“My car is having ‘head gasket issues’” is normally the cry. Fortunately this is not the issue and it isn’t anything to worry about either. The Mazda RX-8, to start with, does not have a ‘Head Gasket’, so the problem owners initially assume and associate the gunk with, does not actually apply to the rotary engine.
The problem lies in the over cooling of the engine oil in cold weather.
In the UK, the Mazda RX-8 was sold exclusively in ‘full sport’ attire. These upgrades included 18 inch alloy wheels, bigger front breaks, sport suspension and 2 big oil coolers (instead of one). These paired coolers are the cause of the ‘gunk’ issue, causing it to form in the oil as the coolers over-cool the oil as it passes through them. This over-cooling causes condensation to form and it is the condensation which makes the oil look thick and creamy; in the very same way that water leaking into an engine (through a head gasket) in a piston engine would. Hence the mix-up!
There is no immediate cause for concern and certainly no reason to panic. No real harm is being done via the presence of the creamy ‘gunk’, though it can make reading the oil level on the dipstick a little more difficult. To help remedy the problem, Rotary Revs recommends planning one of the two annual oil changes to be carried out during the middle of Winter. This way you’re helping to keep your oil contaminant-free.
Why not contact us to discuss your servicing schedule or allow us to help you plan your servicing or oil changes to fix the problem (or even better, prevent it from occurring again).