Fred Osborn wrote:

Paul, Does the RX-8 low profile oil pan result in a decreased oil
capacity or a higher oil level in the block? Also, what type of oil are
they recommending?

Fred O.

I think it is still five quarts. I am not sure with out checking the manual.
I suspect they run a higher level in the block. Also there are two oil coolers
that may add to the capacity.

It did a real strange thing yesterday.  The oil level light came on as
I was zinging down the freeway at 85. I said oh s*** Robin did not check the oil
level as she had been driving it for a week or so. I got off the freeway and pulled
over. Pulled the dip stick and saw no oil. Fortunately I had a quart of Mobil One
in the trunk and put it in. I drove sixty miles up to the hangar.
I let it sit for 8 hours or so and checked the oil. It was well over full!!!
Strange.

The oil pan is very shallow. On the order of an inch and a half. It has some strange
trap doors in it to keep the oil on the oil pickup screen  when you are cornering at
.9 G. What I suspect happened is one of these doors stuck closed trapping the oil
on the side of the pan and in the block. I had just got on the freeway using a fast
on ramp. The oil level sensor was on the opposite side of the pan than the door
giving an erroneous indication of a low oil level.
When I first checked the level I did not wait long enough for the oil to drain back
to the pan.

Sorry I digressed.

Nothing in the manual about the type of oil to use but I am checking with
the service manager if synthetic oil is OK. I'll have and answer later today.

Paul Lamar

I checked with the service manager and he said no synthetic but he was not too
convincing. No reason why not. The mechanic backed him up but then he mentioned
synthetic as being too "thin". I said but you can get 15 W 50 in Mobile 1
which is far from "thin". I have some contacts at Mazda so I will look into
it further. I need a reason.

Paul Lamar
 
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