Flooding
10-03-2003, 07:21 AM
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Flooding
It has been suggested that the rotary engine is proned to flooding if started and then turned off immediately ie to move the car a few metres. Apparently once started the engine needs to be warmed up/ run for at least 5 minutes otherwise the very rich mixture which is initially injected will flood the engine.
Any rotorheads wish to confirm this.
rael.t
Any rotorheads wish to confirm this.
rael.t
10-03-2003, 07:36 AM
#2
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Can't confirm the principle for rotary engines, but it happens the same on my V6 Audi! Not aware of any problems with my car, and fuel consumption is fine. Probably a few conventional engines prone to that.
JH
JH
10-03-2003, 07:51 AM
#3
Aparently rose on older engines, and engines with more miles on.
But there is a story about an RX-8 with 3.5k on which was flooded and after 3 days had to be trailered to a dealer for fixing.
There is a startup/ short run/ shutdown procedure in the manual, it does say font start then stop soon after. (5min idle, 20sec 3k rpm , switchoff or something).
New ECU/cat etc make it more difficult to do on renasis than 13b etc.
Whilst it does happen on piston engines, there much quicker to get going again - or so I hear, rotary virging here.
But there is a story about an RX-8 with 3.5k on which was flooded and after 3 days had to be trailered to a dealer for fixing.
There is a startup/ short run/ shutdown procedure in the manual, it does say font start then stop soon after. (5min idle, 20sec 3k rpm , switchoff or something).
New ECU/cat etc make it more difficult to do on renasis than 13b etc.
Whilst it does happen on piston engines, there much quicker to get going again - or so I hear, rotary virging here.
10-03-2003, 08:09 AM
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My RX-7 has flooded on two occaisions, both times I had to have it recovered. So as not too make people paranoid I must point out that the engine is on its last legs or rotors even (64K miles).
All they do to get it running again is tow/bump start it.
It has never flooded by being run for a short period of time, which I know should not be done but hell the engines on the way out anyway. It was cold weather which added to my problems.
All they do to get it running again is tow/bump start it.
It has never flooded by being run for a short period of time, which I know should not be done but hell the engines on the way out anyway. It was cold weather which added to my problems.
10-03-2003, 08:15 AM
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Originally posted by ROTORIST
My RX-7 has flooded on two occaisions, both times I had to have it recovered. So as not too make people paranoid I must point out that the engine is on its last legs or rotors even (64K miles).
All they do to get it running again is tow/bump start it.
It has never flooded by being run for a short period of time, which I know should not be done but hell the engines on the way out anyway. It was cold weather which added to my problems.
My RX-7 has flooded on two occaisions, both times I had to have it recovered. So as not too make people paranoid I must point out that the engine is on its last legs or rotors even (64K miles).
All they do to get it running again is tow/bump start it.
It has never flooded by being run for a short period of time, which I know should not be done but hell the engines on the way out anyway. It was cold weather which added to my problems.
I hope this isn't the expected life of a rotary engine as I nearly do that in 2 years - I'd expect at least 3 times that mileage from a new engine. Please tell me that the RENESIS isn't a sub <100k miles engine.
10-03-2003, 08:30 AM
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RobDickson is correct the renesis is apparantley far more durable than previous rotary engines!
Mazda would have been mad not to ensure that this was the case espacially with the volume they are producing.
Mazda would have been mad not to ensure that this was the case espacially with the volume they are producing.
10-03-2003, 08:36 AM
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RobDickson,
Both times it was recovered they ran a compression test and it was very low, it was given a life expectancy of between 600-6000 miles more before complete failure!
The sooner the better as I still have a warranty!!!
Both times it was recovered they ran a compression test and it was very low, it was given a life expectancy of between 600-6000 miles more before complete failure!
The sooner the better as I still have a warranty!!!
10-03-2003, 08:39 AM
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If I ever move my Mazda Xedos V6 out of the drive to let my wife out and turn off straight away, it is guaranteed to flood every time.
If I let it tick over for 30 seconds before turning off it's fine.
So this is not just a rotary problem.
If I let it tick over for 30 seconds before turning off it's fine.
So this is not just a rotary problem.
10-03-2003, 08:44 AM
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My old RX7 only flooded a couple of times.
Only once did I have to remove the plugs , dry them off and start over. But that was running a manual carb setup , not a whizzy computer controlled fuelling system like Renesis.
In my experience rotaries do need more cranking over than a conventional engine , so dont expect it to start immediately - it may take a few seconds of cranking....
