Warming up my RX-8....
 

Hey guys,

So, I usually warm up my car for a couple of minutes, at least till it's just one notch after 1,000 rpm. Please see the attached video and let me know if that's what you guys do.

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/c...h_MOV00138.jpg

Thanks and God Bless you all! :)

Ben.

I think the manual says that there is really no need to warm the car up at idle. It's ok to start the car up and drive it lightly until the temperature needle has reached operating temperature. You'll find that after a few km the car is has warmed up and you can drive it like normal.

I usually start it and let it idle for only about 10seconds before starting to drive. But that being said I don't use more than about 1/4 throttle or exceed 3000rpm until the water temp gets to 160F+. I have the scanguage and RB guages so it is easy for me to monitor that stuff.

Juergen

I rarely warm up my car, except on the two super cold days we had in Calgary a few weeks ago. :squint:

It really kills the mileage, and it takes forever to warm up. It's quicker to drive it to warm it up, just keep the rpms low.

Nice video.

I was letting it warm up for about 2 min. but nowadays only about 30 sec, while I get strapped in and grab a CD.

Yeah, in the video, it took about 2-3 min. to warm up, and that's what I usually do, so that's why I was asking you guys if this is necessary, because it does take up a significant amount of gas that I could utilize while driving. I will probably check with my service manager at Mazda as well.

Sounds good. I'd like to hear what they say. But I think we're all doing okay. :)

There is definitely no need to wait 2-3 minutes to warm up before driving. For me I usually wait about 10-15 secs, about the time it takes for the engine to make a little tiny 'blip' by itself from the initial 2k idle then fall to 1.7-1.6k. Then I drive off, keeping the throttle under 4k until the temp gauge climbs to normal.

^ Eug, you must be snowed in over in Ottawa. My parents are telling me it's bad news there. Better in London but we still are getting destroyed.

It was pretty bad during last friday's storm (didn't stop me from going out dinner and shopping anyways!; love driving in the snow with this car) but they're pretty quick with the plows here. That storm yesterday pretty much spared Ottawa though, it was very strange to hear my parents talk of 30 cm snow in Newmarket when we just got a dusting.

Glad to hear that. We definitely got snow in London but it's sunny today and already melting. I also love this car in the snow! Never thought I would.

I hear the best way to warm up a car is to start driving it

10 min warm up
 

So, I've been letting mine come to operational temp (the Gage is in near the middle) at idle prior to driving. Then, I drive another 10 min with it below 4000 rpm, slightly increasing to 5500. Then I drive it hard... (I drive the crap out of it, lol)

You can start to drive it right after starting, just keep the rpm below 4000 until it reaches full operating temperature.

I move on two conditions... the revs are at 1500 rpm and the secondary air pump has stopped running. That usually results in a coolant getting to 25 c. The two first large tick is 50 c. The second tick is 55 c. The middle is anywhere between 82 c and north of 102 c. On cruise your coolant temp will be at 82 c.

video on starting procedure, warming and shutting off

Another good sense video on RX8 engine

I wish that everyone could see what happened to the RX8 before it got to the dealer even lol. Fired up at the end of the assembly line and (if its anything like the North American plants) to the rev limiter until it reaches its 1st parking spot. Then again the same to the shipping dock, probably the same to on the boat. The when it reaches our shores most likely the same again from the port to the train, off loaded the same way etc until it reaches the dealer lol. The only thing you shouldnt do to a cold engine is rev it, and I think with the 2010's and newer the rev limiter lowers according to temperature.

Yes 01 Racing you are correct, I have 2010 RX8/R3 and it does have the rev limiter for colder running, but still good point to let the car warm up for a minute or so before moving.

One rule to remember with rotary engines, the more the idle them the faster you foul up your spark plugs. That has been the case since the old 10A right to the
20B. Thats why we have 2 sets of sparks plugs for the race car, one to warm up the engine then another for the actual race.

Gwillians, nice videos!

Guys, according to the manual, the 8 must stay idle only when not used for some days. And even in this case, for only 10-15 seconds.

It doesn't mention anything about the really cold days we have in Canada... but I guess keeping the low RPMs until the engine is heated sounds good.

Rev limiter
 

Not sure, for me in winnipeg i ran my car in minus 40 celsius weather. I tried once warming it up before school and it was fine. At school i have no where to plug it so i let it run for a minute because it was idling at 3-4 thousand but then i drove it and it rev limited me at 5 thousand RPMs, so your pretty safe as long as you dont push it

You change both leading and trailing for warming up and for actual race? Good point here.

I partially agree and disagree with the videos. After 2005 Mazda flashed the ECU to resolve the flooding on re-start of cold engines, so that issue has been resolved.

Yes its a good idea to get any engine warm before shutting down but if you need to move the car, its okay to shut down with out a warm engine.

The revving to 3000 RPM then shutting down was the first and only time I have ever heard of that. Since this is not recommended by Mazda its probably a bunch of BULL with no data for proof.

I do agree that you should raise your RPM's during every drive to prevent carbon build up and ensure good oil flow through the injectors.

My philosophy: Drive it like you stole it but don't wreck it.

I need help
 

So I bought my rx8 last Friday it has 80k miles and runs great and every thing but it has a couple check engine light which are p0300 p0661 p0037 the one for the ssv is gone but other ones are still there and my engine won't turn on but does crank I have to gas it a little and only turns on while it's cold when it's hot it won't start. I notice that different sounds my starter makes when it's hot vs cold and i changed plugs and wires