My dealer insists on regular motor oil, and changing it every 3500,
never mind the manual saying different. The Service manager near
to had a coronary when I asked him about using synthetic. FWIW.
jeremy solomon
Perhaps Mazda put out a memo since I asked my service manager
in 2004. The reason he near had a coronary is the EPA CARB etc. Gov
forces them to replace the cat no charge up to 100K miles I think.
Paul Lamar ...No rotor no motor.
With respect to mechanics everywhere, there are only a couple of questions
about lubrication and engine oil on the ASE certification tests - and the
emphasis is on detecting oil pump problems, then removing/replacing the pump
- there's more money in letting it break than in prevention.
The synthetic vs. petroleum issue is more about "that's the way we've always
done it" than real knowledge. The old wives tales about synthetics causing
leaks or being thinner or being too slippery or causing lower oil pressure,
etc. are still the main 'rules' mechanics use. Most mechanics - even those
working with Euro or Japanese cars with special oil requirements - don't
understand what the ACEA or JASO or ILSAC or OEM oil specs mean and how oil
that carries those ratings are better than oil that just carries an API
service rating. Besides...shops make more money when they get you to change
your oil too often. Testing from both private folks and the SAE has shown
that engine wear rates increase after every oil change, then settle back
down after the oil's been in place for a few hundred miles - so more often
is NOT better...as long as the oil selected is up to the task.
What quality level oil is required for the rotary engine in Japan? What's
the Japanese oil change interval? What's the US oil quality recommendation
and change interval?
Andy Hecker
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All I know is Idemitsu sells a synthetic rotary engine oil.
They are a large oil company in Japan with 40% of the gasoline
market.
I got the recall notice from Mazda. I got two envelope
one with A change of address card and a notice of extended warranted
to 60,000 miles or 5 years. The second said they are going to re flash
the PCM.
i) The metering pump my be inaccurate causing poor engine sealing.
resulting in drivability or emissions problems.
In other words damage to the apex seals. Too little oil
to the apex seals.. damage to the seals. Too much oil to
the combustion chamber and the cat has more oil to contend
with. They need a separate supply of apex seal oil that
burns cleanly in the combustion chamber like two cycle oil.
ii) Too much fuel may be injected at engine start causing carbon to
be deposited on spark plugs or plugs may be flooded. (been there
done that.) In addition the cat may be degraded.
iii) Only 2006 RX8 have a problem with the engine temp reported
to the OBD II.
Absolutely and positively nothing about synthetic oil.
Paul Lamar ...No rotor no motor.
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I just got the 20 page test procedure. You are not going to need
a new RX8 engine unless you have a "severe lack of power",
(read bad apex seals or scored rotor housings due to insufficient oil) engine idle drops below 700 RPM or the
engine stalls after a 10 minute city driveing cycle. You might need
new spark plugs or a cat but your check engine light
would be on for sure.
Again not a word about synthetic oil.
The vacuum test they speak of requires a special wiring
harness part number SST # N3M1-18-791 AKA Manifold Vacuum Tester.
You will also need a computer and OBD II software.
Paul Lamar ...No rotor no motor.
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