Rotary in Winter
 

Hi, I'm very serious about a 2004 rx8, but I live in Saskatchewan and have heard that the rotary engine doesn't really do all that well and some cases where they broke down in the cold weather. Just wondering if anyone can tell me otherwise.

and who told you this?

Well, piston engines also don't handle the cold very well, and in some cases, piston engines have broken down in cold weather.





Sounds kinda ridiculous right? I mean, it's true, but it doesn't have as much to do with the engine design as it does the nut behind the wheel :)

Take care of it properly, get a block heater if you are that far north, and you should be good.

Having lived in Saskatoon for 3 years, I can attest to the biting cold of mid winter, but most people in those locales have garages or have block heaters. Common sense and quality winter tires should keep you fine in any car

While we're in the topic of winter. Just wondering. Do you guys redline your rides in the winter.... if so probably in first im guessing ?

we pick our moments. lol. The thing about southern ontario winters is that the roads are dry 70 percent of the time anyways although they are cold and traction is sub par at best. i find redlines in 2nd gear more realistic. first gear just wont hold even on a dry road in the winter. when they arent dry, i find an empty parking lot and get the revs up other ways. haha

haha good to know thanks

oh man, no redlines in 1st :scared: im so used to redlines in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd...UGH!!! id go crazy!

I redline in 2nd and/or 3rd... and those 2 gears alone. I avoid redlining while in 1st.
In the summer, redlining is more frequent. In winter, not as much.. takes a while to get the engine warmed up to optimal temps...

You have been told correctly. The best solution is to avoid rx8,.. actually all cars and take the local transit.


... seriously :tear:

I ran mine last all winter, for a month it was ~ -40C, and the car started every morning without a blockheater with no issues. just ensure when its cold you let off the clutch slowly, while giving it a bit of gas as so the cold transmission does not kill the engine, thus flooding it.

but you feel really bad for the car driving it in the winter :(

I drove mine for 4 years in the winter with no problems. IT might freak you out the first time it does its cold weather start cycle. The computer goes into a engine rev cycle whenit is very cold. Once it warms up it returns to a normal idle.

The car itself was a blast to drive oin the winter.

Thanks for the replies, they were a big help.

DO you guys get problems in terms of rust and stuff. Im looking to get a BB soon. Do you guys find the toronto winters are a lil hard on the 8s in terms of the car itself ? Where do you guys go to wa the salt off and how often ??

Sunoco Touchless Car Wash. And only when the car has been driven after snowfall. Thats for me.

You get any rust or w.e ? IM guessing the touchless wash washes the salt off before it does any damage right

My paint started chipping along the rear wheel wells... got that fixed up this spring, but body shops wanted over 1000.00 for the work...

Thats why like the toronto winters can get very harsh. So basically wash like once a week at car wash and i should be fine right ? Cause i wanna keep my car in good shape for a long time.

No rust that I can see on the body anywhere. It has been a while since i did rust proofing.. so i will do that again before winter this year.

Also, as much as of a daily driver my 8 is, i try to avoid driving my car when snow is on its way or has just snowed. Once the roads are dry, my 8 is out.

And yes, I go through the car wash as soon as I have driven after snow and on salty roads.
And since i have the MS CAI, I drive very carefully after the carwash...

And I park my car in the garage.

This winter, I might have to store my 8 in garage as I am off to Boston for 1 yr and not taking my 8... this is gonna hurt. :(

Ye i was thinking like storing the 8 would be better and just renting a mazda 3 for the winter . IM doing co op at mazda im sure they could hook me up. I dunno though well see. If you guys are saying its not that bad in the winter with a good pair of snow tires and car washing once a week then maybe well stick with the 8 in the winter. But i just dont want my car to start rusting and the paint to chip.

If you take care of your car and are careful, there should be no rest. As for paint chips, i dont know if that be avoided. In my case, I get more stone chips and what not more in the summer than in winter.

A good set of winters tires, all 4 of 'em, is a MUST!

I can't speak for the RX-8 because I haven't had it in the winter, but my RX-7 Turbo ('87) never let me down in the winter. I remember in 2004 there was a nasty cold snap where it hit -40C early/late in the day for almost a week. There was never an issue.