There's a difference between topping it off and changing the oil. You should check your oil level every time you fill up the car. Put the gas nozzle in... start pumping... pop the hood and check things over.

1. Thanks for the compliment.

2. Thanks for the inspiring addition to the thread where you posted up the "right" information. Oh wait...

 

General rule: "If you have to ask, change it"

That goes for more then just oil :P

 

How often do I need to change headers. I asked so maybe I sold go get a new one lol.

 

They Pacesetter?

Then yes, get new ones :P

 

RB header all the way

 

there has never been more true word then what was just said lol!!!

 

Thought this was... interesting... It's from the 86 Owners Manual (so obviously only applies to N/A).

 

If you want the complicated answer, every engine is different at the higher miles. The only way to REALLY know when to change your oil is to send it off for analysis :P

My S5 N/A used to suffer from gasoline dilution-related viscocity breakdown.

 

u can either keep driving it until it sounds like 2 skelatons fu***ng on a tin roof or u can change it now

generaly if u obtain(sp) a car and you have not a clue as to how many mile are on the oil, the first thing u do is change the oil
sry but i had to be a smart as* on this one i mean its common knowledge, and if u are laking that about cars u deff. dont need to be driving a rx-7, well unless u just got loads of money

 

http://www.aaroncake.net/RX-7/newowner.htm

 

wow. every 7500 miles or 7 and a half months for oil and 15k, 15mo for filter ? That makes 3k or 3mo sound really conservative. And that was based on oil in 1986, which i would think is not quite as good as "modern" oil. I want to check my '91 manual and see what it says.

 

Wow, thanks ultrataco. I'm saving that pic to my computer. Hope you don't mind.

Haynes says 3,000 miles. They claim they took the service manual and made some things more frequent because do-it-yourself is cheaper. I suspect they're just being american. Still, I agree with what they say about changing the filter at every oil change: It's cheap and it takes 2 minutes, so why not?

Original poster: If you just got an RX-7 and don't know when anything was changed, chances are it wasn't. Get a Haynes manual or the FSM in the FAQ. Change all fluids and filters. Inspect everything else (or have a mechanic do it). Change belts yourself, if needed. Just get a pry bar kit and it's easy. Hoses are easy to change too (if necessary); replace original spring clamps with screw clamps for a more secure fit and to avoid headaches.

Most importantly: replace the thermostat with an OEM thermostat. Change coolant ~annually. Every 3 years tops, but it's cheap and cake to do once you know how. Change oil regularly w/ API certified oil. Usually 10w30, unless you live in the extreme hot/cold. Other weights will work okay too. Changes don't have to be frequent, as you can see from ultrataco, just don't neglect it.

Oil color is not an indicator of when to change your oil. In fact, better oils will dissolve more crud off your engine and look darker. To check, dip your finger in some oil, then rub it between two fingers. If it's gritty or smells burnt, it's time to change it. Or you can always change it early to be safe. Be sure you wash your hands after handling used oil, btw (new oil isn't so bad).

 

thanks, but My5ABaby actually posted that first, I was just quoting him.

btw, I agree that the oil filter should be changed every time you change the oil.

I still find it odd that Hayne's recommends a change interval less than half of the owner's manual. I change my oil every 3k miles regardless.

 

that pic says nothing about when to change the oil.


its 20 dollars. dont be a lazy ***.

 

Changing oil more frequently doesn't hurt...anything except your wallet.
Those recommendations are for normal Joe Schmoe consumer.
Do you normally drive like Joe Schmoe consumer?
I didn't think so.


-Ted

 

Ah, thanks for going to the owner's manual and/or Mazda source and clarifying that for us. Wait, you didn't actually tell us anything at all about the recommended to change the oil??

Ok, let's see, I have the original owner's manual in front of me as I type this.

"R: Replace or change"

Gee, I think the owner's manual might be telling me to change my oil every 7500 miles.

 

Power to you. Well, its official, you change your oil every 7500 miles.

I'm not going to.. but you can.

 

Haha, well, I never noticed this before. I've always changed my oil every 3,000 miles, though I've known for a while that this is a bit low for modern oils (even dino oil). I just got Royal Purple, which says you can multiply the recommended oil change time by 3 or 4. So, cautious as I am, I decided on 7,500 miles. lol.

Driving hard does NOT affect how often you need to change your oil. I have what does straight from the owner's manual, though any other source will tell you the same thing:

a) is because some of the dust gets through your intake filter and into the oil. If you have a cone filter or other re-usable filter this is even more of a problem, since re-usable cotton doesn't filter as well as replaceable paper.
b) is because idling while stopped for an hour isn't the same as driving 0 miles
c) (1) is because oil doesn't circulate well during cold weather startup
c) (2) is because you don't allow enough time for all the water condensation in the oil to boil off. The rust inhibitors in the oil get consumed more quickly.

And if you're so worried, why not change your oil every 1,000 miles?

 

Really oil gets too much attention. It doesn't matter if you change it 3,000 or 7,500 miles. The problem is a lot of "help me" posts in these forums come from a lack of basic maintenance in other areas.

 

i chane my first gens every 1000 to 1200 miles because i baby it.
changed my FC every 2500 because i ran it hader than an F1 race car hahaha.

 

The Owner's Manual says 7,500 miles. That's on new engines from the factory. With the lower compression and all I can see fuel dilution happening more often (I think that's how it works...). I would suggest 3,000 miles. However, that's probably playing it safe which is never a bad thing.

I simply put up that picture to show some of the doubters when I said that over 3,000+ miles is probably fine.

If you don't believe me, take it from the guru...

Soo... to the non-believers.


You mean where it says "R" which means replace?

 

you do realise, that the oil has changed allot since 1986?
however i cant talk since on my first fc it wasnt changed in 20k miles. and it still runs like a dream and gets 100+ compression. 200k miles and still ticking on original motor. but i was premixing runing full synthetic. but lets not go there.

 

ok, to end this all...

Change your Oil every 3k or sooner or if you havnt seen 3k within 3months, change it anyway... Just change your oil now because it doesnt seem like you are sure about it... then 3k or 3months from then repeat...

Dont use synthetics and make sure you check the oil level every time you get gas. your engine naturaly eats oil(think of it as a small irrepairable oil leak )

If your not sure about this car, take it to a reputable Rotary Mechanic OR at the very least a Jiffy Lube. If this is too difficult to do, sell your RX-7 to a forum member and buy a honda, they can usualy last forever without changing the Oil

sorry to be a dick but it kinda bothers me that you had to ask twice and this one is going on for 3pages... BUT then agian, ive met people that have actualy said they have NEVER changed the oil in the car and didnt think they had to

 

actually, it bothers ME that they had to ask it ONCE.

 

this thread needs to die already....../thread