new RX-8 in NE weather - advice requested!
 

Hi, I just bought a new 2008 RX-8 (sport manual), and have been doing a lot of research about how to properly equip and maintain it. I have a lot yet to learn though - I have a couple questions about operating it in the NE that I wanted to get people's opinions on?

1. oil - from what I've read here so far, it seems like oil viscosity is a function of temperature, and involves a tradeoff between fuel economy and a safe margin of engine protection. Since I have to get winter tires anyway, is it crazy to plan to use different viscosities between summer and winter? Something like, 5W-30 in the winter, and 10W-40 from spring to fall? Does anyone else do this? FYI I live near boston, and it can get just below 0 in the winter, and approach 100 in the summer.

2. stock tire wet traction - my car comes with dunlop 8090 stock summer tires. Does anyone know how they will function at warm temps with a *lot* of water on the road? boston can get very wet during storms, for ex I've driven on the pike in crazy summer thunderstorms which kept a constant say quarter or half inch of water on the road surface. I've heard the stock tires are completely worthless in even a light dusting of snow, should I be similarly worried in very wet but warm conditions?

3. this isn't a strictly NE thing I guess, but could I get some opinions about how much I should worry about theft in the boston area? both of the whole car and the tires. the sketchiest place I tend to park would be in allston/brighton, though never overnight. Do you think the club is an effective deterrent at all? (I would definitely prefer to spend $$ on deterrents rather than post-theft reclamation).

Thanks!! any other advice is totally welcome as well...I'm switching from an acura TSX automatic so this is quite a new and exciting change for me!

you need to get off the stock tires for winter. other than that, if you're driving in a quarter to half an inch of rain they do okay but that's pretty decent for any tire so just keep it slow. i wouldn't get new tires just for that but when you're ready for new ones i'd hit the wheel and tire forum and there are some good reviews there.

and the club is a waste of money. you can get a shock sensor system and that's probably your best bet. other than that, try to keep your car out of places you wouldn't want to be in and have good insurance. it's no worse than any other car.

as for oil, i keep the same type all year-round.

Not sure how good that particular stock set might be, but I would suggest going to TireRack.com +/- DiscountTireDirect.com and checking out the ratings.

Once the weather starts taking a true turn to 40 or less regularly you need to get off the summer rubber. As for wet traction - no tire is really strong "with a *lot* of water on the road" - just drive accordingly.

I have Dunlop Winter Sport M3s on my stock rims, and they absolutely rock. With the low torque I can just ease the clutch out w/o using any gas and these tires grab and pull even in some nasty snow storms. Some members have bought a cheaper set of 17 inch wheels w/winter tires so they have a separate set w/a little more clearance.

I use 10w-40 when the summer wheels are on & 5w-20 when the winter set is on - though I'm probably switching to 5w-30 this winter.

There's a consant debate on premix . . . It's lengthy and in many threads, but it's worth reading about and making up your own mind.

Welcome to the fun!! pics plzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

FWIW i run blizzaks on my stock wheels when the temps consistenly drop below 40 degrees as dmc mentioned (i run 5zigen with kumho summer rubber when the temps are better). i've never felt out of control with either setup.

hahaha i live in brighton right now and i didnt bring my rx8 with me, but dont hate its not THAT sketchy.

take a ride over to roxbury :Eyecrazy:

thanks for the replies so far! I'm planning to get the dunlop winter sport M3s as well. there's a direct tire near me and they'll sell me a set for $1100 which includes twice-a-year changes and rebalancing. I was just wondering/worried whether the summer tires were worse than average in very wet conditions, but it wounds like you're saying they're the same as any tire, which works for me.

I have driven in snow all my adult life (12 years now), though it will be interesting to try with a stick. I was also planning to get a couple sandbags for the rear as well. (I wonder what's the cheapest thing to get that weighs ~100lbs though - maybe I can find some lead blocks or something getting thrown away and wrap them in plastic heh).

dmc - so there are no issues with having two different grades of oil in the engine at the same time temporarily, right?

I switch at an oil change time so there's only a small amount that will mix - the little bit left in the oil coolers. I have never read anywhere that there would be an issue w/a little left over mixing together.


Check online prices for the M3s. Pretty much any store will price match, they just don't advertise it. Town Fair Tire matched the TireRack price when I bought my set. TFT wanted $260 per tire, but they matched the TireRack advertised price of $185 per. This was in the fall of 06, but the price difference is still probably pretty high between online prices & store prices.


I have not felt any need for additional weight. The low torque allows you to get rolling w/o much issue once you get the hang of it. Just let the clutch out slow & it grabs every time.

I wouldn't worry about cartheft in Allston/Brighton too much. The only thing that probrably going to stolen are your wheels. That and the vandelism from drunken college kids.

yeah thats why my car isnt with me, drunken idiots...until i can find a garaged spot

and oil mixing is not an issue at all, id suggest "borrowing" a few 45 lbs plates from your local gym, often they still have old equipment laying around