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Coupes & Convertibles Mazda RX-8 Mazda RX 8 Engine Failure Problem
40 messages, Last post on Nov 29, 2009 at 1:32 PM
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i've read alot on various websites regarding the RX-8, and was wanting to get some info regarding all of the recurring problems this vehicle seems to have. most of the problems seemed to be with the 2004/2005 model. Consumer Reports even indicated these years had their share of problems. 1) Is the flooding problem a thing of the past with the 2008 model? 2) Is the oil consumption a thing of the past with the 2008 model? 3) Do you have to let it warm up all the time before you drive it ? 4) Is it a reliable car? one that wont need to be towed to the dealer all the time? i am looking for a reliable car, thats the #1 thing for me. and i would like to have a sporty type car too. i want one i can just jump in and go, not one that absolutely has to be treated with kid gloves or else it wont run and has to go to the dealer. and speaking of dealers, i had one tell me three days ago the RX-8 is "Finicky" and that makes me wonder about it. can anyone shed any light? Mike
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Replying to: boswell1 (Mar 25, 2008 9:35 am) |
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Replying to: boswell1 (Mar 25, 2008 9:35 am) 1) Flooding: ANY rotary engine car, including 2008, will flood if not warmed up. It's the rotary design. Start it cold, move it 50 feet, turn it off immediately, and you've got a flooded engine potentially. You can try holding a 3000 RPM rev for ten seconds on a cold engine, then kill the ignition for a emergency cold engine shut down, but that's extra ware on the cold engine engine. 2) Oil consumption: Burns 1qt/1000 miles. It is suppose to. Otherwise the engine will be no good fairly fast, because not burning oil means there isn't enough oil getting to the apex seals. Keeping RPMs above 3000 when driving will insure good volumes of oil circulation. 3) Warming up: There's a high pitched fan noise that runs for 20 seconds or so, that's blowing exhaust gases out when the engine is cold. Let this stop at least. Then don't go popping 7000RPM when you first drive off until the water temp has reached mid level. Five minutes at most, then your good to drive like a maniac. Think to yourself, "the calm before the STORM, before letting the twins howl!" 4) If you don't screw up 1,2 and 3, your new RX8 will go for well over 200K miles. And then you can re-build your own rotors, simple as pie. Watch the video: http://www.rebuildingrotaryengines.com/videos/rx8-renesis-rotors
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Replying to: trispec2007 (Mar 25, 2008 1:00 pm) 1) have to have it towed to the Mazda dealer for them to do their thing to get it started? or 2) let it sit and it will eventually start? 5 minutes? 5 hours? 5 days? Boswell1 |
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Replying to: boswell1 (Mar 26, 2008 6:23 am) From the manual: Holding accelerator down all the way + turning key for 10 seconds Then crank for with/o accelerator for 10 more seconds Repeated procedure twice.
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Replying to: trispec2007 (Mar 26, 2008 7:42 am) |
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Replying to: trispec2007 (Mar 25, 2008 1:00 pm) so, who do i believe? where does a guy go to get the absolute best info regarding the Mazda RX-8? on the one hand, i'd hate to buy one and start having problems with it. there's nothing worse than having car trouble. but on the other hand, if all you need to do is not shut the engine off when its cold, and add a quart of oil every 1,000 miles or so, thats no big deal. help.............  Mike |
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Replying to: boswell1 (Mar 27, 2008 4:46 am)
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Replying to: boswell1 (Mar 27, 2008 4:46 am) Well, it's not complete BS. Those people telling you other wise don't know the rotary engine very well. The engine has the spark plugs mounted on the side of the engine. The rotors spin around the peanut shaped rotor housing. Depending on where the rotors stop when the engine is turned off, there is a possibility that one of the rotors sets by the spark plugs. What happens is unburned fuel can sit on the rotor, and soak the spark plugs. Now your engine is flooded. Warming up your rotary engine before shutting it off makes that excess fuel evaporate. Excess fuel left in an engine is normal, but, since normal Otto cycle engines have the spark plugs on top of the combustion chamber, flooding cannot occur. Since late 2005, Mazda has equipped the RX-8 with hotter sparking spark plugs that help reduce the chance of flooding, even when someone turns off the engine when it is not warm. The rotary design is very reliable since there are only 3 moving parts. With proper lubrication, hence more oil consumption, it is not uncommon for these rotarys to eclipse the 200K mark. Why you usually don't see them do it is because since the late 80's, Mazda only uses them in performance vehicles. With performance marketing, comes tuner support. Tuner support translates into high horse power, and really testing the limits of the engine. Look at any performance engine, and what tuners do to it. Get as much power as you can before it blows. Subaru has been the latest company to have numerous engines blown because of the massive support for the WRX/STi's. I guess 300hp out of the box is not enough. trispec knows what he is talking about, and so do I. It seems as if your other sources do not. |
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| To address sexica22 's mention of maple smell. I have a 2007 6sp auto 8 and I've smelled a distinctive sweet smell after warmed and idling. All engine's with antifreeze can have that sickingly sweet smell with even a small seep. My water is still full and my scanguage shows cruising water temps from 179-186 F so the smell is not necessarily a problem, just a clue to watch for FL22 coolant leak. | |
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