As if we didn't have enough synthetic threads...

Anyway during some of the discussions some owners mentioned they were given a small pamphlet in addition to the Owners' Manual. That pamphlet recommended non-synthetic oil

Well, I too was given a small pamphlet, called "Mazda RX-8 Quick Tips". It does not mention synthetic oil, only SAE 5w-20.

I don't know if this is the same pamphlet; whether it has superceded the other one or if there are a maze of twisty little pamphlets, all alike.

 

The Quick Tips on the Mazda web site looks to be the same as what is listed above.

http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/pdf/...MazdaRX8QT.pdf

I search the Quick Tips and didn't find "synthetic" anywhere in the document.

The Driver Assurance page says 91 Octane Only!

The downloadable manual:
http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/pdf/...004_owners.pdf

Says 87 Octane is OK ... reduced performance

If its in writing, it must be true; maybe, depending on what it says.

 

The admission from Mazda against the use of synthetic oil was never in that "quick tips guide".

It was in a small pamphlet called "Drivers Guide".

It was mailed to me by my dealer. The major debate is that since it does not state "No syntetic" in manual, it is therefor not official. There have been no ammendments made to the owners manual as well. Also very few people got these guides, and not from MNAO directly.

Anywho...here it is


woops.... next post

 

From Drivers Guide pamphlet.

 

5W20 IS THE SAME THING MOST HONDAS REQUIRE NOW ITS NOT THAT MUCH MORE THAN ANY CONVENTIONAL OIL.

 

...a thing just occurred to me: if they didn't specify 91 or more, i'm sure a lot of people would be aghast at using a "lower performance" gasoline in their "sports car", and would wonder why in the heck they don't "need" a higher octane...

anyways, this whole "didn't not say to" thing about synthetic... *shrug* just talk to your dealer if you're gonna use it to make sure that it's not going to void your warranty.

 

This is straight from the horses mouth..............

In regard to using synthetic oil, Mazda does not test any of our
vehicles using synthetic oil. As such, we do not recommend the use of
synthetic oil, only because we have not tested it.

Also, I found out the folder you're inquiring about is the Mazda Driver's Guide, part number 9999-92-rx8d2-04
. The Mazda Driver's Guide is intended for
the sales staff at the dealerships to learn about the RX-8. However,
Mazda is currently in the process of revising a guide for customer
use. We are hoping to have a revised copy available to customers within
the next couple of months. Testing with synthetic oil is now taking place

I hope this information is helpful for you.

Please take a moment to give us your opinion about our e-mail service.
Click the link below to complete a brief, online survey.

http://www.zoomerang.com/survey.zgi?
Regards,

Lisa Lasky
Specialist, Customer Assistance E-Business

 

Wow - That's the first thing that I have seen posted from the "horse's mouth" that actually does seem useful. Thanks.

 

that same email has been posted lots, but that doesn't mean anything about whether or not dealerships will honour warranties when using synthetic oil (they're really the ones you have to worry about).

 

THe RX-8 owners manual does not say "do not use Synthetic oil"
In Europe we have several members that the dealers only use Synthetic.
Mazda is testing with synthetic....it goes on and on......The Renesis engine injects much less oil than the older models,
Synthetic oil is fine to use.

 

The dealers have NO legal grounds to deny warranty coverage if you are using synthetic oil - there is no warranty requirement that specifies the type of oil to be used, only the viscosity and grade (5W20, API SL).

Further - the dealers have no way to tell if the oil in your car is synthetic or conventional! Unless they send it out for oil analysis (and an analysis that goes waaay beyond what the normal oil analysis covers), they simply can not tell a difference. OK, if you run Royal Purple (purple) or German Castrol Syntec (0W30, "Made in Germany" on the bottle, green colour) they could tell!

Regards,
Gordon