A question about condensation

[kbohip]

My sister has an '03 Mazda RX-8 with the Rotary engine in it. It uses 5w20 conventional oil, synthetic is not recommended by the manufacturer.

Last winter while she was checking the oil she noticed it was milky in color. The car gets driven about 20 miles each way to her work and about 30 minutes each way. She took it to the dealer who said it was just condensation due to the very cold weather and not to worry. They didn't even offer to change it.

I've NEVER seen my oil turn milky even in the coldest winters, granted I have a regular V-8 piston engine. I can't believe this could be normal. Anyone have any thoughts?

 

[Al]

Perhaps it is a symptom of this engine. Does the water temp get up to spec?? Does it use oil? BTW Mobil 1 has adressed the issue with using synthetic in the Rotary. They disagree with Mazda and say its fine in that engine. But they do say tha one should go by the manufacture's recommendations.

Hopefully someone else can help.

I'd say an oil analysis is in order.

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/terry.html

 

[kbohip]

It burns a quart every 1k miles. The dealer says this is normal too of course. The oil light will also come on on the freeway after an hour or so of driving, even though it's actually full. All this and the car only has 4k miles on it.

 

[Grossomotto]

If you're adding a QT every 1000 miles, you'll never have to change the oil!

 

[michaelc80]

quote:

---

Originally posted by kbohip:
It burns a quart every 1k miles. The dealer says this is normal too of course. The oil light will also come on on the freeway after an hour or so of driving, even though it's actually full. All this and the car only has 4k miles on it.

---

I would have a fit if a dealer told me any of that was normal. I would find another dealer, and complain to any and all that will listen about the dealer who told you that.

 

[theguru]

The Rx-8's sold here in Australia do take synthetic oil. The dealer also sells it over the counter. It says on the bottle for Renesis motors only.

With 20 mile trips there shouldn't be any consensation. Sounds like a coolant leak. Get it checked by another competent dealer asap before the motor dies.

 

[TC]

Believe it or not, it's "normal." Evidently much the way poopie diapers with babies are "normal." Once at either site below, you'll also want to click on "Search" and do a "milky oil" search -- more stuff comes up.

http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=16906
http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=14453

Although Mazda suggests otherwise, evidently synthetic oil is OK for the new rotaries (page 1 and 2 below, and their oil weight discrepancy, when compared to U.S. owner's manuals, reflects the fact that these are Australian documents): http://www.rx8club.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=24688
http://www.rx8club.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=24687

[ August 28, 2004, 09:13 PM: Message edited by: TC ]

 

[theguru]

Even if this is normal I can't see how this wouldn't cause long term problems such as corrosion and oil degradation.

 

[kbohip]

quote:

---

Originally posted by TC:
Believe it or not, it's "normal." Evidently much the way poopie diapers with babies are "normal." Once at either site below, you'll also want to click on "Search" and do a "milky oil" search -- more stuff comes up.

http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=16906
http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=14453

Although Mazda suggests otherwise, evidently synthetic oil is OK for the new rotaries (page 1 and 2 below, and their oil weight discrepancy, when compared to U.S. owner's manuals, reflects the fact that these are Australian documents): http://www.rx8club.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=24688
http://www.rx8club.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=24687

---

Hey thanks for the link to that RX-8 forum. BTW, my sister's RX-8 is an '04 model, not an '03 as they didn't make them then

. I even found out that Mazda has a TSB out for the oil light problem, they replace the oil pan! After reading all of the horror stories in that RX-8 forum, I'm glad I don't own one!

 

[kbohip]

quote:

---

Originally posted by theguru:
The Rx-8's sold here in Australia do take synthetic oil. The dealer also sells it over the counter. It says on the bottle for Renesis motors only.

With 20 mile trips there shouldn't be any consensation. Sounds like a coolant leak. Get it checked by another competent dealer asap before the motor dies.

---

The coolant doesn't go down at all. I read on that RX-8 forum that Mazda had the dipstick enter into the engine in a small space where the oil doesn't circulate much

. Sounds fishy to me.

 

[theguru]

From looking at those links it looks like there are some TSB's and fixes required. Still sounds like it needs to go to a better dealer.

 

[Binmonkey]

I also have the same problem in the winter with my Audi 1.8 Turbo. The coolant level doesn't drop, but even after an hour run on the highway, their is still some milky residue on the dipstick. No oil temp guage on my car. Of course the dealer says it's normal, really there's not much I can do if the coolant level doesn't drop. Car has a fairly large oil cooler for the turbo and outside temps can regularly be -20C in the winter.

 

[Terry]

Mazda,VW/Audi, Some GM ( with long oil fill tubes),BMW(YES BIMMER), Chrysler ( yes John Browning those well engineered ones), have a condensation trapping issue at the oil fill cap and tube.

It seems NOT to spike water or other problems in oil analysis. I recommend at LEAST an annual oil analysis to be sure if you find whipped cream in the fill tube or on the underside if the oil fill cap, or PCV system.

TD

 

[tpi]

I had an 88 RX7-it injected crankcase oil by design into intake tract. The harder the driving the more oil injected. I believe to lubricate the apex seals. Possibly the new model does this too, and accounts for the oil consumption. Mine used a quart per 2500 miles or so. Mostly highway cruise.

 

[SpacerX]

- I own one of these vehicles -- a 6MT w/ 7500 miles currently. Some owners have noted "milky" oil , and others, like myself, have not had any occurrences. IIRC, it should NOT be a problem. BTW, the "low oil light problem" is bug that's fixable at the dealer.

- Will be changing the oil in a day or so and having Blackstone do the analysis. Have been running motorcraft 5w20 "synthetic blend". This oil is produced by Conoco and is actually a blend of group II and group III oils -- i.e., it is NOT blended with PAO group IV synthetics.

- The "synthetic is not good for rotary engines" issue is NOT and issue with the new engines. The "issue" is based on problems some folks had with old synthetic formulations not being compatible with some of the engine seals (back in the 70s, IIRC).

- The Renesis engine DOES use oil -- intentionally. Oil injection on the Renesis is actually through the rotors themselves, vice the intake.

- The "RX8Club" links noted above are excellent. I encourage anyone who owns one of these vehicles to pull up a chair and explore the site -- tremendous wealth of info. Great car. Great forum.

- Will post UOA when done.

Ciao!