Is it normal for the oil light to come on 800 miles before my next oil change on an 07? I am using regular 5w20 oil and I am not driving hard.

 

It would be nice if you told use how many miles you've driven before the light came on. I can speculate that the mileage you've driven since your last oil change is 2200. Is this correct?
The RX8 typicaly uses a qt every 3000 miles. This is just an average. Factors such as driving habits, road type driven (freeway/city) and engine rpm range average can make a difference in the oil consumption.

 

Do you check the oil every other fill up? How many fillups since the last oil change?

 

^^ Sounds like you arent checking your oil levels regularly

 

^^^Or at all, the oil light shouldn't 'normally' turn on. When that light comes on it indicates dangerously low oil pressure, meaning your engine isn't being cooled or lubed as it should.

 

Not sure that is exactly true. The oil light can come on prior to any change in oil pressure (measured at the filter) on the RX8. On other, cars that can be true. Definitely means your low on oil (or forgot to add that last quart, d'oh!)

 

There is also an oil level sensor in the oil pan guys. Low oil level,, light comes on.
What oil change schedule are you using? 3000 miles or 5000 miles?

 

I am sorry I am at work so I was rushing. I should have added that it was low and I had to add a quart and a half. Yes I am an idiot and have not checked it for a long time, I am using every 3000 miles. But is it normal for it to use that much oil? Do you normally check it after every fillup?

 

yes and yes

 

/thread

 

Okay thank you very much.

 

i thought it was a quart every 1000.

 

Would it be better to run with 5w30 oil instead? Would it not use as much because of the thicker oil?

 

I didn't know it was a level sensor, learn something new every day.

I use 5w30 just for more protection/cooling, it won't use less really. Our engines are design to use a quart or so in between oil changes.

 

Wrong thought process here. First you need to understand why a rotary engine requires so much oil before you start trying to figure out how to use less. Second you need to read up and understand what reasons one might have for running a heavier or lighter weight of oil. Randomly changing weights without understanding the why could put you in some trouble.

And just for comparison, with my MM tune I am using 1qt per 1,000 miles.

 

is your's a 04 ? thats the main question......04 have faulty oil pan sensors

 

He said it was an 07 in his original post.

 

So much fail......so little time! IBTL

 

my bad ...missed that part

 

my 04 uses 1qt every 1-1.5k still on factory settings. I use 5-30w and premix with amsoil and lucas UCL. may have mm change the omp settings now that im going to the sohn adapter but i will not stop premix

 

You and I must have similar driving habits.

 

I use my "B" trip odometer and check / add oil every 1000 miles, although it has never needed more than a third of a quart over that interval.

 

Do your car a favor, sell it

 

Does no one lift the hood and check the oil regularly , sheesh, Im glad I have a sign in the bathroom to remind to wipe !

 

Considering that we have diy threads about oil, fluid and spark plug changes... People don't like to read the f****n manual nowadays, let alone the workshop one.
I think that anybody with an IQ of 1 or above would see the oil light, take the owners manual and read. There should be something in it about checking the oil level every now and then -> "Oh **** i never did it, of course it is low!"