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Mazda RX-8 Care & Maintenance

103 messages,  Last post on Oct 25, 2009 at 5:17 AM

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What is this discussion about? Mazda RX-8, Auto Body, Engine, Fuel System, Interior, Oil, Paint, Coupe

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#58 of 103 Re: interior rattles/noise [reidswitch] by yellowrx8 Nov 10, 2006 (6:02 am)
Replying to: reidswitch (Nov 09, 2006 8:29 pm) My '04 has a similar issue. some they have been able to fix, some not. i continue to just let them know when i take it in for other service so it is documented. if any one has suggestions on something that worked, please post it Replies to this message: pathstar1 (Nov 10, 2006 8:08 am)
#59 of 103 Re: interior rattles/noise [yellowrx8] by pathstar1 Nov 10, 2006 (8:08 am)
Replying to: yellowrx8 (Nov 10, 2006 6:02 am) Well, I have a 3rd gen RX-7 and they also rattled a lot. You will not like the fix. Remove all interior panels and glue felt everywhere they meet other panels or the body, including under the fasteners. You may also have to fasten some cables better - some can touch the plastic panels under hard jolts. It works, but it's quite a project. Of course Mazda wouldn't do it for you.   The cause is the "sport suspension" combined with the plastic panels of the interior.   Alternate fix - turn up the stereo.
#60 of 103 Re: Oil Change Frequency [johncalifornia] by deaun Dec 23, 2006 (10:09 pm)
Replying to: johncalifornia (Jan 25, 2004 1:00 pm) Boy, do I feel like an idiot...   I drive in the hilly/curvy part of Arkansas--usually 75+ mph, long distance daily. But I never gave a thought to the rpms until my husband flooded my 8. I know now, thanks to the service manager, but I didn't think about carbon build up (yes, I read the manual--several times--just missed this).   Any other tips for not killing my RX8?   Thank you!   Deaun Replies to this message: jarman1 (Aug 24, 2007 12:37 pm)
#61 of 103 Re: Synthetic Oil [nojets] by goopilot21 Dec 26, 2006 (7:51 pm)
Replying to: nojets (May 11, 2004 8:54 pm) DO NOT USE SYNTHETIC OILS IN YOUR RX8!!!!!!! the use of synthetic oils in a rotary engine causes problems for one main reason..the way the engine is meant to run. rotary engines are meant to burn oil and as specified in the manual for the rx-8, it is suggested to check oil levels constantly for this specific reason. synthetic oil does not burn as well due to its 'ingredients' and thus will cause a build up in your engine and many problems to come along the way.i fthe oil that is being burned in your engine like it is done in the rx8 donesnt actually burn all the way, it means there is gonna be problems. if you happen to have one of the few rx8 with the low oil pressure that caused an engine failure... dont bring the engine in with synthetic in there... they can technically blame it on that and not replace the motor like originally promised, because they can blame it on that. Replies to this message: oldtimer2 (Feb 25, 2007 3:46 pm)
#62 of 103 Re: Synthetic Oil [goopilot21] by oldtimer2 Feb 25, 2007 (3:46 pm)
Replying to: goopilot21 (Dec 26, 2006 7:51 pm) Hi goopilot,   You have all the words but they are not strung to gether quite right. Try out the following and see if it makes more sense.   Synthetic oil does not cause the catalytic to go bad, but synthetic oil does cause seals in the motor to get hard and fracture which then causes leaks and "blow by" oil to go through the motor. This excessive oil in the exhaust then floods the catalytic converter, so that it can not stay hot enough to burn off excess hydrocarbons and the "blow by" oil in the eshaust, as is required by EPA.   The failure of the catalytic converters is the only reason Mazda cares about the motor seal failures and must rebuild the failed motors is because EPA requires the catalytic converter to function longer than Mazda warrants the motor. Now the rest of the facts, the motor seals would have failed anyway even if non-synthetic oil had been used. Masda USA requires USA owners to use a very light 5W-20 weight oil in the cars, that cannot protect the oil seals from failure due to the excessive temperature of the motor in hot climates, while in stop and start traffic and while on long non stop drives.   Otherwise the car's very hot running motor will not last very long anywhere in the USA that has stop and start driving or long drives to be taken on hot days. (See the Mazda Rx 8 index page of this site for the "Mazda RX 8 Motor Failure Problem" and go to that "string" for the whole story.) Of course Mazda throws up a smoke screen about synthetic oil causing the problem so the public thinks it is the owners fault when it is really Mazda's fault.   