ShowHBK

Hi all,

06 Shinka, 80,000 Miles, Second engine @ 58,000 miles, Current second owner.

As the title implies, I was wondering if I could get some advice from everyone on things to check on the RX-8 before taking a long trip. I currently live in Columbus, Ohio and am planning to take a trip to Myrtle Beach in the summer time with my wife and I have never taken my 8 on such a long 12 hour car ride and just like with any car I am worried about breakdowns far from home. Aside from the usual oil and coolant levels, tire pressure and ware, What are some things that I would want to check up on or have checked up on to make sure my 8 is in tip top shape for the road? I have my own check list of things and would just like to get a second opinion from anyone who is willing to post their two cents on the matter.

Things I plan on doing, checking, replacing before the trip:

1. Oil filter change
2. Oil Change
3. Flush coolant and replace
4. Replace coils (current ones are original to the car)
5. Replace wires (current ones are original to the car)
6. Replace spark plugs (current ones are original to the car)
7. inspect transmission fluid (should I flush and replace the transmission fluid?)
8. inspect bottom of the car
9. possible new breaks? (current ones are original to the car)
10. seafoam cleaning? (never done this before, but have seen it done)
11. Buy extra oil for the trunk/trip
12. extra fuses, light bulbs, and MAF cleaner for trunk
13. Compression test??? (I don't think this is needed, but maybe?)

Any advice on this list would be appreciated and please share what you think. I have read a few articles on this site and have compiled this list off of things I have seen in other posts.

An additional question I have is how does the 8 hold up on long drives? Does it like to go for 12 hours strait (Columbus to Myrtle)? or should I go half way one day then do the rest of the trip the next day? please share your thoughts on long trips in your 8, I would love to hear.

200.mph

iTrader: (9)

sounds right to me. if your doing the trans fluid do the diff too. always keep extra oil in the car and if you premix keep that on hand too.

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

https://www.rx8club.com/sevenstock-a...-miles-197270/

I personally drove my 8 in 37 of the lower 48 states during my ownership time, so as you can image, I had a lot of seat time in the 8 on long trips. Other than gas mileage (~20-22mpg), the 8 is a stellar long distance car. Many of the trips I did I just grabbed keys and clothes, hopped in the 8, and didn't put more thought into it, since I carried around my tools, spares, and fluids on a regular basis anyway.

If you are going to buy some seafoam, put it in the tank on a fill up, not through the normal "seafoaming" methods.

I don't see a point to getting a compression test because of the trip. If you think your engine is failing, then get a compression test, but if your hot start time is close to your cold start time, then there isn't much to worry about there.


Basically, if there are any maintenance items that you have been neglecting, then obviously address those. But if your maintenance is up to date, then you don't have anything to worry about. 100% highway miles are the easiest miles you can possibly put on the car.

Loki

iTrader: (1)

I do pretty regular 6 hour runs Montreal to Boston, and she's super happy. I'm sure 12 won't be a problem, humans get tired, cars don't. Frankly, I put a lot less preparation into than you, but about half of your list is stuff that's good to get done regardless of planned trips.

If the trans and diff fluid has never been changed, might be a good idea at 80k.

Compression test: only insofar as you're getting to the end of your warranty period and want to have it checked and replaced if necessary.

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

Yeah, definitely a community difference when the buy-in price to join was ~$18,000 or more.

Speaking of trips though, a SS 2015 trip is looking pretty good.

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

I just enjoy the company of rotorheads, and while I'm not a social person, SS13 was one of the most memorable days in my life because of the people I met, not how anything was organized.

In a few months I will be legally single and only financially responsible for myself, so I'll have a lot more time and cash on hand for getting another 8 and making more trips with it

ShowHBK

Thanks all for the great advice! I think i will make a thread when it comes time for us to depart to see if there are any 8 owners along our path. We go through WV, VA, NC, and SC so it would be nice to know and meet fellow 8 enthusiasts along the way.

If anyone here takes trips we will be in Myrtle Beach around late June in Horry County.

Thanks again =D

GK1707

iTrader: (10)

Like mentioned, make sure your fluids are fresh and topped off. Check your regular maintenance stuff, brakes, spark plugs, etc.

