1st Generation Specific (1979-1985) 1979-1985 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections

Engine Oil?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 07-07-03, 11:03 AM
  #1  
Full Member

Thread Starter
 
ACRx7-85's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: PA
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Question Engine Oil?

What oil weight should be used in the summer for my 12a?

10w - 40w

20w - 50w

5w - 50w

What are the best oil brands to use?
Old 07-07-03, 11:40 AM
  #2  
Full Member

 
dole2000's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Sacramento
Posts: 246
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I use 20w-50w in the summer and 10w-30w in the spring and fall.
Old 07-07-03, 01:46 PM
  #3  
Rotoholic Moderookie

iTrader: (4)
 
vipernicus42's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Ottawa, Soviet Canuckistan
Posts: 5,962
Received 30 Likes on 24 Posts
20w-50 is pretty darn heavy.

From what I've seen regular old 10w30 is good. Just make sure you do oil changes pretty often, since these engines use oil slightly differently than piston engines. Oh, and one last thing.. DON'T USE SYNTHETIC!

Jon
Old 07-07-03, 02:40 PM
  #4  
Heck Yes!

 
anthrax's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Chatham, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 1,075
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
In the climat you are in 10-30 sould be fine.

As far as brands are concerned, you are headed into a bit of a holy war.

Some people use Castrol GTX, Haovolin, is also popular.

A quick search of this forum under motor oil, or the like will complete the list of what people use.

It can not be stressed enough though

DO NOT USE SYNTHETICS!!!
Old 07-07-03, 04:51 PM
  #5  
-SE with Mods

iTrader: (1)
 
RX7145's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Ohio, Columbus
Posts: 562
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Castrol GTX 10W-40. Don't leave home without it.
Old 07-07-03, 05:29 PM
  #6  
it WILL run

 
wwilliam54's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Raleigh,MS
Posts: 2,017
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I use mobil 1 5w-50
you can use systhetics just fine if you disable the omp and premx
Old 07-07-03, 06:36 PM
  #7  
Senior Member

 
enigma32's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Central New York
Posts: 686
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I'm a 10w-30 fan.
Currently using Havoline.
Old 07-07-03, 09:10 PM
  #8  
Rotoholic Moderookie

iTrader: (4)
 
vipernicus42's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Ottawa, Soviet Canuckistan
Posts: 5,962
Received 30 Likes on 24 Posts
I use that stuff that comes on sale in a red container at Canadian Tire 10w30.. Then again, I also change my oil more often than the regular joe, so it's not like my engine has *time* to realize the oil is cheapo stuff.

Jon
Old 07-07-03, 10:07 PM
  #9  
Registered Piston Eater

 
The_7's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Erie, PA
Posts: 1,053
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
whats wrong with synthetics?
Old 07-07-03, 11:26 PM
  #10  
FD > FB > FC

 
hornbm's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Bothell, WA
Posts: 3,873
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
synthetics dont burn very well if at all, and a rotary engine injects oil into the combustion chamber to lubricate the seals.

I use Castrol GTX 20W50 myself. Works great!
Old 07-08-03, 12:21 AM
  #11  
Senior Member

 
poweRX-7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Eugene, OR
Posts: 336
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Valvoline 10w-30 here
Old 07-08-03, 01:02 AM
  #12  
Blood, Sweat and Rotors

iTrader: (1)
 
DriveFast7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: California
Posts: 3,742
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Castrol GTX 20/50 in REPU.

Mobil 1 15/50 synthet in race car. I premix!

YEAR ROUND. I get longer life out of thicker oil. Takes longer to thin out. It will get to 85-110 this summer in socal (including the mohave desert where racecar gets driven).
Old 07-08-03, 11:15 AM
  #13  
Registered Piston Eater

 
The_7's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Erie, PA
Posts: 1,053
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
i use castrol gtx 10w-40. so if you used synthetics the oil would build up in the engine...what does the omp do? is that what injects the oil on the seals? wouldnt disabling shorten the life of the engine?
Old 07-08-03, 11:36 AM
  #14  
Administrator

iTrader: (8)
 
mar3's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 1998
Location: So. Arlington, TX!!!
Posts: 12,974
Likes: 0
Received 59 Likes on 36 Posts
I no longer believe the "Synthetic Oil" myth....everytime this comes up, I ask for a first person experience of someone losing an engine after 80,000 miles or so running on synthetic that was attributable to carbon'd apex seals sticking due to synthetic oil buildup from not burning up, and there is ALWAYS a deafening 'Net silence. It is an urban myth. Theoritical papers and bench guessing is great but utterly useless w/o testing or examples. My own experience is a 29,000 mile RP big streetport 12A that has survived 3 cars and several trips to the red zone when coolant hoses ruptured. Only a synthetic could maintain its viscosity under those conditions and that's all it's ever had since the 5500 mile mark after the break-in. It will power the '83 after the stock 147,000 mile engine dies under pressure from my little friend....




