Well the final answer from Mazda is in.
Oil consumption on the RX-8 is 1 quart per 600 miles. And Mazda states that's GOOD.

In regard to your inquiry, the RX-8 comes equipped with a RENESIS
rotary engine, and it requires regular inspection of the engine oil
level. Please note, the warranty says the "normal" oil consumption is
1 quart per 600 miles. However, the RENESIS rotary engine is a compact,
high performance engine, and oil consumption is good, and it is
expected.
Lisa Lasky
Specialist, Customer Assistance E-Business




What B.S. The Renesis engine sucks.
Now before you say 'typo' think, if it is 60 miles then you better not travel
to the store without a gallon of oil in the trunk. If its 6000 then why are all the
forum members and myself adding oil at 1000 to 2500 miles.

Besides I have read two articles on the internet (one listed below), stating that the Renesis rotary uses ½ the
oil of a conventional rotary. IF THAT IS TRUE then we have all been lied to by Mazda or have defective engines that burn too much oil.

I keep in mind that my 1981 RX-7 used 1 quart per 3000+ miles, no matter the oil weight or how fast or hard it was driven.!!! So now Mazda has engineered and oil guzzler engine.

http://www.carmemories.com/cgi-bin/viewexperience.cgi?experience_id=624
Reduced Oil Consumption

In a rotary engine, oil is supplied directly to the interior walls of the combustion chamber to lubricate the "apex" and "corner" seals. Engineers kept the paths which supply oil in the RENESIS as small as possible, and we have redesigned the oil supply nozzles to improve their efficiency. With these enhancements, the RENESIS consumes about half as much oil as a conventional rotary engine.

 

Who cares? It's not like oil is that expensive. Just suck it up. You should have known about the oil consumption problem before you bought your car.

By the way, I've driven about 12,000 km (~7500 miles) and have had to add 4.4 litres of oil. That's about $10 CDN. And I drive HARD.

 

khtm's True. I don't understand the big deal. Oil is cheap, and not every rx8 eats oil the same. I add about half a quart every 600 miles.

 

Mine seems to burn about 1/2 quart every 1000 miles.. Get over it.. Your supposed to take care of your car not neglect it

 

#1. This engine is much better economy wise then a 81 rx-7.
#2. This engine doesn't suck it won engine of the year its first year out.
#3. It is a SAFE idea to keep oil in the trunk cause you never know. The harder you run it the more oil you will burn.

My 8 has 4,000 miles on it now and I have not had to put oil in besides getting oil changed at 3,000 miles. If you don't beat the car your oil consumption is low.

 

Huh? Who said at every 60 miles that you need to add a gallon of oil? Certainly not me. It's about 1000 to 2500 miles depending on how hard you drive the car.

 

Oil consumption in a Rotary engine is normal, in a Piston engine, its bad. The 600miles number provided by Mazda is simply to cover their asses however, the typical consumption should be higher than that. In a legal sue happy society today, they need to do everything to cover their asses to avoid law suite.

 

The first couple thousand miles my oil consumption sucked BIG TIME! It scared the hell out of me......"give it time" is what my dealer told me........as time passed, things set in and the apex seals set. Now with 8k I run through a quart about 2500 - 3000 miles at a time.

 

the point 'folks' is that MAZDA says the consumption is better (1/2) of the old rotary.

well the old rotary got 3000 miles before using 1 quart

so 'someone' is mis-representing BIG TIME the car when they say the consumber is better than the standard rotary.

I had no problem with 1 quart per 3000 miles, but 1 quart per 600 really sucks.

 

I bought my car, and put 2k miles on it, then drove it across the country adding another 3.5k miles. I added 2 Quarts of oil for the whole 3500 mile trip. It's really not that bad.

-Rupes

 

I can't recall anyone on this forum who has actually had to add a quart every 600 miles. As noted above, the 600 number is probably just to insulate Mazda from silly lawsuits. You should be able to go many more miles before actually having to add a quart.

 

since i got the M flash it is less than 1/2 qt low between oil changes every 3000miles .before M flash 1/2qt every 1000 miles.

 

3/4 quart of oil every 3000 miles for me.

 

I've gone 1300 miles and my oil level is fine. Just checked it a few days ago.

 

When I bought my car last year I was having to put in about 1 quart every 550 miles. I was a little upset using that much oil. I talked to the service rep and he said that it is normal for that usage but mine was definitely the only car he know using that much oil. I read the forum and every one was saying they were getting 1500 to 2000 miles before adding a quart so I just kept driving it. At around 5000 miles my oil consumption starting going down. I now use a quart about every 1500 to 2000 like most on this forum. So if you are using a lot of oil and the car is new hang in there and it should start getting better.

 

I have 4300 miles and have added just 1 qt.

 

Who cares? Why are so many RX-8 owners whiners? Add a little oil once in a while and ENJOY your RX-8. Feel the smooth high-reving engine, toss it around a mountain road and the oil "issue" becomes trivial. If your happiness with a car depends on perfection, look elsewhere, though I doubt anyone with that mindset will find it.

 

Talk about misinterpretation! sandia8, that '1 qt per 600 miles' would be the MAXIMUM consumption Mazda would consider in the normal range, before warranty work would be approved. You seem to be assuming that because you got an e-mail from Mazda stating the warranty limit on consumption, that we all will be experiencing consumption of 1 qt per 600 miles??? Did you deliberately choose to ignore the dozens of posts detailing the actual oil consumption being experienced by forum members, which are always much less than 1 qt per 600 miles?

Regards,
Gordon

 

Lets see, I just finished a trip of about 700 miles and used maybe 1/8 quart. Oh yes, I ran the dragon 3 times very hard. So what is the problem??

 

Another internet mechanic. Meh.

 

There are even piston engines that consume oil - the Integra Type R has oil injectors that fire into the cylinders to cool the pistons over 8,000 RPMs. I've always been PROUD to have a car that actually uses oil. Adding oil is a badge of honor.

 

I

 

I have been using 400:1 premix since the first tankfull, and in 6000 mile my 8 was low by 1/2 quart at every change (3000 miles), now have 7000 miles on it.

 

oh goodie - ANOTHER thread about the Renesis oil consumption.

I saw we ban this guy.

 

Maybe someday Mazda will get enlightened and add a external oil source so crankcase oil won't be used. It would solve two problems; one, having to burn used oil and second not having to check oil so often. You could *idiot light* the tank and add a quart that would last for months. Having to check oil at 600 mile intervals isn't acceptable in a modern day car. When the Rotary becomes as maintenence free as a piston engine is when the rotary will become more universally acceptable.