Synthetic Oil and the Renesis Engine
If you want to buy online, buy the best at www.amsoil.com. No need to buy Mobil1 online, it's everywhere. Perhaps one of the auto supply chains have online purchasing, if you really don't want to leave the house.
I just got my RX8 a month ago. My first rotary.
Here's my stupid question:
If the car burns a quart of oil a month why do we still need to change the oil so often, as said by others. Besides the filter why do we change oil ever?
And that leads me to my next question:
Does the RX8 burn a quart of oil a month?
Here's my stupid question:
If the car burns a quart of oil a month why do we still need to change the oil so often, as said by others. Besides the filter why do we change oil ever?
And that leads me to my next question:
Does the RX8 burn a quart of oil a month?
arobel, you will have more oil injected into the engine based on how hard you drive it.
I've burned a full quart in single track day
I think that around the street I will burn about 3/4 of a quart in a month, but that's with pretty hard driving.
I've burned a full quart in single track day

I think that around the street I will burn about 3/4 of a quart in a month, but that's with pretty hard driving.
Synthetic Oil no good with the RX-8?
Hi all,
I bought my rx8 this past Saturday. I'm a Mazda and rotary newbie so please excuse my ignorance. When I took delivery of my car, the salesman dislosed a few things concerning the maintance of the car. He mentioned the flooding issue and checking the oil level rather frequently. He was also empathic about never using synthetic oil.
Has anyone heard about this or have any insite?
Thanks
I bought my rx8 this past Saturday. I'm a Mazda and rotary newbie so please excuse my ignorance. When I took delivery of my car, the salesman dislosed a few things concerning the maintance of the car. He mentioned the flooding issue and checking the oil level rather frequently. He was also empathic about never using synthetic oil.
Has anyone heard about this or have any insite?
Thanks
#1.....The salesmen know squat. The manual does not even mention synthetic oil. Go with the manuals recommendations.
#2.....Never take advice from some dikhed on the internet......
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.
.
doc
#2.....Never take advice from some dikhed on the internet......
.
.
.
doc
I think Mazda came out with some notice saying synthetic oil was ok. I guess to be safe you can't go wrong with gool ole motor oil since the long term effect of synthetic oil in the Renesis is probably not known.
If it's okay, it's certainly "salesman-legend" that it's not okay. I drove 8's at 3 dealers and darn if all 3 of em didn't tell me "...now you can't use synthetic oil in one of these..." I have no idea. I also have no desire to use synthetic oil, so I figure I'm in the clear. It would be interesting however to know if it's truth or fiction.....
IMHO - I don't believe that Mobile 1 or any synthetic would actually cause any problems in an RX-8.... however I'd probably run the Castrol Syntec if I had an RX-8. It's not actually synthetic, but it has been refined and cleaned up the point that it is just like synthetic.
Personally I like synthetic and believe that it really does keep the motor in better condition. My Integra sees nothing but Amsoil. I've never had the bottom end apart, but @ 134k miles the vavletrain looks new. (Oh, and runs like new too
)
EDIT: I've also seen two Nissan 200SX SE-R engines (SR20DE) @ 100k + miles. Both I KNOW had regular oil changes. The one that was running synthetic looked brand new. The one running dyno was a bit dirty and nasty looking....
Personally I like synthetic and believe that it really does keep the motor in better condition. My Integra sees nothing but Amsoil. I've never had the bottom end apart, but @ 134k miles the vavletrain looks new. (Oh, and runs like new too
)EDIT: I've also seen two Nissan 200SX SE-R engines (SR20DE) @ 100k + miles. Both I KNOW had regular oil changes. The one that was running synthetic looked brand new. The one running dyno was a bit dirty and nasty looking....
Last edited by Brian_TII; Dec 30, 2003 at 07:37 PM.
I spoke to Ken Shepard from technical dept at Mazda Australia 2 days ago.Said that Castrol type R 5w-30 synthetic is fine to use.
Then I rang City Mazda in Melbourne from who I bought my rx8 from and they said that they use castrol type R 5w-30 on all of their rx8's.
Subsequently yesterday at my 1000km service I had the oil changed with castrol type R 5w-30.
Verdict: car feels smoother and seems to pull a little better than before.Maybe a few extra ponies unleashed ?
Then I rang City Mazda in Melbourne from who I bought my rx8 from and they said that they use castrol type R 5w-30 on all of their rx8's.
Subsequently yesterday at my 1000km service I had the oil changed with castrol type R 5w-30.
Verdict: car feels smoother and seems to pull a little better than before.Maybe a few extra ponies unleashed ?
pleeeeease search. read what's there to read, and if you have more questions, tag 'em on the end. i'm a big proponent of thread resurrection. 
thanks,
Your Friendly Neighborhood Mod