Last edited by mar3; 07-08-03 at 11:44 AM.
Old 07-08-03, 02:15 PM
  #15  
Registered Piston Eater

 
The_7's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Erie, PA
Posts: 1,053
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
so you think synthetics are better? also, what is pre-mix?
Old 07-08-03, 02:52 PM
  #16  
"By the beard of Zeus!"

 
FuLLsMoKe's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Huntsville, Alabama / Atlanta, Georgia
Posts: 867
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally posted by The_7
so you think synthetics are better? also, what is pre-mix?
I use Castrol GTX 10w-40 in the summer with a bit of MMO.

Pre-mix is when you put 2 cycle engine oil into your gas tank (this is especially for people who have disabled their OMP). I add a bit of MMO into my gas as a pre-mix.

FS
Old 07-08-03, 02:58 PM
  #17  
Senior Member

 
enigma32's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Central New York
Posts: 686
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
What exactly does pre-mix gain you?
Old 07-08-03, 03:05 PM
  #18  
"By the beard of Zeus!"

 
FuLLsMoKe's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Huntsville, Alabama / Atlanta, Georgia
Posts: 867
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally posted by enigma32
What exactly does pre-mix gain you?
No gain! People who don't trust their OMP disable it and then pre-mix.
Old 07-08-03, 03:08 PM
  #19  
it WILL run

 
wwilliam54's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Raleigh,MS
Posts: 2,017
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally posted by enigma32
What exactly does pre-mix gain you?
a hell of a lot less carbon build-up
doa search someone ran ann engine and tore it down as a test
Old 07-08-03, 09:32 PM
  #20  
Senior Member

 
BRealistic's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Morristown, TN
Posts: 532
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
What are the major wear points in the engine, besides the apex seals, that a heavy oil would better protect?


Oil Metering Pump. Inject a very small amount of oil into engine to lubricate apex seals, and provide a compression seal. But regular motor oil wasn't designed to burn clean, so the oil injected into the engine with leave carbon deposits behind. Carbon deposits will foul plugs, and in extreme cases, limit the movement of the apex seals, which will cause a loss of compression= won't start.
The OMP can fail, and then your engine's apex seals will be running dry. Not good, but also rare.
Disabling the OMP allows the use of a premix oil added to the gas (not that you can't premix AND have the OMP working). Two stroke oil is designed to burn AND leave a lubricant residue behind, NOT carbon deposits.

I think most racers premix, but for street use? What happens when you forget to add oil to the gas that one time?
Old 07-08-03, 09:40 PM
  #21  
Looking for Another RX7

 
Mr. ImportGuy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: West Bloomfield MI
Posts: 692
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally posted by BRealistic

I think most racers premix, but for street use? What happens when you forget to add oil to the gas that one time?

You cry..... But on a more serious note, DONT FORGET!
Old 07-08-03, 09:42 PM
  #22  
Rotoholic Moderookie

iTrader: (4)
 
vipernicus42's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Ottawa, Soviet Canuckistan
Posts: 5,962
Received 30 Likes on 24 Posts
It's been asked again and again, but how much 2-stroke to a tank? 1L? Might as well re-iterate here.

Jon
Old 07-08-03, 09:47 PM
  #23  
Registered Piston Eater

 
The_7's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Erie, PA
Posts: 1,053
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
why didnt mazda engineers use a seperate, small container to put 2stroke oil in for the OMP? also, whats the differences between 2 stroke oil and normal? what if you changed the oil using 2 stroke? is it too thin? low flash point or VI?
Old 07-08-03, 09:50 PM
  #24  
Looking for Another RX7

 
Mr. ImportGuy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: West Bloomfield MI
Posts: 692
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
If mazda built the car to require 2stroke oil added to a tank, or into the gas. People would forget, engines woulf fail. And the cars would end up with a bad rep. Also if you put regular oil in your gas, it is to think and also is not ment to be burned in an engine. Two stroke oil is ment to be burned in a cleaner fashion as stated above. If used in as motor oil, it will not cool properly, and may have a risk off burning. I mean think about it, it's MADE to be burned.
Old 07-08-03, 09:51 PM
  #25  
Senior Member

 
enigma32's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Central New York
Posts: 686
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
"Two stroke oil is designed to burn AND leave a lubricant residue behind, NOT carbon deposits." --BRealistic


----
So, we're saying that it doesn't hurt (and may help?) to premix even while the OMP is still operational?

Edit:
And would it have any adverse affects if one were to try it and return to regular fuel with just the OMP?


Quick Reply: Engine Oil?



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:31 PM.