2008 Mazda RX-8 Owner's Manual - Page 163

Driving Your Mazda Instrument Cluster and Indicators If the needle on the gauge doesn't move after starting the engine, follow steps 1 through 3. If the engine oil pressure gauge moves to L (low) while you are driving, drive to the side of the road and park off the right-ofway. Set the parking brake. Then follow steps 1 through 3. 1. Turn off the engine and inspect the engine oil level (page 8-12). If it's low, add oil. 2. Start the engine. 3. If the needle still doesn't move, have your vehicle checked at an Authorized Mazda Dealer. Bright qDashboard Illumination Rotate the thumb wheel to adjust the brightness of the instrument cluster and other illuminations in the dashboard. NOTE l l The brightness of dashboard illuminations (except instrument cluster) can be adjusted or when the headlight switch is in the position. The brightness of the instrument cluster illumination can be adjusted when the headlight switch is in any position. CAUTION Don't run the engine if the oil pressure is low. It could result in extensive engine damage. NOTE The Mazda RX-8 requires regular checking of the engine oil level. The compact, high performance RENESIS rotary engine in your vehicle consumes a small amount of engine oil due to its structural design. An oil pump optimizes the amount of oil injected to lubricate the rotor seals in the combustion cycle. Although your vehicle is equipped with an engine oil level warning light and an engine oil pressure gauge, it is best to keep the engine oil level in the range between full and low by checking the oil dipstick regularly. Mazda recommends checking the oil level at every second fuel filling. The oil consumption of the engine depends on engine speed and engine load. Under extreme driving conditions, oil consumption can be higher. Dim Canceling the illumination dimmer When the headlight switch is in the or position, the illumination of the instrument cluster and the information display dims (the instrument cluster illumination color turns to red). When driving on snowy or foggy roads, or in other situations when the instrument cluster or information display's visibility is reduced due to glare from surrounding brightness, cancel the illumination dimmer and increase the illumination intensity. 5-37