Squidward

It's been a while since I've been active on this board.. My RX-8 has been replaced as my primary DD car for the past 6 months.

I have close to 150k miles on it, but it still looks great. Unfortunately the motor is nearing the end of it's life. Compression isn't great but it starts up okay and runs pretty smoothly. Probably not as strong as when it was new. Gas mileage has declined over the past years, although it has never been great (as many of us can attest to!).

Anyway, I wanted to give you all an update and maybe some of you old timers can ring in also.

Some reflections on my experience with my '04:
-Wonderful sounding engine.
-Not incredibly powerful, but plenty quick.
-Very safe car. Lots of airbags, and the DSC has saved my *** more times than I wish to mention.
-Paint is excellent. Never had any problems with it, and I took good care of it. At glance, the car still looks new, actually. The only obvious signs of age are the graying black trim (from the hundreds of wax/polishes), and the chipping window sill trim. Fortunately none of the trim around the glass has peeled or decayed.
-The engine is capable of running very hot, so much the cat doesn't last too long. My first cat lasted about 40k miles before the ceramic internals disintegrated and completely blew out the back. It was replaced under warranty and the current one passed my latest smog test last year.
-Leather has held up considerably well, however the bottom of the steering wheel has scuffs.
-For a first year model, the car is phenomenally reliable. I have not had any major engine or drivetrain problems, until only recent (with the low compression). This excludes, of course, the flooding issue, which I have learned how to recover from and prevent. It's unfortunate that some owners have not had as much "luck" as I have with this car. I guess I have been blessed.
-I have not changed the oil on this car after my warranty expired @ 50k. I know it sounds crazy, but I just feed it new oil. I've mentioned this before on this site. And the only oil I have ever used was standard SAE 5W-20 (ford motor, penzoil or quakerstate). I would not do this with a normal piston engine car, but my understanding of the rotary engine enabled me to comfortably maintain my car this way. After all it was out of warranty and I have the right to maintain the car as I see fit (I hope this doesn't start a debate, it's just a matter of fact).
-Lastly, I regret forgetting to spend the $500 cash card that they compensated me after they re-rated the HP to 238 (from the advertised 250). On the other hand, due to a billing error, they credited me instead of charging me the $1000 deductible for a fender-bender I got into with a POS Ford Mustang several years back.

Anyway, I am reaching the point where I will have to choose either to have the engine rebuilt, which would cost about $5000, or to simply buy a new car, although I already have a DD. Another part of me wants to turn this into a project car (maybe an engine "upgrade", FI, some custom body work, etc).

Mazda has produced an incredible car, despite its ****-poor gas mileage and terrible customer service and deceptive warranty.

Would I buy another one had they kept producing them? Absolutely!

Are-Ex-Eight

iTrader: (1)

Good write up but your oil change mentality is odd.

Did you at least change the filter?

Are-Ex-Eight

iTrader: (1)

Most likely not since you would have to relocate it so you don't lose all your oil.

Ahh it's too early.

xexok

Thats crazy that you never changed your oil after 50k. *not trying to start a debate* I know mine is filthy black after about 3k miles, and thats with a new filter every time. Just out of curiosity what does your oil look like? I am kind of surprised that your oil filter would not just completely clog up, I know there is a bypass valve in there but that can only do so much right?

Spin9k

^ Changing the filter spills almost no oil, filter is upright on a S1... can only imagine what 100K miles of crud looks like clumped up in the oil pan and choking the OMP lines lol. Whatever...

R80MAV

crazy, you went 100k without changing the oil then? i always thought if it keeps burning oil and you keep putting new oil in surely you would just end up renewing the oil after a while.

Squidward

not really crazy if you understand what you're doing. If people feel comfortable doing it one way good for them..

Anyway, I'd like to hear from other '04 owners if you're out there Or am the only one who's car is still working? LOL

Are-Ex-Eight

iTrader: (1)

Btw what is your DD now?

Motomouse

iTrader: (1)

hehehe good one

Are-Ex-Eight

iTrader: (1)

I'm not sure you understand your own method.

The obvious factor here is the filter becoming completely clogged but lets just focus on the oil.

If you haven't changed the oil since 50k miles then technically oil that was added then is STILL in your car. It's the infinite dilution problem. While the amount of oil that has seen the last 100k miles has been decreasing it will never reach zero.


I wonder what that 100,000 mile used oil looks like lol.

But hey, as you said your car is still purring like a kitten so what do I know hah.

Squidward

ok, perhaps and perhaps not. But it's a bit rude of a statement don't you think? I forgot the one thing about discussion forums, especially in regard to motor oil--everyone's an expert

Look, I haven't suggested anyone not change their oil. If you're worried about warranty, follow your manufacturer's guideline. I don't really care what you do, to be honest.. As for me, I followed mine, and once my warranty ran out, I maintained my car as I saw fit.

Think what you want about this unorthodox approach but I've gotten a solid 150,000 miles out of this car, plain and simple. Any argument thereafter is seemingly pointless. ie. I've gotten my money's worth.

ps. I don't maintain all my cars this way. As you know piston engines are very different, and I would never expect to get away with this sort of method!

Are-Ex-Eight

iTrader: (1)

Yeah sorry that came across as a bit rude. I'm actually quite intrigued by your choices because of the fact that the rotary can run on so many combustible products theoretically. It's fairly well known that these engines will not catastrophically fail due to immense heat unlike a piston engine which will simply seize up and die.

Like I said, your engine lasted with no major issues so what do I know lol.

Cheers

Squidward

ok thanks.. (btw, to answer your earlier question, my DD is a Lotus Evora) I posted about it a couple of years back.

pistonhater

Very impressive. Yet another example that oil weight has little to do - if nothing at all - with engine life.

