I am new to owning a first gen - I have an 81 with a 12a - I would like to change the oil but not sure what to buy. All my friends own 2nd or 3rd gens we arent sure if we should use the same oil. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks

 

Check out Felix's Own General Rotary Car FAQ it's a great site and should answer a lot of your questions

 

I run Castrol GTX 20W-50 and change it every 3k miles with a new oil filter.

FYI if you did not know, a rotary engine injects a small amount for engine oil into the carburetor while it running. This keeps you from having to pre-mix your oil with your fuel. So to use a quart of oil every 1000 to 1500 miles is expected. Check your oil level at each fill up.


John

 

yea i run 20W-50 too, now, but im gonna take it down to 10w-30 when it starts to get cold

 

If it's naturally aspirated use 20w-50 in the warmer climates and 10w-30 in the cooler areas or months. Turbo motors use 5w-30 year round. DO NOT USE ANY FULL SYNTHETIC OIL OR SYNTHETIC BLEND! Rotaries premix a measured amount of your engines oil into the intake with what's called an OMP (oil metering pump). The reason why you can't use synthetic is because synthetic won't burn off, if at all, like natural oil and can harm the motor. The life of the apex seals on each rotor depend on this oil for lubrication. They cannot get oiled up from the oil pan. Without apex seals your motor will have almost no compression.

 

Thanks everyone - you've been real helpful - my next question was gonna be about the winter - thanks again.

 

I use Castrol GTX 10W30

 

GTX 20w-50 for me. I even ran it in the winter with no problems.

 

I have been using GTX 20w-50 since the rebuild and it runs great weather it is cold or hot out. Not that it really gets either in the northwest.

 

what's the best to run on a setup like mine, GTX 20w50 or 10w30?

 

i would say 20w-50 for summer and 10w-30 for winter

btw why 5w-30 for turbo motors? does the turbo need a lighter oil? if so, why?

 

<<<sigh>>> And the Urban Myth continues to be disseminated as truth...there is no hard data to support the synthetic oil lie and no one on this Forum site or Racing beat has seen an engine failure due to the coked carbon apex seal syndrome that is the core of this new religious belief. Religious because it has to be accepted on Faith...

 

we should put this to rest....someone who has 2 7s of the same generation, same engine, should give em both a full tune up, rebuild the omp, then run one with standard oil, and one with full synthetic. run them hard for a while, same miles for each one, and then tear them down and post the results, then everytime an arguement starts, they can be directed to that thread....id do it if i had the money to have 3 rx7s but i dont .....

 

You gonna pay for this "scientific" study? haha

 

i have actually run synthetic in my car. honestly it ran pretty damn smooth. it was this site that made me stop. the guy that owned it before me ran it too. i told him about the "myth" of synthetics being bad and he was like WTF??? since then i have always used castrol gtx 20w-50. oh well.

 

thanks for pointing that out. what do you have to say about 20w50 being used in rotary engines? don't know why a rotary should run something that heavy unless its down south..

 

I use 4 quarts Castrol GTX 20w50, 1 quart MMO

 

its not really necessary but it protects the engine better when you really drive it hard. and you can get away with heavier oil in the warmer weather so a lot of people use it in summer because alot of people drive hard

 

This is just an educated guess, but that one little corner where the exhaust is beeing dumped non-stop is a hot point. The higher viscosity means the oil won't breakdown in that area of the engine if things should get out of hand. Coolant loss, turbos, and the sweet juice come to mind. That would be the 50 part of 20W-50...

 

nawwwwwwz, WOO WOOOOO!

 

Is Pennzoil 20W-50 any good? I just got 6 qt., and was thinking to use it on my SA.

 

Man inittab this site is teh best site ever!! Someone should put this site right in clear view of everyone. Seriously this answers WAY too many questions for it not to be the first thing a rotary junkie should read.

 

Ooohh, yeeaahhhh....just got the 2.5 lb bottle from eBay, so I'm a mere 2 weeks from putting it all together and seeing how much abuse an older 12A can take at the drag strip. I have a back up bullet when she blows...

 

There is no data that is improves anything either.

Mazda recommended *against* it. That's good enough for me.

I have a question though, I realize most of you have said that 10w30 in the winter is sufficient, but this winter I will have to drive my 85 GS instead of my Sentra (long story).

Thing is, where I live it can get to -40 (rarely) wth the average being around -20F.

Anyone have any experience at this temperature? Should I go with an even lighter oil?

 

Yea i live in minnesota and i was also wondering what oil i should be running once winter comes round. Also i have an 85 gls-se and i was wondering how these things run in the winter (non carbureted).