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Synthetic Oil, good or bad for Renesis?

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Old Oct 13, 2003 | 01:40 PM
  #1  
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Synthetic Oil, good or bad for Renesis?

I have used Mobil 1 in all of my cars for the past 7 years and have been happy with results, cheap insurance since Mobil 1 has higher tolerances.

My dealer recommended against using any synthetic oils. Does anyone know why and what is your opinion on this topic ?

Old Oct 13, 2003 | 03:22 PM
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the tech that did my oil change said avoid syntheic because it doesn't burn
read the manual also
Old Oct 13, 2003 | 03:37 PM
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I am not sure the manual says anything about avoiding synthetic but don't many RX-7 owners use Royal Purple which is also a synthetic ?
Old Oct 13, 2003 | 06:01 PM
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There are at least 2 dozen prior threads that discuss exactly this issue. Please do a search (try 'synthetic' for a search term) and you'll find discussions of every question you had and more that you haven't had yet!

Regards,
Gordon
Old Oct 13, 2003 | 08:42 PM
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I don't mean to further this ongoing debate really, but...you need a new tech. Of course synthetic oil burns. That's bure BS. Whether or not its good for rotaries can be debated until the cows come home...if you want to know my opinion I'm sure a search here will reveal it...I know it will reveal it on the RX7 club forum. But as for it not burning, or not burning cleanly...pure BS, although its popular BS to be sure.

jds

Originally posted by mikeb
the tech that did my oil change said avoid syntheic because it doesn't burn
read the manual also
Old Oct 14, 2003 | 07:39 PM
  #6  
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you may be right
this is my first rotary and I'm learning as I go
this forum has helped me very much
However, I dont know what qualifies you as a authority
Old Oct 14, 2003 | 09:37 PM
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The biggest problem with synthetic is that boingers can practice extended oil change intervals. This is a big mistake with rotaries.

Regardless of what oil you use, you'll still have to match the maintenance schedule with your driving style.

If money is no object, the go ahead. Mobil1/Silkolene/Honda/Redline/Amsoil/Royalpurple/Synergen/others make good synthetic 0/5w20 oils.
Old Oct 14, 2003 | 11:38 PM
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Well, whether or not synthetic burns really has nothing to do with rotaries. That's why I specifically said I wasn't addressing the "Is it good for rotaries" question this time. I use it, I like it, but that's just me.

There are about a million posts, threads, articles, research papers, what have you that can be found on the net, and once you begin to separate the wheat from the chaff and see what the differences are between synthetic and non-synthetic oils, it can be surprising. Furthermore, there have been tests that have been done to specifically address the persistent myths floating around that synthetic oils don't burn or don't burn cleanly. I don't have any links, but if you want to find them, you will.

Finally, I make no claim to be "an authority," however you define that term. I stated a fact, which I have learned to be true from researching what to do with my own cars. I'm not an "authority" on astrophysics either, but I can tell you that stars are distant versions of the sun, and be reasonably certain that I'm right. :-)

On a different note altogether, I viewed about 20 different threads yesterday, and I'll be damned if you weren't the most recent participant in every last one of them.

jds

Originally posted by mikeb
you may be right
this is my first rotary and I'm learning as I go
this forum has helped me very much
However, I dont know what qualifies you as a authority
Old Oct 15, 2003 | 01:17 AM
  #9  
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point taken
Old Oct 16, 2003 | 10:01 PM
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Sorry to burst everyones bubble that uses synthetics but.....





please visit mobil ones site this information came from there

http://www.mobil1.com/index.jsp
Using Mobil 1 will void my new-car warranty.
With the exception of the Mazda rotary engine (Mazda does not recommend any synthetic motor oils), Mobil 1 with SuperSyn™ will not void new-car warranties. Mobil 1 with SuperSyn™ exceeds the API and ILSAC motor oil service requirements of all new-car manufacturers, both import and domestic. If in doubt, always check your vehicle owner's manual or contact your vehicle's manufacturer.

