In theory, rotary engines ought to be far more reliable than traditional piston engines. Rotaries, like an RX8 engine, have fewer moving parts. In the real world, a rotary engine is indeed more reliable than its piston contemporaries in some regard. Particularly, the fact that an RX8 engine (or other Mazda-built rotaries) has fewer problems, in general. However, the downside is that rotary engines require significantly more maintenance and servicing. Even during regular use, a rotary engine burns through a lot of oil. In some cases, owners had to perform an oil change after just 3,000 miles. Because of its design, the spark plugs of a rotary engine could also foul pretty easily. In all, this highlights the need for diligence in maintaining a rotary engine.