I just bought my 04 Rx-8, used with only 50,000 on the engine. I decided to do an oil change and put a better filter (K&N) since the one on it was crap... (Mighty).
I Followed the DIY change oil page and put 3.7 Quarts, Started the engine, let it run for a few minutes but the oil light stayed on. I put the rest of the quart in to bring it to 4 quarts, Started it back up and the light still is on? Took it down the road for a mile to see if it just needed to run through the engine but still the light won't go off? Does it have to be reset? Or is there something else wrong?

 

Have you checked the level on the dipstick?

 

Yeah it shows it a little over half, i just dont want to over fill it. I heard something about 7 quarts too.... Witch one is it?

 

Add little by little checking every quarter-half quart till your at the top. Its also possible your oil light sensor is broken. It does not need to be reset.

 

So it shows it at half between the bottom and the full mark? Each dot on the dipstick should be half a quart so add in oil accordingly. If you have the old oil stick and only have two marks on it then just fill slowly like the other guy said, go 1/4 of a quart at a time.

How much oil did you take out when you did the oil change? When I change my oil I pour the old stuff into a empty 5 quart oil jug so I know how much fresh oil to put back in, it is usually around 4 to 4.5 quarts.

The capacity of the car is somewhere around 7 quarts but you will never drain more than ~4-5 out. There is still a few quarts in the oil coolers and lines and what not.

 

So I just got home from work checked the dip stick and It says It was about a quarter low so I added a quarter more of oil and now it's slightly above the second line. Started It and still oil light?

 

Dude, just keep adding a little at a time over a 10 minute period until it reaches the full mark

Dont start the car just get the OIL LEVEL up to the mark.

Do you have the manual? It shows the marks on the dipstick.

 

Let the car sit for about an hour

without starting the car, check your oil with your dipstick ... remove it, clean it off, insert it all the way back in, remove it, and measure.

If you're between the hash marks (ideally above the halfway point) then your oil level is fine and the problem is likely in the sensor in the bottom of your oil pan.

 

When does everyone's light come on. Mine comes on right below the quart low mark.

 

sounds about right

 

Don't know, never let it get anywhere near that low, and don't intend to ever do so.

 

When my light comes on I change the oil.

 

It is 1.8qt between the bottom and the top of dip stick.

 

Do you mean from line to line? or from top line to the tip? That's a nice fact, but unsure how it relates.

 

It relates significantly. If you're near the lower hash mark (1/4) you can safely add a full quart to top off.

 

I never let mine get below half so I dont know when the dummy light turns on, but if it has turned on you need to add oil asap. Be more diligent than that next time.

 

Sounds like you need a new sensor

 

lol my light turns on everytime I drive on the freeway, and I know its full of oil. What dan said, could be a bad sensor/oil pan, since they don't sell the sensor by itself . I've just learn to ignore it and watch my oil pressure gauge.

 

Anyone with a spare engine core will have extra sensors..I think I have 2-3 lying around

 

Mine comes on after some sustained high speed driving (+80mph) and does not turn off till I park it and kill the engine for awhile.
It also comes on around the half way mark in city driving.
I've learned to ignore it while on the interstate.

 

I've had one oil warning light... I was doing some performance manoeuvring and the oil was down 3/4 of a litre.
No panic because the oil pressure (real gauge) stayed up and because I know the 2004 sensor/oil pan are twitchy

 

Mine only comes on after heavy braking and goes away once I restart the engine...