Maxda RX8, sticky gears, doesn't like lower gears and moisture on oil stick. Told these are normal, are they?

Moisture on dipstick is normal. There is a bulletin / repair procedure to reduce the amount found. As for the sticky gears, bleed the clutch and have the pedal checked for flexing / breakage of the clutch pedal bracket - seen a few of those - as this will make the 'gears stick' because the mainshaft is spinning when it shouldn't because of improper clutch clearance.


also have the trans oil checked for metal particles because RX-8 transmissions' sposed ta shift like butter.Maxda RX8, sticky gears, doesn't like lower gears and moisture on oil stick. Told these are normal, are they?
Just had my georgous lemon serviced and she's purrin' . Was probably laid up for a while before I got her but she's all better now. Suppose ya just gotta know how ta work it baby! Here's to all the sexy beasts who know how to drive a sexy motor! Report Abuse
Maxda RX8, sticky gears, doesn't like lower gears and moisture on oil stick. Told these are normal, are they?
The moisture on a dip stick on the RX8 is perfectly normal. This is because they do not have a head gasket. You can now get a jacket fitted to reduce this build up but is really nothing to worry about.
The moisture on the dipstick is normal for an RX-8.





I have never had a problem with sticky gears in my '05 RX-8.





Natalie has no idea what she is talking about... ';user error';
Mazda(and most car companies) use brass for their synchronizers inside the transmissions. synchros basically line up your gears when u shift. Brass is a soft metal making it prone to wear, most commonly in lower gears because people tend to beat up on them, usually second gear. Fluid treatments do help, and i would recommend getting your fluid changed and using an additive. If the problem continues you may want to have it serviced, but it will be expensive because the parts themselves are inside the very center of your transmission.
When you say moisture do you mean that there is water in you're oil? Doe's you're oil look kinda creamy off white? Does you're car get hot quick? If the above is happening then you possibly have a cracked block. If not try this*


Put some Dura lube or if you do not have a lot of money try tranny honey in you're transmission this should loosen it up. sometimes dirt gets in there and grinds you're gears and makes shifting ruff. Good luck to you!
The foam on the dipstick is completely normal for the RX8. You will see this in colder weather and it's nothing to worry about.





As for shifting getting notchey, you're probably due to have the tranny oil changed. The friction coefficient of oils changes with use and this can affect gear meshing.
That doesn't sound normal on any car
Um, no it is not NORMAL. However it is certainly not unusual for RX8, which may be the worst car made in the past 15 years.


What posessed you to buy the lemon? never mind, Just be prepared to spend most of the time you own it in rental cars, because it will be in the shop 20 - 30 times in 40 months.


Even the replacement transmissions you can get are iffy quality, because they aren't really engineered to go with the rotary engine.


I suppose you already know about the starting troubles, flooding and stalling. There is a TSB about the moisture in the oil. Some of the transmission troubles can be fixed with a reflash, but those reflashes for the engine and transmission tend to diminish the performance.