Notices
Series II Technical and Trouble shooting Discuss technical details for the Series II RX-8 and any issues or problems you are facing

low oil light came on today...

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Rate Thread
 
Old 09-02-2010, 09:39 AM
  #1  
3sum4fun
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
 
omgitspeeb's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Eastern Shore of MD
Posts: 53
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
low oil light came on today...

I've had my '10 R3 for nearly 5 months now and have been checking the oil pretty regularly. I haven't been killing it from stoplight to stoplight - in fact, most of the 2,800 miles that are one it (not much I know) are back and forth to work on interstate roads. I was thinking of calling this week to set up the first oil change... then this morning on the way in to work, lots of *beeeeep beeeeep beeeeep* sounds and I saw the low oil light on the dash. WTF. I was going about 65mph.

I continued on my way to work - nowhere to stop at that moment. About 15 mins went by and I looked down and no more light. Huh.

I drove to the Mazda dealer where I bought it and was able to get it right in for an oil service/change etc. The tech ran it thru the system and no faults were tripped and he said the oil level was really not low at all. Not low enough to cause the light to come on anyway. Damn gremlins.

So what's the general consensus on that light? Does it come on prematurely? Or is it designed to come on when you shouldn't drive it anymore without oil... ?
Old 09-02-2010, 09:43 AM
  #2  
Is that a bike rack?
iTrader: (1)
 
Lord ET's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: San Antonio
Posts: 1,374
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
When... IF mine comes on, I pull over immediately and top off with the quart I keep in the trunk. But mine is an '04.
Old 09-02-2010, 09:56 AM
  #3  
Extraordinary Engineering
 
DarkBrew's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Burls On
Posts: 4,733
Likes: 0
Received 12 Likes on 9 Posts
So, what was your oil level when you checked it? Was it low?

If the level was fine then did they check the connection to the sensor?
If the connection is fine then did they pull the pan and check the sensor?

If I were you I would not let this go...
Old 09-02-2010, 10:01 AM
  #4  
3sum4fun
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
 
omgitspeeb's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Eastern Shore of MD
Posts: 53
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
When I checked it last (about 2 weeks - but one fill-up ago), and it was while the engine was cold, it was between 1/4 and 1/2.

I don't know what they checked this morning - but if the light comes on again, especially now since it's new and full, you better believe I'll be going back to have them investigate it.

The technician only said he ran it through the diagnostics on the computer and nothing was tripped/flagged/whatever.
Old 09-02-2010, 12:10 PM
  #5  
Registered
 
jasonrxeight's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Omaha, NE
Posts: 3,487
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
I found when its half a quart low if you brake hard the light will come one.
Old 09-02-2010, 02:09 PM
  #6  
Zoom Zoom Addict
 
VashGS's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Texas Hill County
Posts: 454
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Simple fix don't run it low. You know Mazda can void your warranty if engine blown from low oil level it stores that code.
Old 09-02-2010, 02:20 PM
  #7  
Registered User
 
FastFreddy61's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Eastern Europe
Posts: 421
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
[quote=omgitspeeb;3697664]When I checked it last (about 2 weeks - but one fill-up ago), and it was while the engine was cold, it was between 1/4 and 1/2.

If it was between 1/4 and 1/2, does that not tell you its LOW, I have a S1 and even when its registering full on the dipstick the light will come on every now and then, dont forget its an "idiot" light, thats why we have a dipstick.
Old 09-02-2010, 04:25 PM
  #8  
Registered User
 
DstrbdTech's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Manvel, Tx
Posts: 158
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I was going to say the rule of the light notification is they tell you when its too late for you...or they tell you when nothings wrong at all...if mazdas figured out how to get the sensor to go off early to save the engine god bless them...if not Id suspect a faulty sensor or just position of the oil around the sensor (IE: Going uphill or Downhill)

I've seen Analog Gas gauges fluxate from hills don't see why a sensor wouldn't either.
Old 09-02-2010, 05:18 PM
  #9  
Registered
 
Beefy98's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 224
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
When would this light come on? In a piston engine the oil light comes on with like just one HALF--one QT left! Too late.

Alos I've found that the level will be the same whether u check it cold or hot.
Old 09-02-2010, 05:47 PM
  #10  
RX8. Yeah, I get it.
iTrader: (1)
 
RX8pwnage's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: West Lafayette, IN
Posts: 454
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Oil needs to be checked EVERY OTHER FILLUP! You didnt do that if you were between 1/4-1/2...THATS LOW!
Old 09-03-2010, 07:25 AM
  #11  
3sum4fun
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
 
omgitspeeb's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Eastern Shore of MD
Posts: 53
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by RX8pwnage
Oil needs to be checked EVERY OTHER FILLUP! You didnt do that if you were between 1/4-1/2...THATS LOW!

yeah - I should have added some then but didn't have any. I'll keep better tabs on it.

thanks everybody
Old 09-03-2010, 08:51 AM
  #12  
Registered
 
jrx13's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 590
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Also remember that the dipstick marks from Full to Low is about two quarts of oil. So if your only reading 1/4 then that's about 1.5qts low in the oil pan. I've got an 09 and add approximately 1/2 qt every 1000 miles. So if you got 2,800 miles and haven't had to add oil then that's about right, 1.5qts low.

Last edited by jrx13; 09-03-2010 at 08:54 AM.
Old 09-03-2010, 08:12 PM
  #13  
Mu ha.. ha...
 
Razz1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Cali
Posts: 14,361
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
*beeeeep beeeeep beeeeep* sounds

means you were red lining it!

ZOOM ZOOM
Old 09-05-2010, 04:05 PM
  #14  
Super Moderator
 
ASH8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Australia
Posts: 10,868
Received 317 Likes on 226 Posts
Originally Posted by omgitspeeb
When I checked it last (about 2 weeks - but one fill-up ago), and it was while the engine was cold, it was between 1/4 and 1/2.

I don't know what they checked this morning - but if the light comes on again, especially now since it's new and full, you better believe I'll be going back to have them investigate it.

The technician only said he ran it through the diagnostics on the computer and nothing was tripped/flagged/whatever.
Well derr, When COLD it is meant to be 1/4 of an inch Below the F, that is FULL mark, between a 1/4 and 1/2 is TOO Low, so naturally at high RPM your Oil LEVEL light will come on.
Old 09-05-2010, 04:15 PM
  #15  
Super Moderator
 
ASH8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Australia
Posts: 10,868
Received 317 Likes on 226 Posts
Originally Posted by omgitspeeb
yeah - I should have added some then but didn't have any. I'll keep better tabs on it.

thanks everybody
I Strongly suggest you check your Oil more Regularly, did you READ your Owners Manual??, rotaries are meant to use OIL...it is not a Fault...

DON'T get into the habit of ONLY adding OIL when the Light Comes on, and DON'T overfill it either...

Buy some Oil and Keep it in your House..

And do a lot more reading here..
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
uZu
New Member Forum
13
12-30-2015 12:35 PM
akagc
RX-8's For Sale/Wanted
7
08-11-2015 07:07 PM
Stubbs
Series I Tech Garage
4
07-28-2015 09:23 PM
dbarber
Series I Trouble Shooting
14
07-25-2015 01:34 PM
RotaryRider
New Member Forum
11
07-20-2015 07:05 AM



You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.

Quick Reply: low oil light came on today...



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:39 PM.