I want to preface this by saying that I have read the multi-page thread on the low oil light and pan replacement TSB. My question was not answered in that thread, and I wanted to see if anyone has shared my expierence or can offer advice.

I have an early model RX-8 with manual transmission. I drive it very little, 6 months old and just over 3K miles. I had the low oil light come on at around 1500 miles, and took it in to my dealer. They did the pan replacement, but it was prior to the 4/14 update to the TSB. Just yesterday, I had the light come back on. The dealer today told me that the issue is not the oil pan, but that the car needs to have the oil topped off or replaced every 1,000 miles. This seems pretty excessive to me, considering I live in a pretty mild climate and don't push the car very hard on my short commutes.

So I guess I have a few questions related to this:

- Is the 4/14 update anything other than a verbage change as others stated in the long oil pan replacement thread? If so, do I need to get it changed yet again?

- Is it normal for this regularity of oil adding/changing? No other car I have owned has been anywhere near this rigorous.

- Is there any other known issue that I should be aware of in regards to the low oil light coming on every ~1500 miles?

Thanks for the help.

 

If you were not warned that it might need half a quart between changes, you have been lied to - demand your money back!

If you don't know why it uses oil, or where it goes - sell it. You will be happier in the long run.

Do you even know what a rotary is? Ever heard of the good Doktor Wankel? Go back to your 325 Bimmer and forget the horror of owning an oil guzzling disaster like the RX-8.....
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doc

 

Heh, yes I know what a rotary is, and how oil is used in the engine. However, I wasn't told that it needed extra oil between the regularly scheduled maintenances. I have no problem doing it, I just want to be sure there is not something wrong with the car to need it so frequently. And for the record, it was a C5 Corvette I converted from, not a Bimmer!

 

Mine uses about a quart every 1500 miles. It has 11,000 miles on it now. I usually top it off every 700 miles or so. Rotaries do use more oil than your average Honda - I rarely had to add oil when I drove my 4 Hondas. It's just a little extra love you need to give your rotary

No, you do not need a new oil pan again.

 

Read over your owners manual. They advise checking the oil at every fuel stop! There's many oil consumption threads here, and it seems it varies between about 1 quart every 1500 to 3000+ miles. You will almost certainly have to add oil between service visits. That is normal and expected for the Renesis.

Regards,
Gordon

 

rx8newdriver, the symptoms related to the Oil pan TSB were the low oil light would flash ONLY when cruising around 4500-5000 RPM and when the oil level was about the halfway mark or lower on the stick. If your oil light came on at any other times you have another issue. I too have an early build (5/2003) and this did happen to me. After the dealer replaced the pan as per the TSB the light has not come back on and I have gone as low as half way on the stick. I do check the oil at least every two weeks and change it every 3,500 miles so it never gets to low. But with about 10,000 on the car I have only had to add about 3 quarts of oil. But to get back to your questions

1, Yes just a wording change, if they didn’t do the TSB right you might need a new pan. They had to make sure to remove ALL traces of the old gasket and let the new one “cure” overnight. If they rushed the job or yours was the first on the mechanic did they could have messed up. Does it leak any oil and how is the 8 being used when the oil light comes on.

2, half a quart every 1,500 miles not that bad. My 20001 PT Cruiser used more.

3, during these 1,500 miles how often do you check the oil? Me thinks there is another problem. At your next oil change you can ask for them to put in a special dye to check for leaks.