So I just recently purchased an RX-8 and I've seen some people saying how you should start the car at least once per day.

I have a work trip I'm going on in a couple weeks and I'll be gone for about 6 full days. From what I've read I'm a bit concerned about the car being able to start when I come home, especially since my flight gets in close to midnight and its an hour 1/2 drive home.

Anyone that can speak from experience what I should do when leaving the car for an extended trip?

 

6 days is nothing. Mine sits longer than that between drives quite often. Hell it hasn't seen the outside of the barn in months.

If you're really concerned, disconnect your battery and stuff some steel wool in your exhaust to keep any critters out.

Neither should be necessary for 6 days. It's just like any other car in this aspect.

 

Awesome, that's what I figured, thanks!

 

Every year, I leave the car in the garage for 3 or 4 weeks straight. Sometimes even twice a year. There was never an issue with this, when I return, it starts right up like on any other day. Not even the battery is trickle-charged or disconnected.

 

Mine's been in my garage for the past 3 months and I just start it once a month or so. I recommend hooking up a trickle charger though to keep the battery fully charged.

 

Mine will sit from Nov-mid April for as long as I own it. Battey Tender is my friend. Sitting with a tender on it as we speak.

 

It really depends.... I left my car for about 8 days and it flooded itself, badly. I also left my car for about 4-5 weeks... it flooded itself, worse.

Both instances required about 3-4 hours of trying to unflood, clean plugs, new plugs, crank with no plugs, water, etc etc... It sucked! (Also don't do the "pull the fuel fuse" and crank normally if you flood your engine, it'll inject gobs and gobs of oil into your already flooded engine).

If I were to ever leave my car for loner than 2-3 days I'd disconnect the battery and release the fuel pressure from the system.

 

a week is nothing.

Your car should start right up.


Unless you have a bad batttery to begin with.

 

I had mine sitting for a week when we went on vacation, and it started, but it took a little bit of a crank until it started. Anyway, i should buy a trickle charger to let the battery in charge when i don't use it for a couple of days or so.

 

Funny place to spend a vacation ?

 

He's waiting for Catherine Zeta Jones.

 

I agree with the majority... a week is nothing. Enjoy your vacation!

 

never heard of the start once a day. I leave my car in my garage for 3-4 weeks without any issue starting.

 

This is not normal. Not even for the 13b.

 

Like others have said, as long as there's not a problem with your battery, there won't be a problem.

During my first two years of ownership, I had a Jeep that I drove during the winters, and I didn't want to go through the hassle of technically storing the RX-8 (fuel stabilizer, trickle charger, etc.).

So I just periodically started it and drove for 8 to 10 miles once in a while (mainly when the roads were clear), which is the minimal distance to ensure it fully warms up and the nasty stuff gets properly emitted from the cat.

How long did I go?

There were periods of 12 or 15 days (including an extended vacation in the Bahamas) where I didn't start or drive the 8, in very cold temps (06 was a very cold winter) of anywhere from 0 to 30 degrees f, at all, and when I finally got an opportunity to start it up, it cranked right over, no problem.

Under those conditions, I always let it idle for about 5 to 10 minutes, kept it under 3k rpm for the first three miles or so, and then progressively built the rpm higher so that by the time I was at mile 8 or 10 (depending on whole cold the weather was), I was doing the 9500 rpm beep to give it what it craves.

Good plugs, good battery should equal no problem.

*Do park it in an enclosed part of the airport parking structure if you are able to, however, or somewhere that's at least sheltered from the elements and the wind, if possible.

 

If starting the car once a day was a problem I don't think hey would have sold any. If you have to disconnect the battery if you leave it for a week that is just sad. Sounds like a bunch of malarky to me. Enjoy the flight.

 

Just DO remember to unplug your cheap chinese ebay OBD2 dongle. Don't ask me how I know.

(Actually, my worst airport story was in my '92 Nissan NX2000. It had t-tops, so I had installed a proximity alarm, and had adjusted very conservatively. Left on a vacation, and left the car at the airport. Came back at midnight to a very dead battery. Turns out the security patrol did a "leaflet" campaign while we were gone, and had put a very nice "Thanks for securing your vehicle properly" leaflet under the wiper. Where the wind fluttered it. And set off the alarm. Repeatedly.)

 

I usually only have time to drive my 8 once or twice a month. Starts right up every time (and I mean within a second or two of turning the key).