Hello All

Brand new here.

Purchased my first RX8 one month ago, a used 04 with 49k miles. I love the car, too bad I have only driven it a few times.

I purchased it from a very reputible, very large dealership and they have been very good about trying to fix the issues.

First there was radiator leak so they replaced the radiator and the overflow, but it still smelled like coolant, and about this time it did the flood thing and would not start.

At that point they took it to a Mazda dealer and they replaced some recall part that was suposedly causing the flooding. It started when I got it back, but it was not the same, kind of hesitated and still the coolant issue, so I sent it back.

Seems now they are offering me a remanufactured engine, with a 12/12 warranty on parts, labor the the engine. The tech said something about carbon building up on the roters, usually due to bad gas and the reman engine was built differently so that carbon would not build up.

Anybody with advice/experience on this issue?

I know these wonderful cars are high maintenenance and I have read conflicting press about the oil, as well. The owner's manuel says 5W-20, but what I have researched, the 04 rotary does not like synthetic and I live in a very hot climate and am worried about putting the correct oil in the engine while not voiding my warranty. I have also read about raising the rpm's once in a while to fend off carbon build up.

Thanks in advance all help is so, so apprecitated.

This beautiful little car is driving me beserk!!!

hey hippichick,

First off, sorry to hear about the troubles you've had with your RX-8.
I haven't heard of too many bad radiators, you must have gotten one built on a Monday. ;)

As for the Reman engine, Mazda now has a facility that is building quality remanufactured engines so I would not worry about it too much. They're actually built the same as the originals, but Mazda has made a few adjustments to the RX-8's programming to help the engines run better. (the engine takes in more oil to help it combat heat and better lubricate the seals)

We had a bit of BREAKING news here recently that has just been confirmed from a few different sources that Mazda has EXTENDED the warranty on engines to 8 years, 100,000 miles! Have the dealership replace the engine and hopefully you'll be trouble free from there on out.

As for oil, oh boy...that's always a Hot topic. I recently switched to 5w30 due to the summer heat and I'll probabl always stay at 5w30 or higher.

Sup, welcome to the Rotary world.

Its good that u got a new rad and stuff for free, as for coolant smell, they probably spill some somewhere around the engine bay, just spray some water around it and it will be gone.

For engines, like Jedi said, they're pumping out quality remans now, so let them replace ur engine, it should be good. One of the Site's engine builder post on this site. so yea, its good.

For oil, well, if u live in hot, u should use Synthetic and nothing else, Synthetic not good for rotary is pure bullshit, I use it I dont have a problem, thousands of people use it no problem. as for weight, you might want to use something heavier than 5w20, use at least something with w30 weight.

Read my signature.

Thank you for your replies.

From what I have gathered on this fourm, most folks are generally pleased with their reman engines.

I spoke with the Mazda tech just the other day and he did not mention the extended warranty, only the 60k extention.

I wonder if it applies to those other than the original owners, such as myself having purchased the car used.

Again, thank you. The dealer I purchased her from has offered me another vehicle of my choice, but this car was my choice so I want to make sure I am not getting myself into further muck if I decide to keep it.

Yours is covered: http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=147287
They just couldn't discuss it at the time or they didn't know yet.

Hippichick: You fall into the warranty, doesn't matter if you're the original owner or not. I'd say get the engine replace and hopefully you will be problem free for years to come.

Welcome to the Rotary club!