As for that 64K miles. What the hell ??? That must be one abused engine. You have nothing to worry about with durability.
Only once did I have to remove the plugs , dry them off and start over. But that was running a manual carb setup , not a whizzy computer controlled fuelling system like Renesis.
In my experience rotaries do need more cranking over than a conventional engine , so dont expect it to start immediately - it may take a few seconds of cranking....
As for that 64K miles. What the hell ??? That must be one abused engine. You have nothing to worry about with durability.
10-03-2003, 08:46 AM
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I've never had this problem with a piston and it's something I've done fairly regularly where I start the car and stop it again (usually because we need something for one of the kids before we leave!)
10-03-2003, 09:55 AM
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My 2d gen RX7 has 215k on it, and I'm beginning to have some hesitation near the redline, so I think the aux ports have become a little clogged. Otherwise it's still been happy motoring!
10-19-2003, 11:53 AM
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ROTORLESS
What happened - did it just give up the ghost or was its failure more spectacular? I'm around 38k miles but with my annual mileage, the rotors should still be going in 10 years time.
My 3rd gen has flooded a few times when its been moved a short way, but never had to have it recovered, just wait a while.
Anyway, sorry to hear there's 1 less on the road and hope your warranty holds good.
What happened - did it just give up the ghost or was its failure more spectacular? I'm around 38k miles but with my annual mileage, the rotors should still be going in 10 years time.
My 3rd gen has flooded a few times when its been moved a short way, but never had to have it recovered, just wait a while.
Anyway, sorry to hear there's 1 less on the road and hope your warranty holds good.
10-20-2003, 07:05 AM
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97rsr
I was about to over take on a long staright, 4th to 3rd (my favourite gear), power down edged out and it went "POP", so back in and rolled down the hill to the nearest lay by, well nearly.
Was kept amused while I waited for recovery by some nut in a TVR 350i hammering up and down at some pace, he obviously liked this road too or maybee it was a first for him seeing a Jap car failed instead!
Sounds like you have afew years left in yours enjoy it.
I was about to over take on a long staright, 4th to 3rd (my favourite gear), power down edged out and it went "POP", so back in and rolled down the hill to the nearest lay by, well nearly.
Was kept amused while I waited for recovery by some nut in a TVR 350i hammering up and down at some pace, he obviously liked this road too or maybee it was a first for him seeing a Jap car failed instead!
Sounds like you have afew years left in yours enjoy it.
10-20-2003, 09:10 AM
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From the following thread:
https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...5&pagenumber=2
I just got my car back from the dealer. They had it for 3 days. Tried to start the car, sounded like it was flooded. Called roadstide assistance and got the car towed. The tow truck driver said "Funny, this is a third one of these I've towed", then "Don't worry, Mazda can fix it" I call the dealer, he is like "you flooded it, and your the ninth person we have in here since we started selling them".
Looks like it is still a problem with the Renesis then.
I'm sure I can remember not to start the engine and then almost immediately switch it off again. My real worry would be if I accidentally stall it immediately after cold starting.
It seems that a loose battery connection can cause the problem too: it can't quite turn it enough to start, but it still pumps plenty of cold fuel into the chamber
https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...5&pagenumber=2
I just got my car back from the dealer. They had it for 3 days. Tried to start the car, sounded like it was flooded. Called roadstide assistance and got the car towed. The tow truck driver said "Funny, this is a third one of these I've towed", then "Don't worry, Mazda can fix it" I call the dealer, he is like "you flooded it, and your the ninth person we have in here since we started selling them".
Looks like it is still a problem with the Renesis then
. I'm sure I can remember not to start the engine and then almost immediately switch it off again. My real worry would be if I accidentally stall it immediately after cold starting.
It seems that a loose battery connection can cause the problem too: it can't quite turn it enough to start, but it still pumps plenty of cold fuel into the chamber
10-20-2003, 10:17 AM
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Originally posted by RobDickinson
Theres an anti-flood routine built in, dunno if anyone knows/uses it though.
Theres an anti-flood routine built in, dunno if anyone knows/uses it though.
Unfortunately, no one seems to have had any luck following this procedure yet. However, one person has successfully started his flooded RX-8 by turning over with the fuel pump fuse removed, then normally, which should amount to the same thing. The procedure may need to be repeated several times.
Once the car does start it briefly produces large quantities of thick, black smoke, so if you do this regularly you will not be popular with your neighbours.