit. The amount of oil injected is, I believe, metered according to how hard the engine is driven - some folks have reported quite high usage during racing scenarios.

This site:
http://www.rotaryengineillustrated.com/
has much excellent information and diagrams on how it all works.

Cheers,
Simon.

DragonStar4681

Well my light came on last night and i checked the oil and had to add 1qt. im only at 2300 miles.

Raevik

I checked my oil and was exactly between L and F. I added about a 1/2 qt.

1300 miles. Probably too soon, but oh well.