I take pretty regular trips from NYC to South Jersey usually about 3~ hours each way usually once a month, not as long as your trip, but still a good drive. Highway miles are easiest on the car as long as you keep up with maintenance.

gwilliams6

I hate to rain on everyone's parade. One more thing to be aware of. I also take long trips in my 2008 RX8 and it is a great trip car. No problems UNTIL the two most recent trips from NJ down to SC and back at around 53,000 miles when I ran into the dreaded Series 1 fuel pump failure problem. Seems older Series 1 fuel pump are prone to actually overheating and just shutting down. The usual scenario (confirmed by the threads here on the subject in this forum) and confirmed by my personal experience on two long trips is as follows: If you are driving at sustained highway speeds for multiple hours nonstop and you are driving in hot ambient temperature weather and you are down to around 1/4 tank of gas, then a failing pump (now mostly uncovered by the low fuel level, so not getting the benefit of the fuel to cool it ) can overheat and just shut down without warning, stopping you dead on the road. Literally just a dead stop from highway speed on I-95.

It happened three times on two long distance trips in 90+ degree ambient weather. Once I stopped and waited a few minutes for the pump to cool down, it would start right up and then I got off I-95 right away and filled up at the next station and it ran perfectly all the way home, keeping the fuel level way above 1/4 tank. If you never get into this heat situation you may never experience this issue. The Rx8 is so comfortable and easy to drive long distances i just like to go 10-12 hours straight driving only stopping for quick fuel stops.

Checked over everything else on the car which is superbly maintained and it was the pump failing. I followed the advice on this forum and advice from some of the forum moderators around the world whom I pm'd, and replaced the OEM pump with a DW 200 from BHR and it runs perfectly again. The Series 2 models have a much better OEM fuel pump and don't seem prone to this. Some folks here have modified and swapped in the Series 2 fuel pump to solve this problem in their Series 1 RX8s.

At your fuel pump's mileage, you could be a candidate for this problem on a long trip with sustained highway speed (higher load on the pump) driving in hot weather and taking the fuel tank down close to 1/4 tank.

BTW the RX8 early in its career was named by KBB as one of the Ten Best Road Trip Cars in the World. I agree, just keep that fuel level way above 1/4 tank and you may be ok with your older fuel pump in high sustained fuel pump load and high heat situations.

gwilliams6

Yes the OP has 80,000 miles on his car and the fuel pump is most likely the original, so he would certainly fall within the likelihood of a fuel pump failure by Mazda standards. If you search the fuel pump threads here on the forum, some are having this failure show up much earlier at 50-60k miles.

I just want the OP to be prepared so he has an uneventful trip, and doesn't get stuck on the road. Maybe my fuel pump didnt last until 80k miles because I take frequent long trips with sustained highway speed driving which subjects the fuel pump to heavy loads at high temps, perhaps wearing the pump out much sooner.

Another heat factor when you drive at sustained highway speeds, nonstop for many hours is : your exhaust system runs through the middle of the halves of your fuel tank, Even though the exhaust system and fuel tank halves have some heat shielding in this area, the longer you drive, the longer the temp will stay high around your fuel tank, keeping that fuel warm, contributing to that high heat scenario leading to the chance of an older fuel pump overheating and shutting down.

04Green

iTrader: (1)

Good point on the fuel pump...

@ OP, If you think you have issues, keep it above 1/4 thank. Should be good to go from there. That much fuel will help keep things cool. But, with the right tool, the pump is not that hard to change. I noticed better mileage when I did mine as well.

GK1707

iTrader: (10)

Same here, better fuel mileage and maybe I'm getting the placebo effect or maybe it was just my stock fuel pump that was running out of breath.

But it seems like I'm squeezing a little bit more power out in 6th gear with the DW200 pump. Its alot easier for me to overtake now in the higher gears/lower rpm band, and I'm not getting anymore hesitations, probably just the better fuel flow I guess.

I upgraded the pump around 89k so yeah I'd reccomend anyone with over 80k to swap out fuel pumps for a new one. Even if its just a new stock one. Seems like the OEM pump starts to crap out around 80k.

ShowHBK

Thanks for that input, its a good thing to consider that I never even thought of. this past spring I had a gasket and all fuel injectors blow and I swear my low fuel resistor has been having problems in the past but have never been able to pinpoint it. Some have said that should take a look at my fuel pump but I never thought that it was having problems. Yes mine is original to the car so I will definitely replace it sometime this winter because I think that's what was causing me problems in the spring when I have ~72,000 Miles.