Just wondering if there is any sort of chip available for the R3's to increase power. I know you can get them for other makes of vehicles but I don't know about Mazda's. Any help would be appreciated!

 

hey edmonton:

there are NO chips available for any of the RX-8's. The world of car PCM'S / ECU's has taken leaps and bounds over the years making those chips pretty much obsolete. They will not work on an 8 and if you manage to get one connected, expect bad things to happen.

what you CAN look into is an AccessPort. It's a way to reflash your current PCM with new parameters. You can buy one directly from Cobb or from a member here MazdaManiac. (who is making custom maps for users)
It's is not a huge horsepower mod but because our cars run so RICH, there is some horsepower to be sqeezed out by leaning out the mixtures a bit.

the reality with the AccessPort is that ANY horsepower increases you get are only 2nd to the other great things it does.
- lowers temps for the radiator fans to come on
- increases oil metering pump settings
- clears CEL's
- etc etc

 

Despite what you might read on Ebay there are no 'chip" that increase power for the RX-8. If it was that simple Mazda would have done it. If you do not wish to Turbo / SuperCharge your 8 reprogramming that Stock ECU with a device line the Access Port is your best bet for a couple extra HP.

 

but he has a 2009...does the AP work with the 2009?

 

Hi.



The Renesis engine is already pretty highly strung from the factory, so in the 1st. gen cars ('04 to '08), there have been VERY FEW gains made via bolt-ons or add-on chips (with a few exceptions - Canzoomer in the the early days, and send-away PCM re-programs (I don't think anyone is marketing them any more).

For engine management, the only option at this time is the Cobb AccessPort. In the very near future, Hymee from Australia is supposed to also have a PCM-flasing software. The Cobb is a device that plugs into the engine computer and re-flashes the existing computer. This has been well-engineered to not only improve power by optimizing air/fuel ratios to the bolt-ons you have, but adding extra oiling to the 1st. gen engines. From what i've heard, there have been no documented engine failures with a Mazdamaniac tune for non-turbo/supercharged engines. However, as said above, don't look for significant horsepower (torque) gains from a re-flash, as the engine is already pretty-well strung out.

MazdaManiac (on this site) is a licensed developer (or whatever its called) and writes RX-specific maps for the Cobb. PM him to see if there are any tunes available for your engine.


For bolt-ons:
a (well-engineered) cat-back exhaust is said to release approx. 0-6 hp. They are typically around $800 (cdn). A change in exhaust note (imho) is the real reason for adding these.

air intakes can do approx. 0-5 hp, depending. Cost ranges from about $50 for a K&N (+remove airbox baffles - 2 mins; remove VFAD - 10 mins) to hundreds for Mazdaspeed or any of the others (SEARCH - there are lots of opinions). Again, IMHO, intake sound if the most-common result.

Cat deletes - or, high-flow cats, coupled with a good exhaust system will also release a small amount of hp, if properly designed for flow. Much louder.

There are header rumors, and intake manifold rumors, but, they are expensive and IMHO not really worth it for a daily driver.


There is a lot of opinion in the above. So, to add to it, the RX-8 seems to have the best results via weight-loss (un-sprung weight - wheels, tires, brakes) and driver training.

Good luck and please search. A lot of bolt-on stuff isn't specific to your engine internals, but is the same regardless.

Hope you are enjoying your car!

 

Thanks everyone for the information. I guess I have a lot to look into!!! This is my first RX-8 and so far I'm loving it!!!!!!!!!

 

is it a 6 speed manual? if so, look into the short shifter.

 

Midpipe will release the most power as the cat is a huge restriction, best bang for buck mod. Next would be the access port (if it works on the 09s yet) then exhaust, intake, flywheel.

 

electricsuper-nawz-charger!11!!1

its t3h s3ks0rz

jk...what those other guys said