Your theory about not changing the oil because you keep adding as the engine burns it is not totally irrational. What surprises me - as somebody mentioned above - is that the filter went that far without being fully clogged

BTW, why did you say your warranty expired at 50K miles? So the extended 8yr/100,000 did not apply to early models

HiFlite999

iTrader: (2)

Huh? A friend ran a Jetta Diesel for it's last 100k miles this way. It was burning a quart every 1-2k miles (which a rotary can do it's entire life) which cycles through the oil in the same manner. He did change oil filters every 5k miles though.

For the OP: What sort of driving did you do on DD duty? Redline a day? or not? Where's "bikini bay"? (ie what sort of climate are you in?)

A Series II would look nice next to the Lotus ... assuming $5/gallon gas isn't too big a problem.

Bladecutter

Doesn't a good portion of the oil bypass the oil filter on the Series I engines anyway?
Chances are that oil filter is clogged, and its at 100% bypass right now.

I would probably recommend changing the filter at this point, just to get full crappy oil flow back into the engine.

BC.

RotoRocket

iTrader: (1)

I would LOVE to see an engine oil analysis on your motor.

It would be incredible.

I am amazed your motor has lasted as long as it has, given what's already been stated about the dilution affect and the separate oil filter clogging issue.

xexok

Yes, please do an oil test... I know you must be kinda curious yourself squidward.

These people will send you a free kit, and then it costs $25 for the test.

http://www.blackstone-labs.com/

Squidward

In all honesty I don't know if the filter is clogged or not. Conventional wisdom would dictate it has considering the facts.

Anyway, regarding your question...
When I bought the car I had paid an additional $1200 for an extended 7/100K mile warranty. I found out later that the extended warranty was severely limited, which pissed me off pretty bad, because they said it would *EXTEND* my car's warranty coverage to 100K. Instead, it actually covered a tiny fraction of what the standard 50K coverage was. At 60k I had a tiny oil leak and that wasn't covered (because it was they claimed it was an "electrical part" that was leaking, so it wasn't covered WTF??!). That is why I hate Mazda for ripping me off selling me a useless extended warranty. They found a reason not to cover any of my claims). I wrote a complaint to Mazda USA, to which I received no response. Each time I scheduled to bring the car in for something, they said "oh that is not covered in the extended warranty." When I request for a list of what *is* covered, they said that information was not available in printed form or online. Talks on the phone with them basically amounted to a "tough ****" attitude.. Anyway, I stated 50K, because that was effective bumper-to-bumper warranty. Because the leak was pretty insignificant (it dripped one or two droplets of oil throughout a day parked), I ignored it, and one day I noticed the the car had stopped leaking oil. Looking underneath the car, the area where the oil came from was dry and covered in dirt.. Sludge sealed the leak.

Squidward

Too late. Today my friend wanted to take her car to my friend/mechanic to get an oil change and new brake pads and asked me to come along, so I followed her. My buddy said it would take a couple of hours and offered to change my oil also. There was a restaurant across the street, and we were both pretty hungry, so I agreed and we left our cars to be worked on at the same time.

We came back and everything was done.

BTW, Just a quick plug for my friend--if you guys are looking for awesome service and are located in LA, hit up A1 Automotive Services in Temple City. The owner is a personal friend and fellow Lotus owner and I trust them with any of my cars.

Are-Ex-Eight

iTrader: (1)

Extended warranties are always a rip off.

nycgps

iTrader: (1)

This is the reason why buying a used car is always a gamble.

U were lucky your engine didnt die, but think of it this way, if u actually did change your oil your engine might last iver 200k easily.

And i hope u know that rotary engine actually has a higher oil requirements than a piston right?

Well it was your car you can do whatever you want, but i just feel sorry for your car.

And for those who said oil weight doesnt matter much, u can say that to the bearings. And bearing wear does effect engine life. If u ever build an engine you would have know.

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

My car is a July of 2003' build and has 127,000 miles on it and is on it's fourth motor And I haven't missed an oil change or gone over on anything maintenance wise Weird how things work out sometimes.

My extended 100k warranty covered a bunch of stuff and saved me a few thousand dollars when my ABS module was fried.

I love this car which is why I decided to dump $7,000.00+ on a new motor and turbo kit, etc.

nycgps

iTrader: (1)

Yep, **** just happens. And op should considered himself lucky more than anything else

pistonhater

wow, sorry to hear that. Was it really a Mazda extended warranty program or third party?

Well...it depends. Usually "3rd party" warranties are a rip off. But some programs are worth considering. So far I've had a positive experience with Mazda pre-owned certified warranty (since I obviously bought mine used from a Mazda dealer.) Not too long ago the local dealer replaced both smart keys and module (the module would not receive a constant signal even with new batteries installed in the smart keys) It was close to a $500 invoice, but the 'extended warranty' took care of it.

I was one who said it .....but i said in the context of so many arguments being made that oil weight (meaning, the use of 5W-20) is what kills these engines.

From what I gather, the bulk of the evidence seems to indicate that low compression and coolant leaks are the primary reasons for short engine life.

But you are correct about the bearing issue. I've have reviewed the information about abnormal bearing wear in the renesis (and consulted with a couple of engine builders on this matter recently to confirm), and it seems like there's a correlation between that issue and the use of 5w-20.

The question remains: at what point would the "abnormal bearing wear" cause the engine to fail - provided that it had good compression all along? 10K? 50K 100K? I've been told that engine failures due to bearing wear/failure are mostly seen in highly boosted/high performance race engines.

In other words, have these engines been failing (and replaced under warranty) because of abnormal bearing wear?

I'm really trying to understand this issue better.

How ironic. And other people like the OP went without changing the oil and got more miles than you in 4 engines combined!! I guess you never know.

BTW, was that a Mazda warranty?