thanks,
Your Friendly Neighborhood Mod
German Mazda Dealer ONLY use Mazda Synthetic Oil in their 8's!!
WOW, imagine my suprise when i went into a dealer here in Bitberg for a front licence plate bracket when i saw a Mazda Synthetic Oil on Display..... After fumbling with my german (my german language skills are less than adiquate) He told me that not only is it approved but its required in all the 8's!! ill be posting a pic of this statment as soon as i get my hands on a scanner... more to come!!
what kind of difference would that make?
off topic: That's so cool to "meet" someone from Spangdahlem. I used to live in Wittlich for 16 years.
If you go to Bitburg again, make sure you check out the strip club "Tic Tac" on the old base, it rules
Oh yea, and I know the owner of the "Peking Restaurant" in Spangdahlem, check out their crispy (fried) duck, I would die to get my hands on one of those now..... wee, germany, I'll be back
off topic: That's so cool to "meet" someone from Spangdahlem. I used to live in Wittlich for 16 years.
If you go to Bitburg again, make sure you check out the strip club "Tic Tac" on the old base, it rules

Oh yea, and I know the owner of the "Peking Restaurant" in Spangdahlem, check out their crispy (fried) duck, I would die to get my hands on one of those now..... wee, germany, I'll be back
Don't jump to conclusions about German Mazda dealers putting synthetic oil into Rx-8s. I was told by a European that they typically use synthetic oil in cars, maybe to protect the environment. It might be unusual or against procedure to use non-syn oil at this Mazda dealer in Germany. It may have nothing to do with the RX-8.
I'm a great fan of syn oil. I've found that they really make a big difference in older cars (e.g. keeps them running quiet). My Mazda dealer (and the recently received driving guide from Mazda) said not to use it. It makes sense that syn oil may not burn as well as non-syn oil so for now, I'm sticking with non-syn oil that they give me with the free oil changes.
I'm a great fan of syn oil. I've found that they really make a big difference in older cars (e.g. keeps them running quiet). My Mazda dealer (and the recently received driving guide from Mazda) said not to use it. It makes sense that syn oil may not burn as well as non-syn oil so for now, I'm sticking with non-syn oil that they give me with the free oil changes.
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
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
In the UK we are supplied with a litre of oil with the car when new.
The oil is Mazda Dexelia Ultra 5w30 and is the recommended oil in the RX8 handbook.
Today whilst in my local dealership I picked up a leaflet describing Mazda's new range of oils branded Dexelia produced for mazda by TotalFinaElf.
The leaflet describes the Dexelia Ultra oil as 'Super low viscosity oil based on state of the art synthetic oil technology'
Looks like Mazda in the UK are certainly endorsing the use of synthetic oil in the 8....................
The oil is Mazda Dexelia Ultra 5w30 and is the recommended oil in the RX8 handbook.
Today whilst in my local dealership I picked up a leaflet describing Mazda's new range of oils branded Dexelia produced for mazda by TotalFinaElf.
The leaflet describes the Dexelia Ultra oil as 'Super low viscosity oil based on state of the art synthetic oil technology'
Looks like Mazda in the UK are certainly endorsing the use of synthetic oil in the 8....................
Misinformation and conjecture are probably why some are afraid of synthetics.
There have been debates on whether it burns as well as conventional oil among others.
Most oil manufactures should be able to supply a "flash point" figure which should allay any fears. Unless it's extraordinarily high, I cannot see why it would be an issue.
Second, some oils will burn "cleaner" than others. There's no *way* to determine this unless tested. One conventional oil may burn "dirtier" than another, and both may burn dirtier than a synthetic... or vice versa. There are simply too many variables.
Plus, any "SFI" rated oil, as long as it complies with the specs required in the owners manual, will be fine and, IMHO, there is no way they can turn down a warranty claim if you follow the recommendations set forth in the owners manual.
Synthetic or not.
IMHO
There have been debates on whether it burns as well as conventional oil among others.
Most oil manufactures should be able to supply a "flash point" figure which should allay any fears. Unless it's extraordinarily high, I cannot see why it would be an issue.
Second, some oils will burn "cleaner" than others. There's no *way* to determine this unless tested. One conventional oil may burn "dirtier" than another, and both may burn dirtier than a synthetic... or vice versa. There are simply too many variables.
Plus, any "SFI" rated oil, as long as it complies with the specs required in the owners manual, will be fine and, IMHO, there is no way they can turn down a warranty claim if you follow the recommendations set forth in the owners manual.
Synthetic or not.
IMHO
Originally posted by Supraman
In Italia we use only synthetic oil, that is what Mazda and the dealers say to do.......why all the American confusion
In Italia we use only synthetic oil, that is what Mazda and the dealers say to do.......why all the American confusion
The whole pro/con argument is BS. Frequent maintenance is more important regardless of what brand/weight you choose and DEFINITELY regardless of oil consumption.
Practicing extended maintenance is foolish when using a synth.
Trying to extend maintenance because you burn a certain amount of oil is foolish.


