Oil leak and strange ignition issue
 

I've had my RX8 since Aug 2003. I drive the car fairly regularly having only 58k miles. It's a GT 6spd. I'm on my second engine after having the original replaced at 47k. Mods are K&N, Borla, Auto EXE body kit, etc. No major mods as far as FI or nitrous.

I started smelling some oil burning on the car late last summer just before putting it in the garage for the winter. I didn't really think much of it because I had just changed the oil and thought I might have had a dirty oil change and spilled a bit. The thing I did notice was an oil spot when I would park at a friend's house or in my garage. I replaced the drain plug and crush washer, the oil filter is on securely and it didn't get double sealed. The more I drive the car the more I smell burning oil. I'm still seeing drip marks on the driveway now.

Any suggestions on where I might start looking to track down this leak? Is oil dye ok to put through a rotary? (hopefully not a stupid question)

Secondly I'm getting the strangest noises under moderate to heavy throttle when the car is hot. I have a K&N intake on the car, everything under the hood other than this is stock. When I accellerate and the car hits between 4k and sometimes as high as 6k RPM I get this noise that can only be described as a high pitched gurgle or misfire type sound. I could get a sound recording if needed, but haven't had time. This noise gets louder and more pronounced and lowe in the RPM range the hotter the car gets for example yesterday I was sitting in 85 degree temps in heavy stop and go traffic with the A/C on and the noise under accel was really pronounced.

I don't know where to start on the noise or the leak, I guess I could take it in to my local dealer, but I'm pretty decent with this car having installed most things myself i.e. new transmission, brakes, exhaust, etc. so I'm really not afraid to do this one on my own with a little help.

I was thinking a coil might be laying down, bad plugs or wires. I was thinking on the oil leak that it might be the OMP but I really don't know where to look. Luckily I have a buddy with a small shop so I have access to look the car over pretty closely, it's just with this being my first rotary I don't really know where to start.

ANY IDEAS?

My last RX-8 had an oil leak problem and the dealership traced it back to the OMP. My guess is they re-used a gasket or jacked up the gasket when they swapped engines. It ran fine, I'd just have a few drops of oil under the car every morning when I backed it out of the garage. The dealership wanted to charge me to replace the OMP itself but I never did it. I ended up getting rid of the car for gas-mileage/DD reasons.

To answer your dye question, no I do not believe it's bad. That's how Rob Sight determined where my oil leak was coming from. I ran the dye for a week and then went back. They had to run the dye because a nice area of the engine was covered in oil so they couldn't determine if it was a main seal or the OMP. You might have the same problem when you look yours over.

As far as your strange noise goes, I remember Jason saying you though you've had coil pack issues for a while now correct? I'd start by replacing the coil packs and spark plugs as at that mileage you need to anyways. Since you have a K&N intake I'd also suggest cleaning your MAF as well since that intake has been on there for a while so there could be some oil buildup on your MAF sensor.

I've found the OMP seals online in a couple of different places. I can grab a bottle of oil dye here at work then. The coil pack thing is pretty costly at $40 a shot just to be guessing though. I have heard that coils from a Yukon Denali will work on this car too. Anyone else heard this? What should I look for on the coils?

Thanks for the suggestions RWatters. Aren't you the guy that lives right by my house? I've been driving my car pretty regularly again since I changed jobs and don't have a dealership demo anymore.

I'd try the dye first and see what happens. I would not be surprised if it's your OMP. Interestingly enough the engine in the RX-8 I owned that had the OMP problem was also done at Rob Sight like yours was. That'd be pretty crazy if it ends up being the case!

At nearly 60,000 miles I wouldn't consider your coils guesswork but rather maintenence if anything. At 50,000 miles my last RX-8 was giving off the flashing CEL any time I went up to the RPMs you're reporting in part-throttle. Mazmart has them for around $135 plus shipping and that's who I got mine through. The plugs you can get at AutoZone or Advanced Auto for around $20/each. They're cheaper online but once you factor in shipping and the waiting time it isn't worth it IMO.

I think the Yukon coils require a conversion, but I'm not sure. You may want to search on that one.

Yup that's me! I live down in Gardner now and have a different RX-8. I already gave it the Borla treatment though as after I heard yours in Olathe that one day Borla was the only option I'd EVER consider for an exhaust. You set me straight! lol

I'll start with taking the coils off and checking them. It's my understanding that when the engine recall is done that they simply take the old parts off and swap them to a new block, so all of the external stuff is just reattached. Maybe the seal on the OMP went bad because I remember smelling oil shortly after having the swap done.

Clean the engine up...and then watch for leaks....

Check here for a kit based on the Yukon coils you asked about, look under ignition section on the store tab: http://blackhaloracing.com/.

Gurgle is air inside the cooling system.

They make a metal ferrule you can place in the rubber hose that reduces the creation of air.

search for ferrule. https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-discussion-3/please-help-potential-new-owner-question-miac-181950/page3/


Also when car is cold, put car up on jack, open radiator cap. Turn car on run until she is hot and ready to boil over. Since the car is at a incline the air in the system will exit the system.

You have now successufully burped your baby.

i actually have an oil leak right now... check to see if you oil cooler hoses are rotted through cause that is the case for me.

I had one .. it was from the oil filter .. bit of old seal leftover ... simple fix ...