Engine Problem?
 

I bought my car about 6 months ago. I've done routine maintenance on it by checking the oil frequently etc.., Now I'm having problems with my engine because the shop I took it too a few weeks ago must of done something wrong to it. Somehow, I have white gunk in my engine compartment and on the dipstick as well. I do know that there could be something wrong with the seals and etc.. because I've heard a lot of problems with them. But I don't have a loss of power or anything but my check engine light is flashing all the time. What could be wrong with it?
I have taken it to a different shop and they diagnosed it with valve seals and some other vacuum seals that need to be replaced, but what would be the better next step take it to a dealer for an outrageous price to pay?
I use normal 5w20 synthetic oil.
2004 rx8, 59k miles, K/N Cold Air, Black Cat Exhaust, GF Performance Chip. Everything else is stock
Tips and answers would be very much appreciated thanks.

Were the coils/wires/plugs ever changed? If not you should change them.
Mazda does not recommend Synthetic oil for your car, some members will disagree, and I'm not taking sides on that topic. My only official opinion on the oil you are using is that its to thin for my taste.
A small amount of condensation on the dipstick is normal, especially if you do a lot of short trips.

-Shawn

If its cold where you live you can expect this, its normal here in Australia in the winter months. I shat myself the first time I saw it. and that was 3 years ago... Still running good 40,000km's later..

lol at the milky dipstick.
LOL at your modifications.

Search, you'll find the right answers and will understand why i cracked the floor open with my laughter!

Also I recommend rotary oil from mazda it will to prolong the life of your seals.

:uh:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1212/...294f713d3c.jpg


Searching is your friend.

You should start using another shop that knows at least something about a rotary. I'm interested in what "valve seals" they want to replace.

Simply swing by autozone, advanced auto parts, napa, or any other place and have them read your code for free. Once you know the code, search for an answer on the forum here.

Please get ride of the "performance chip," it's most likely doing more harm than good. There isn't anything good it could do to start with.

Yes I've changed the coils, wiring, and plugs a couple of times. And I still haven't seen any big downsides of having a performance chip installed. It does make my car run a little more lean but other than that it runs fine. And I didn't actually know that the short trips and the cold weather could make that milky substance on the dipstick. I'll post again when I find out the actual error code. I appreciate the comments guys.

Pull the "chip"....depending on the type they are usually just a resistor that lowers the MAF volatage and leans out the engine.....in closed loop the car will always adjust it out with fuel trims....and that will negate any gains in open loop as well.....if it drops the voltage too much you will get MAF errors

Check your plugs and coils/wires if they are originals..the stock stuff rarely lasts past 50K miles if you are lucky.

Pull the codes and see...likely 300/301/302 missfire codes

Alright I'll check it out, And I've already replaced the coils, wires and spark plugs about a thousand miles ago. But I'll check them again.