Love my RX8 - Titanium Grey, 6MT, grand touring package, NAV, the works. I am a little concerned with oil and warming the engine issues. THe first weekend I got it I drove to Palm springs and back. I tried not to redline it, but it was just too tempting. I redlined it about twice. This is a brand new car. Was it a mistake to redline it? My friend has an M3 and he waited until 1200 miles before he redlined it.

Another issue is warming up. Do I really need to let the car sit for 2 minutes before driving each time? That seems a little much? Any care and maintanence suggestions are much appreciated. See you on the road!

 

check your oil every 500 miles atleast

dont turn the car off if temp is on C--this can flood it

break in shouldn't be redling till atleast 600 miles

 

Dude, drive it like you stole it.....

 

Mikeb, where the hell were you tonight?

 

sorry

my girlfriend is very sick I was with her


next time

 

Both the sales guy and the mechanic at Irvine Mazda told me to keep it under 4000rpms for the first 500 miles, then I could open it up... which I did!

They also told me to add oil every 3 gas tanks. It's drinkin' oil like crazy...

 

I'm in LA too. I don't think you have to warm it up for 2 minutes. You can start out on the road almost immediately but be very easy on the throttle until the engine temp goes up. On a fair morning this last week, I think it took about 3 minutes for the engine temp to get there on my car. Hardly any time at all.

Like Mike said, just don't STOP the engine before it's warmed up. If you have to, e.g., to quickly repark your car in order to wash it, there are directions on what to do in your manual and/or quick start guide (I forgot which one). Part of the process involves, while in neutral, holding the engine at 3000 rpm for 10 to 30 sec (I forgot the exact amount of time. Again it's in the manual.), letting it back down, and then shutting the engine off.

I get the feeling you like to drive fast a lot, like many of the people on this forum. I'm the opposite so I can give you the other polar end on the oil issue. I'm around 5000 miles now and almost ready for my 2nd oil change. Before my first oil change, I checked the oil many times (this means actually checking the dipstick because the oil gauge in the car can be somewhat misleading) and never had to add ANY oil at all. After my first oil change and up to the present, I still haven't had to add any oil.

So you've heard both sides of the coin with regard to driving style and oil, and you know how you drive. Hope the info helps you. Thank God I didn't buy a box of Castrol 5W20 at Wal Mart.

 

Did they tell you to add oil or just check the oil? The oil use isn't that excessive - something like 1qt used over 2000 miles. Make sure that you actually need to add oil before you add it!

Simon.

 

You drive like I do. What kind of mileage are you getting? I'm still on my second tank and it's not too encouraging.

I got a couple of quarts to throw in my tool bag. Guess I didn't need them. Considering the cost of the car and the fuel, I think a box of Castrol would be lost in the noise.

 

Oil consumption varies depending on how you drive it.

I can go weeks and weeks without adding oil.

But put me on a track day weekend, and I'll burn a whole quart in a day! That's what WOT racing will do for ya though!

If you are aggressive on the streets, you will use more oil.... simple as that!

If you redlined it once or twice, don't worry about it! Chances are it's all good!

I would recommend an earlier oil change than what the book suggest for the first one, but that's just my old school piston way of thinking

Congrats on the new RX8!!!!

 

I have recorded mileage on every single tank of gas. I'm averaging around 20.5 to 21.0 mpg. I've had lows of 18.6 and 18.8; a lot of 20.5's and 21.0's and a few 21.6's; and 22.65 once. I drive mostly freeway (around 80% freeway, 20% city) at between 62 and 72 mph. I have not had the chance to run an entire tank on the freeway, e.g., a long distance drive to Las Vegas NONSTOP (except for gas of course). I'm hopeful that when I get the chance to do it, I WILL get 24 mpg. If I don't, I WILL be pissed.

 

A VERY SILLY QUESTION....

HOW DO YOU READ A DIPSTICK? :D

I assume the top dot is full and lowest dot is empty... how do you know when to add oil ... anyone with a pic and explain it to me? PLease?

 

OK Takahashi, I will refrain from telling you that the answer to your question is on page 8-10 of the owner's manual and just tell you that the upper mark is the FULL mark and the lower mark indicates that the oil reservoir is 1.7 litres down from full. I would advise adding about 0.5 litre when the oil is halfway between the two marks, then check it again.

Of course the dipsticks for the Southern Hemisphere RX-8s might be upside-down.

 

Then there's hope for me!!!

I haven't topped off the tank yet for the second tankful, but my first tank was 14.4 mpg (assuming the dealer really gave me a full tank), and the second doesn't look to be much better. Roughly 30% highway. I keep accurate records so we'll see. I'll be pissed if I can't do Placentia Orange County to Vegas comfortably on one tank.

Thanks for the data.