Bumi

Hey guys I bought a rx-8 a few months ago I live in Blacksburg, around roanoke a college town specifically Virginia tech, and I am looking for someone close to me around or less than a 100 miles out that works on rotaries or who can checkup on my rx-8 or if anyone knows somebody. I got a compression test as I got the car and the results were "BOTH BANKS ON LOW SIDE BUT WITHIN SPECIFICATION. BANK 2 LOWER THAN BANK 1. 814 745 737 KPA, 107 97 96 at 243 rpm, 683 721 691 KPA, 90 95 91 PSI AT 247 RPM." Not really familiar with these numbers but they seem ok. After these results, I replaced my cat I've replaced my oil and coils plugs and wires. I would also greatly appreciate tips to keep this car going for above 2+ years the mileage is at 75000+ right now. Ive also started to hear a rattling noise whenever i start to accelerate when i switch gears under my car, I drive on some rocky roads and i took it to a normal mechanic they said that it could be a pebble inside my heat shield because me and him only heard it at a set frequency, around 2-3.5k rpm anything would help, thanks!
ps: found this video on youtube not my rx-8 but the sound is very close to what i hear

BigCajun

iTrader: (1)

Was your cat bad?
If it broke up you could have pieces of strata in your catback exhaust.

Bumi

Yea my cat was really bad, pieces falling out of it when i took it off but i didnt take just the cat off i took off the pipe too so it could be in the muffler but i hear it under the car not from the back but what your saying could be right too I have not checked if i have any pieces in my muffler or something.

https://www.carparts.com/Catalytic-C...66&bsft_tv=154

Loki

iTrader: (1)

The numbers are borderline, but if you're looking at only 2 years with the fresh ignition and having fixed the cat it might make it. What cat did you replace it with?
Also what year and transmission ?

rx8help.com has a new owners article, suggest you read up It's compiled from this forum.

Bumi

this is the cat: https://www.carparts.com/Catalytic-C...66&bsft_tv=154

Its a 04 automatic
I would want to keep it for more than that i dont drive it that much maybe around 50 miles a week like 10 miles a day. any way to higher the compression or keep it at that level?

Loki

iTrader: (1)

Hmm okay so automatic rx8 + short trips + cheap aftermarket cat is not a great recipe. The car will spend most of its time warming up, eventually fouling the cat again. These types of cats don't typically last very long on a rotary in general. It might make 2 years, it might not.

All in all this is the wrong car for 5-mile trips, it needs to be driven enthusiastically (assuming it's healthy). You can't really raise compression but you can premix 2-stroke oil to help prolong what you have. If compression drops further, you'll start noticing it takes longer and longer to restart after shutting off hot. Being the 2004 auto it's the least powerful, most expensive version of the engine to replace so you probably want to be out of its ownership by that time.

Again, rx8help.com if you haven't already.