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

Bryan Fear & Leora Alden wrote:

      A short thought from Bryan in Princeton B.C. -  There is no reason
for not using a snythetic oil.    It is just policy not to...   :-)

--Richard wrote:

The OMP adapter can put this issue to bed for good!

Richard Sohn
N-2071U
unicorn@gdsys.net
www.gdsys.net/WWWmembers/unicorn/

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