Mazda RX-8 1250-3014 miles

compaddict · Jan 7, 2004

2004 Mazda RX-8

Oil OEM Redline
5w20 5w20
Oil added 0 0
Miles on Oil 1250 1764
Miles on Unit 1250 3014
Sample Date 12/13/03 12/30/03

Aluminum 9 5
Chromium 4 5
Iron 30 30
Copper 18 22
Lead 1 2
Tin 0 1
Moly 480 471
Nickel 1 1
Manganese 0 1
Silver 0 0
Titanium 0 0
Potassium 0 2
Boron 137 71
Silicon 42 28
Sodium 8 15
Calcium 1724 2421
Magnesium 5 6
Phosphorous 850 1015
Zinc 884 1236
Barium 1 1

SUS Vis@210C 50.3 50.9
Flashpoint F 335 325
Fuel 1.5% 1.5%
Antifreeze 0 0
Water 0.0 0.0
Insolubles 0.2 0.3

[ January 07, 2004, 07:59 PM: Message edited by: compaddict ]

Al · Jan 7, 2004

Everything is headed in the right direction. The Silicon is coming down nicely. Hopefully the copper and iron will follow.

The fuel is pretty high for that milage. Thats why the flashpoints are so low. I would be somewhat concerned with this level of fuel dilution bc it dilutes an already thin 20 wt. oil and degrades the oil. But-not to panic

Cutehumor · Jan 7, 2004

I'm not really familiar with these rotary engines, but I swore I read on another automotive forum that your not supposed to use synthetic in these rotary engines? correct me if I'm wrong

cvl · Jan 7, 2004

You're not supposed to use synthetic, but many do. Since the apex seals get their lubrication from the oil, a small amount of it gets burned in the combustion process. Conventional oil does a better job of burning off. The top rotary race teams actually use a seperate oiling system for the engine (neglecting the apex seals) and run a light premix in the fuel system and lubricate the seals that way.

Leo · Jan 7, 2004

Oils that are primarily made for esters is safe to use in rotaries IMO. Esters burn very cleanly, even better than conventional oils do. MK did a quick article on this somewhere...

crossbow · Jan 8, 2004

Mazda also recently ok'd the use of synthetic oil in the Rx8 as well.

(rx8club.com for more info)

The original "don't use synthetic" comes from the synthetic oils that were available during the lifespan of the rx7.

Bror Jace · Jan 8, 2004

I think the problem with early synthetics (early PAOs, mostly Mobil 1 to be more exact) was that it was a poor seal conditioner and when it burned, it left a heavier deposit than mineral oils or esters.

I like the 2-cycle oil idea ... but worry about fouling the fuel injectors.

I'd probably run regular doses of Neutra or Red Line SI-1 ... both ester-based fuel system cleaners which claim to also provide upper cylinder lubrication.

As for the oil analysis, I don't know what to make of it. Rotary engine, early oil samples enriched with break-in debris ...

Personally, I think running Red Line for 2,000 miles or less is soemthing of a waste ... but if it were my toy, that small amount of waste may be justifiable.

--- Bror Jace

compaddict · Jan 8, 2004

The problem with the RX-8 is that it leaves three quarts of oil in it's two oil coolers everytime you change the oil.
I'll change it out every 1500 until it reaches 6000 miles then every 3k after that.

Vince

Patman · Jan 8, 2004

quote:

Originally posted by compaddict:
The problem with the RX-8 is that it leaves three quarts of oil in it's two oil coolers everytime you change the oil.
I'll change it out every 1500 until it reaches 6000 miles then every 3k after that.

Vince

Because of the fact that this engine leaves behind so much of the old oil, it probably is a good thing to do shorter intervals, even with synthetics. Pushing it beyond 5-6k might not be a good idea for instance.

We also have to keep this in mind when viewing the used oil analysis on this engine too, because every oil sample is going to have a good portion of the previous interval's wear metals in it.

Bror Jace · Jan 9, 2004

compaddict, thanks for pointing that out. I would never have guessed that much was left behind. Patman's points are good ones.

Can you get at the bottom of those oil coolers? If so, could you drill and tap them for a small drain plug?

It would be a BITOG type of thing to do.

--- Bror Jace

Hasbeen · Jan 11, 2004

My wife drives an 87 R/X7 Non Turbo! (Me too when she lets me) Granted different than the new Rotory, But rotory`s tend to have high fuel delution! I change the oil at 3,000, I also add three quarts and run it for 45 sec to 1 min to flush the oil cooler! then drain and refill! This works for me! I do not know if the new oil coolers are temp controled or not but mine isn`t! I currently have 275,000 miles on this original engine! I`ve been using Dello 400 15w40 for the last 150,000 miles, The detergents in this oil keep the internal deposits down! I wonder if the new side porting might address this problem though! this new design is going to be interesting to watch!

Hasbeen

nicrfe1370 · Jan 30, 2004

quote:

Originally posted by Hasbeen:
My wife drives an 87 R/X7 Non Turbo! (Me too when she lets me) Granted different than the new Rotory, But rotory`s tend to have high fuel delution! I change the oil at 3,000, I also add three quarts and run it for 45 sec to 1 min to flush the oil cooler! then drain and refill! This works for me! I do not know if the new oil coolers are temp controled or not but mine isn`t! I currently have 275,000 miles on this original engine! I`ve been using Dello 400 15w40 for the last 150,000 miles, The detergents in this oil keep the internal deposits down! I wonder if the new side porting might address this problem though! this new design is going to be interesting to watch!

Hasbeen

Just a good natured question, but is the "period" key on your computer broken?

I thought I abused the exclamation point!

nicrfe1370 · Jan 31, 2004

quote:

Originally posted by Hasbeen:
My wife drives an 87 R/X7 Non Turbo! (Me too when she lets me) Granted different than the new Rotory, But rotory`s tend to have high fuel delution! I change the oil at 3,000, I also add three quarts and run it for 45 sec to 1 min to flush the oil cooler! then drain and refill! This works for me! I do not know if the new oil coolers are temp controled or not but mine isn`t! I currently have 275,000 miles on this original engine! I`ve been using Dello 400 15w40 for the last 150,000 miles, The detergents in this oil keep the internal deposits down! I wonder if the new side porting might address this problem though! this new design is going to be interesting to watch!

Hasbeen

Just a good natured question, but is the "period" key on your computer broken?

I thought I abused the exclamation point!

Santo Fontana · Jan 31, 2004

Just a good natured question, but why did you ask that twice?

Dave · Feb 1, 2004

His mouse button must be sticking!

Mazda RX-8 1250-3014 miles

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