RX-8 drinking oil?

[J-Villa]

So my mom calls me this morning saying her RX-8 has a light on. It's the low oil light...

Background: 2008 rx-8. Automatic. It was the test drive car (had 500 miles on it), but my mom still bought it...:dodgy:. Car has 3,200 miles on it.

I start the car up, low oil light is on. I turn it off, check the dip stick. Oil is below the bottom line. Simple fix.... hop in the speed3 and go get a quart of 5w20.

I pour the whole quart in, run the engine for a little. When i first turned it on and gave it a little throttle (rev'd it to ~2,400 rpm) it shuddered when I let off the gas.... :dodgy:

Checked the dipstick while the car was idle-ing and it was at the first little dimple above the bottom fill line. So I turned the car off, and closed it all up.

I've got an appointment for an oil change sat. Gonna have them put some Pennzoil Platinum 5w20 in it for her. But I'm sorta worried about that shudder.... Could it be a symptom of problems to come?

I'm also worried about the car burning soo much oil in it's first 3,200 miles. When she got the car I checked everything and i'm pretty sure the oil was topped of all the way to full.

any advice?

 

[neox.286]

it shouldn't drop that fast just idling it

but rotaries are designed to burn oil as a way to lubricate the apex seals...it is normal for it to need a quart or so every fill up or two (from what I've been told)
you should always check the oil whenever you get the chance

 

[SpooledupRacing]

In 3000 miles she should be down atleast a quart.. that is normal..

 

[neox.286]

really?

that seems awfully high....my rx8 buddies say they have to fill it up a lot more frequently than that

 

[altspace]

There are many factors involved that can increase/decrease oil consumption. Yes, we know about the rotary using oil by injection (Hence part of the reason for poor MPG), but also what about driving habits, is the car in traffic, does it travel short or long distances, etc.

 

[J-Villa]

driven easily. it's my moms. She doesnt ever rabbit jump off lights or merge onto the highway fast. nothin.

Drives about a 30-40 miles commute around to the northside of the city. Not much traffic. She says she lets the car idle for a little before she leaves in the morning.

And i poured a whole quart of dino oil in it and It was still wayy to low. Above the bottom "fill" line, but below the first indentation on the dipstick. I told her to keep driving the tC until the oil gets changed.

 

[neox.286]

how long has it been since she last filled it up though?

and does she check the oil often?

 

[Shadow102]

driven easily. it's my moms. She doesnt ever rabbit jump off lights or merge onto the highway fast. nothin.

Drives about a 30-40 miles commute around to the northside of the city. Not much traffic. She says she lets the car idle for a little before she leaves in the morning.

And i poured a whole quart of dino oil in it and It was still wayy to low. Above the bottom "fill" line, but below the first indentation on the dipstick. I told her to keep driving the tC until the oil gets changed.

Gotta wring that thing out to keep it running for years to come as well

 

[SpooledupRacing]

driven easily. it's my moms. She doesnt ever rabbit jump off lights or merge onto the highway fast. nothin.

Drives about a 30-40 miles commute around to the northside of the city. Not much traffic. She says she lets the car idle for a little before she leaves in the morning.

And i poured a whole quart of dino oil in it and It was still wayy to low. Above the bottom "fill" line, but below the first indentation on the dipstick. I told her to keep driving the tC until the oil gets changed.

just a heads up.. babying that rotary engine is one of the WORSE things to do to it..

it may live a very premature life

 

[altspace]

^Exactly. Redline a day keeps the carbon away. Not saying she needs to do it every shift obviously. 30-40 mile commute will certainly use a lot of oil in the 8.

 

[jmsj578]

I check my wife's RX-8's oil, often. It uses it faster than I thought it would; but, I'm not worried about it. I'm betting his mom's driving habits are like my wife's. She claims she doesn't baby it; but, I know she does. I get it out, from time to time, to run up the revs to clear things out for her. I've been adding oil at 1K mile intervals to keep it topped off, fairly well.

 

[Riken]

I recommend for you to change the to oil to Castrol gtx, even change it 5w30 at least. Also yes it will consume some oil. She/you will need to check the oil level once a week at least. You may want to also check your OMP maybe leaking too.

 

[Riken]

I recommend for you to change the to oil to Castrol gtx, even change it 5w30 at least. Also yes it will consume some oil. She/you will need to check the oil level once a week at least. I check the oil every 3 days. I love my car lol. You may want to also check your OMP maybe leaking too.

 

[Riken]

Let us know how it went after the oil change.

 

[SpooledupRacing]

yeah update us after the change..

 

[J-Villa]

Sry bout not replying. Hectic life.

So the car has been parked in the driveway since I started this thread. Put enough oil in it to get above the fill line as ya'll know.

I was told babying rotary's was bad, but never believed it. Guess that's more of an excuse to take it for little sunday drives.(drive2)

But I guess I'll start checking her car more often...And I'll let ya'll know what happens after the oil change. I'm also gonna pick up a 5quart of dino oil since I'm quite sure that's what they are gonna put in her car.

Thanks for teh help so far.(bowdown)

 

[nolig2278]

What does reving to redline achieve besides of course more power?
My mazdas are both 4cyls but my dad drives the 8 and I want to make sure he is driving it well.
I tell him to shift a lot to save gas. To actually run 45 mph in 6th. Am I wrong?
Thanks

 

[Shadow102]

What does reving to redline achieve besides of course more power?
My mazdas are both 4cyls but my dad drives the 8 and I want to make sure he is driving it well.
I tell him to shift a lot to save gas. To actually run 45 mph in 6th. Am I wrong?
Thanks

It keeps the carbon out of the rotary which can cause the engine to carbon lock destroying the apex seals

 

[SpooledupRacing]

What does reving to redline achieve besides of course more power?
My mazdas are both 4cyls but my dad drives the 8 and I want to make sure he is driving it well.
I tell him to shift a lot to save gas. To actually run 45 mph in 6th. Am I wrong?
Thanks

Time for you 2 to do some research...

bringing it out to redline once a day at the least will help keep the engine from loading up on carbon which will eventually shorten the life of the engien and also can cause the engine to carbon lock when u shut it off..

you should not GRANNY SHIFT a rotary.. play in the power band.. its good for it.. Rotaries are NOTHING like piston engines.. NOTHING!!!

 

[ZoomZoomH]

Rotary Car Owner Commandment #1: CHECK YOUR OIL LEVEL REGULARLY

that is all, enjoy your RX-8