I know this is probably a dumb question and has been asked before. I did do a quick search but couldnt find an answer before I get flamed.

I bought my rx-8 about 2 weeks ago. Already at 1400+ miles and I checked the oil and I think its about half empty. The foam made it hard to tell. How much oil should I add.

Mind you I'm not the type of person who has ever changed his own oil so I havent a clue wether it need 1/2 a quart or 4 quarts. Hell, I had hard enough time trying to reach and read the dipstick

Thanks for the help

 

Just add a half, then recheck, if it's still low, add the other half.

S

 

thanks, I know its a dumb question but I would never figure it out til oil was spilling over the top, and I still got 6000 miles before the first oil change

 

If you are planning to change at the 7500 mile interval in the owner's manual, be sure to check your oil level every 2-3 tanks of gas. Most of us burn a qt every 1500-2000 miles.

Which leads to the next point...why 7500 miles before changing? Most do the first change within the first 1000-3000 miles even if they plan to do longer intervals later. The first change is the most critical since it gets rid of the break-in crud.

If you plan to keep the 8 a long time, you might want to consider a shorter interval. I go with 4000 myself after doing the first at 1500 and the second at 4000.

 

just because of the manual. but since you mention the break in crud maybe ill just go get the oil changed this week and then i get free top offs by them

thanks for the advice

 

That's good advice from Beachdog, and it's not particular to just the rotary engine (ie: piston engines apply too). I've been fortunate enough to have a lot of new cars in my life, and I always do the first oil change at ~1k miles. That's just me, but I figure that it's really cheap insurance to get the most miles possible out of the engine.

My $0.02,
Bill