Quickly, Mazda requires the use of this light oil to help meet EPA's requirements for miles per gallon of the car to reduce the huge fines EPA charges for exceeding the MPG requirement.   The proof of all the above is that every else in the World Masda requires (except in the USA) that RX 8 owners to use a heaver 5W-30 weight non-synthetic oil for adequate protection of the hot running RX 8 rotary engine. Mazda does not care about how soon the engines fail for the consumer they just care about the EPA fines for catalytic failures and MPG repuirements.   To get a complete understanding of how large these fines are that Mazda is trying to reduce or avoid, Google for "CAFE-EPA Miles per gallon requirements" and do some very interesting reading. It will explaine why all of a sudden car manufactures are requiring the use of very light weight oil to be used in some USA cars because it reduces internal engine drag and increases MPG for their fleet of cars. Very light 5W-20 weight oil is a win, win for the manufacture who avoids large EPA fines and it also wears out cars faster so the consumer will have to by new cars sooner.   Good luck to all RX 8 owners in the USA, untill they band together and get Masdz to let them use 5W-30 oil in their cars to protect them in hot climates. Just look at an oil viscosity verses outside temperature chart published by independent oil experts and you will see that 5W-20 multi grade oil is usualy not even show or considered for use at any outside temperature.
#63 of 103 maintenance by phil59 Feb 28, 2007 (9:29 pm)
do anyone know a good maintenance place in Houston for rx8?
#64 of 103 Re: Synthetic Oil by 4_my_8 Mar 06, 2007 (12:53 pm)
hello everyone. i just purchased a 04 "8" and am now a little confused as to what type oil i should be using. i've sworn by synthetic for years but do understand that the "8" is no ordinary automobile. just when i thought i knew everything, now i'm not sure if synthetic oil is the best for my baby? help! Replies to this message: trispec (Mar 06, 2007 2:57 pm) 4_my_8 (Mar 07, 2007 6:15 am) trispec (Mar 07, 2007 7:09 am)
#65 of 103 Brake pads? by slices17 Mar 06, 2007 (2:52 pm)
Hi,   Just wondering when you guys replaced your brake pads. I have 35000 miles on my RX-8. About 2 months ago when I brought my car to the Mazda dealership for something else, they told me that I would need new brake pads soon, though they didn't tell me how soon.   Also, how much did it cost to replace the pads?   Thanks.   Ray
#66 of 103 Re: Synthetic Oil [4_my_8] by trispec Mar 06, 2007 (2:57 pm)
Replying to: 4_my_8 (Mar 06, 2007 12:53 pm) Wow, no response yet. NON synthetic cause synthetic hardens the apex points on the rotors, eventually to cause them to shatter. But from there, Mazda says 5-20 in the US, but there's a huge argument with some folks swearing, with good reason, to use 5-30. What region of the US, northeast, southeast,....? Hotter regions appear to have more problems with damage to the rotors with the thin 5-20 oil.   5-30 is to thick and blows by into the CAT seemingly causing the CAT to fail sooner the EPA rules allow (80K miles), where as 5-20 burns up before hitting the CAT. That, at least is my simple minded understanding of the situations.   The other big voices (the ones who really do know) should chime in here soon. Replies to this message: 4_my_8 (Mar 07, 2007 6:15 am) trispec (Mar 07, 2007 7:09 am)
#67 of 103 Re: Synthetic Oil [trispec] by 4_my_8 Mar 07, 2007 (6:15 am)
Replying to: trispec (Mar 06, 2007 2:57 pm) thanks... that does help explain a little more and seems to be the general thing that i've read hear. i live in jacksonville, fl. we do see hot summers and cooler than normal FL winters. it makes sense that the synthetic would hang around longer and that the thinner oil would burn faster... (which is what the engine does by design from my understanding). this is my 3rd auto and i've never had to replace a cat converter on any of them. i got the most miles out of my honda accord before trading it in... 150K. Are cat converters expensive to replace? i'm considering the 5w30 oil but may just stick with the 5w20 as mazda since i plan to be anal about changing the oil every 3k anyway... what do you guys think. i just want to make sure my baby is around for a long, long time. Replies to this message: trispec (Mar 07, 2007 7:09 am)

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