Last edited by rxevolve10; Oct 17, 2003 at 12:09 AM.
Old Oct 16, 2003 | 10:22 PM
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the tech over at mazda told me that using synthetic oil will ruin the warranty? on the older rx-7's it says in the manual not to use synthetic i blieve and it would ruin warranty...so i'm not sure...just what the tech told me. i haven't read over mazda's warranty so i don't know just a heads up just in case you are planning on using synthetic.

i owned a 3rd gen rx-7 and only used royal purple synthetic mainly for the turbos...

Dan
Old Oct 16, 2003 | 10:47 PM
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Cool

It hard to get any factual data on this topic since some say synthetic is good and some say otherwise. My service maanger tells me not to use it but can not properly explain it.

I think I need to call Mazda's 800 number to get the facts. Thanks for all your contribution on this topic though.

RenesisPower
Old Oct 16, 2003 | 10:56 PM
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Originally posted by rxevolve10
Using Mobil 1 will void my new-car warranty.
BS. This has already been discussed and disproved. If you use the specified API SL specification 5W20 oil, your oil is warranty approved. NOWHERE in the owners manual or warranty handbook does Mazda make any restriction against the use of synthetic oil. As long as your synthetic oil meets API SL, it's fine (and Mobil1 does exceed API SL spec).

Regards,
Gordon
Old Oct 16, 2003 | 11:46 PM
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I agree with Gordon that the owner's manual does not say anyting about avoiding synthetic oils thus making them totally acceptable for the RX-8.

However, all the propaganda against the use of synthetics (even from my Mazda service mgr) is quite confusing.
Old Oct 17, 2003 | 12:06 AM
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Using Mobil 1 will void my new-car warranty.

I am just providing information I read. If it is not in the book then maybe no problem. I just think its odd that I have found a few sythetic oil brands that all have this statement.

Anyway.....I use synthetic in everything! (don't have my 8 yet)

If I do major MODS to it I will use synthetic.
Old Oct 17, 2003 | 12:11 AM
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Most of that propaganda is pure BS, too. In researching whether or not to use it in my FD, I tried and tried and tried to find anyone with actual experience using synthetics in rotaries who had a problem that appeared oil-related...I found exactly ONE, and it happened during the '70s or something. Now...I'm sure there are others, and I'm sure there are people who had problems with their car that they're blaming on the oil, but most of the comments are just hearsay based on the various myths that propagate around about it. For what its worth, based on what I found, I use Royal Purple in my FD. Would I use it in an RX-8? Maybe....I feel the the turbos in the FD get the most benefit from the synthetic, so I would have to decide if the value was still sufficiently high to make it worth the extra cost. I probably would continue to use it, but its not a given necessarily, however I wouldn't NOT use it because I was worried about it being bad for the motor.

jds

Originally posted by RenesisPower
I agree with Gordon that the owner's manual does not say anyting about avoiding synthetic oils thus making them totally acceptable for the RX-8.

However, all the propaganda against the use of synthetics (even from my Mazda service mgr) is quite confusing.
Old Oct 17, 2003 | 12:13 AM
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Everyone's basing the synthetic=bad opinions on what was true for the rx7.

For the rx7 the owners manual stated "Mineral Oil Only" in the specifications for the oil.

For the rx8 it does not.

That should be the end of the story, right?

I believe all the stuff being found on Mobil-1 and other websites is information put there based on that stipulation for the rx7. Same thing with the FUD being spread around by dealers and other folks who fancy themselves as authoritative on the subject.

If the owner's manual does not discriminate between mineral and synthetic (and it doesn't) then why on earth are people jumping to the conclusion that it will void your warranty? Oh yeah - because of something they read on the Internet.

The Internet is not guaranteed to be factual or up-to-date.

I believe Mazda and the owner's manual, not something on a website I read somewhere.

Simon.
Old Oct 17, 2003 | 01:54 AM
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Originally posted by sferrett
[
The Internet is not guaranteed to be factual or up-to-date.

I believe Mazda and the owner's manual, not something on a website I read somewhere.

Simon. [/B]
that should be bottom line
Old Oct 17, 2003 | 05:27 AM
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c'mon guys, search...
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