sferrett

Depends on the year... '95 and later did not have a PCV valve coming from the filler neck like '93 and '94 models (the classic PCV valve from intake plenum to oil filler neck), the nipple is capped off. The PCV vents into the intake right before the primary turbo, where positive pressure is never seen. I know it had me scratching my head where the thing was until I discovered they changed it on the '95 models.

http://www.rx7turboturbo.com/robrobinette/pcv.htm

So you're both right - everyone's a winner.

Simon.
Thanks to Rob Robinette for an awesomely informative website.

BTW: I checked my airbox on the weekend and mine's completely dry also. No sign of oil or anything. My car is a 5/03 build with 9700 miles on it.

Mr M

Habeeb, the oil nozzles have an atmospheric pressure feed to allow the oil to be sucked into the engine easier. If they weren't there you might end up with a vacuum in the oil feed hose.

(Incorrect comment about wet filter deleted 25.02.04)

KKMmaniac

Gyro;

Sorry, I haven't looked inside my airbox yet; I'm waiting until I can wash the engine and engine bay, (it has been a dirty, salty winter) and I'll replace the element at that time. I'm kinda **** that way, but I'm trying to keep dirt and debris out of the airbox and hoses.

oi812

Built 09/03 VIN ...116749 Some red oil at about 1,500 miles (photo at top of post). Cleaned it, found more oil 800 miles latter, after the oil change but not as red.

G8rboy

Now we're getting some data we can start to correlate... my VIN is only about 100 cars from yours, also delivered to the great lakes area, and you're the only other one I've heard of having the red oil. Did the oil that followed up later smell like it was from the motor? Did you bring this up to your dealer?

Thanks...

Doctorr

No, I'm not talking "a little of the pink from the air filter".

I'm talking "about half a jug of 5w-20".

The pan under the air box is full of dark brown oil, and the filter is only dirty in the middle, but the whole bottom half is soaked in oil, weighs around 2 pounds!

The air box has a hole in the bottom (presumably to let any water out) and the oil is all over the pan below, and the radiator below that!

Contacting the dealer tomorrow!
.
.
.
doc

G8rboy

Damn... how many miles do you have on your 8? And I hate to keep asking everyone, but does your intake oil smell like your motor oil/dipstick?

Thanks...

sferrett

I wonder if some of the folks reporting high oil use and low mpg might have something like this going on... I could imagine an oil soaked airfilter (or dirty/oily MAF sensor) could account for some poor MPG. And oil leaking from somewhere into the intake would account for the high oil use...

Mr M

SORRY, SORRY, SORRY!
I was wrong, you have DRY filters! I must have got confused with another vehicle when I said the 8 had a wet filter.

The only suggestion I can make it to be sure your engine oil is not over full, and take the vehicle to your dealer if you are still worried.

I don't know where the red oil came from, maybe it is engine oil mixing with something?

my10ae

I am scheduled to bring my 8 in for the oil on the air filter and intake track and for the airbag recall. I will keep all posted as to what they find about the oil issue.

KKMmaniac

Ok, how about this: could there be a direct path from the oil filler neck to the airbox or air duct from the box to the throttle body? (If it looks like things are soaked with clean oil)

Those of us who have changed oil often, or have added oil many times would see the most severe pooling. (I would hope Mazda would have engineered the filler neck to drain down only into the sump!)

jtimbck2

I checked my airbox last night since I'm taking my 8 to the dealership today for the recall fixes, and it was dry & clean. Whew!

tripwire

Well mine is wet. Not a pool or anything and the filter is fairly clean, but I can see where there is oil down in there.

my10ae

My 8's in at the dealer as I type hoping getting fixed. I will report what they find as soon as I know.

my10ae

ok... I knew not to get my hopes up. Here is what they found, word for word on the service invoice:

"Called Tech Asisst Ref# 339008, checked oil cap, pressure w/o oil cap all systems normal, small amount of oil in air box. Advised to monitor, no abnormal conditions noted at this time"

So no abnormal conditions means ALL RX-8's have this issue? NOT. Oh well, I will keep an eye on this. If it turns out to be something big and causes an issue down the line, it documented.

Anyone else have any better luck?

my10ae

Anyone have any updates? Any dealers find the "fix"?

G8rboy

Took mine in this morning- I'm having them do the airbag wiring harness, check out the CEL I just got this weekend, and look at the oil-in-the-airbox issue. They're keeping it overnight, so I'll post an update tomorrow morning after I pick it up.

my10ae

Cool thanks G8rboy....

G8rboy

Ok- here's what my service guy said... and while I'm a bit shocked it does make sense-- the red oil in my intake tract and airbox is definitely ATF.

He starts to ask me if I've taken it anywhere for service, starting to imply that I flooded it and took it somewhere to get fixed. I got pissed and told him the last place that had my car was their dealership at 12 miles on the ODO before I took delivery. I told him he had better do some research and find out if my RX-8 was transferred from another dealer or if they're the ones that did this. I mentioned that there's other cases of this oil-in-the-airbox issue from 'friends' of mine, and they've only seen this when someone tried to start a flooded '7 with the ATF trick, and if the oil is dark instead of red like mine, then it's because dirt from the filter darkened it.

So I'm not 100% convinced, but I have a new filter coming tomorrow- so with a clean tract and filter, time will tell if this is BS or not. I also had them flash me to the 'L' calibration since I threw a CEL a few days ago. When I pick it up I'll talk with the tech a little more...

G8rboy

Update-

The dealership was able to find a new air filter locally, so I picked up the car this afternoon. I talked a bit with the tech about where the ATF could have come from- they're pretty sure my car was delivered to that dealership directly- nobody asked for it to be transferred in, and they claim that they wouldn't have done the ATF trick if they had flooded an '8 getting off the truck.

The service manager was intrigued enough by this to put a call into MNAO and see if this was something they were doing at the port to help start the cars after the boat ride... I'll check back with him tomorrow and see if there's any official answer and post an update if there is any news.

my10ae

Thanks for the update G8rboy. Still seems there is nop definitive answer from Mazda on this issue. I'm keeping a close eye on mine and it will be back in if it gets like it was the first time.

G8rboy

Did you replace your filter after cleaning up the mess? Mine had some much oil in it that it was still oozing out into the airbox a week after I cleaned it up. I'll be watching my filter closely, but based on the fact that the red oil was not 'native' to my car, I'm pretty sure it's not coming back.

I have heard that there was a lot of flooding when the RX-8s were pulled off the trucks initially, before they were aware of the flooding potential- I wouldn't be surprised if the ATF in the intake method was used early on to get some started. I'm very curious if Mazda will fess up to this being part of thier delivery SOP for a flooded car...even if they don't, I think my service guy's theory is the best one so far.

They also flashed my PCM and detailed my car... so far I'm pretty happy with these guys.

my10ae

Nope my dealer did not replace my filter. I will be calling them again tomorrow for an oil change. I didn't even look at the oil and mileage when I brought it in last week. DOH! I will have them change it with 5-20 and also install my aluminum throttle pedal and red/black leather brake handle

Charles Cope

Did your cars come from the same port (check the port sticker under the hood). Maybe its one dufus at one port.

islandsoon

So, are you guys with 'red oil in the intake tube all auto tranny guys? My manual tranny RX8's (116600) air filter is quite dry. I don't see where the Mazda tech guys could say where doctorr's 2 pounds of oil is within spec. Or how they could be suggesting you are dumping AT fluid in your car to fix a flooding issue when the dealers around here are handling flooding as a warranty issue.