hey guys, new owner here. ok, so I bought an 05' rx8 about a month ago, itys always been my dream car, plus its only got 54k mi on it and everything on this car has been meticulously maintained. ive done a lot of the DIY's on this thread including cleaning the MAF, changing the coils, and insulating the ac lines. what worries me is that I hear a lot of rx8 horror stories, but not many success stories. what are the chances of my 8 lasting another 54k if well maintained?

 

The 200000-Mile Club - Page 9 - RX8Club.com

 

Hey all.

Don't mean to thread jack, but i'd like to avoid starting a new thread for a quick question.

For starters 2005, 15k miles on 'new' engine, 113,000 on chassis, oil change every 2500-3000 miles, always checking fluid levels, sohn adaptor (for whatever thats worth), always let it warm up, redline daily, no cat, plugs/coils/wires changed 15k miles ago, no cel except for air pump and cat. That's all the background i can think of at the moment.

So 3 days ago it was about 80 F out and was idling for about 20 minutes. Have done this before with no problems. First I noticed the a/c wasn't quite as cold as before but thought nothing of it. Then the smell of steaming coolant. It boiled over :O Right then i turned the car off and let it cool for some time. While it was off the temp needle moved about to 3/4 (insert panic attack). The temp gauge shouldn't move until its ridiculously overheating. So it cooled off and then I managed to drive it back. It did not overheat again. very light driving. I know that should have been avoided but it did not move past center on the drive back.

I get home and check that the fans turn on with the a/c and they don't, so i see the 40amp fuse blew. Went and got 2 of them and changed it out. This time the fans do turn on but not as loud as before.

At this point I physically check both fans and the right/passenger fan is stuck. I realize the load from the stuck fan blew the fuse. Removed the fan and am waiting on a replacement to ship. Thats how things are currently.

When the fuse was replaced the car started up just fine and idled fine and drove like normal.

Typically when it overheats housing get warped and seals leak and just a pandoras box of bad. So the plan is to get the coolant system pressure tested and then a compression test. Is there anything else that should be done? also what are the chances that nothing happened and all is well?

 

Pull an oil sample and send to Blackstone Labs (contact them first for a free sample kit) to test for coolant.

I recommend getting a full coolant system flush at a minimum. If your cooling system is still original, start budgeting to replace the radiator, thermostat, and coolant bottle at least, probably lines too. (OEM parts will be cheapest from Mazmart) Most early failures of Mazda remans seem to be coolant seal failures, and they are probably a combination of a cooling system failure taking out the first engine, a bad rebuild that leaves too much sealant in places that can break off and float through the cooling system, and probably a few other minor reasons.

 

In draining the coolant there was a lot of particles in it. Remedy thermostat coming soon. Really would like to avoid having to replace the radiator though, just don't have the time for it.

 

At least get a flush. A power flush if you can, and replace the radiator when you can. Stuff floating in the coolant system is a disaster waiting to happen.

 

If you wanted to flush the block, can you just drain from the center plate and refill in the thermostat housing with the thermostat removed? and repeat... Even if i'd have to manually operate the water pump, i can do that.

 

I don't think i'm going to be able to answer that. Maybe someone else has the answer.

 

fyi you can flush the block from the thermostat. Requires a funnel that will bend into the opening leading to the water pump.

 

Hey guys n girls. Just bought my first rx8 last week and have fallen in love with it. Its a canary yellow 04 got it used but still feels solid. Not sure what package i have still trying to figure that one out. Going to set up a race with my brother soon he driving a 2012 rs camaro

 

It's LIGHTNING yellow, not a tweety bird.
You're going to lose to your brother.

 

Well i come to join the club in good faith and my first reply is from a <mod edit> Thats a good sign.

 

sativa,

Don't start off with tossing personal insults, it isn't a good sign either.

BigCajun didn't mean anything personal, he was giving you the actual name of the color (Lightning Yellow, which he also has). Looking at the stats of the RS, you might have a chance, since it's only the V6, seems to have similar 0-60 and quarter mile times as the RX-8. The Camaro is still pulling less weight per hp and WAY less weight per torque though, so unless your brother is a much worse driver than you, he will hook up better off the line and beat you.

 

Hey bro, I meant no harm, I shoulda put a in there.
I have an '04 Lightning Yellow GT.
I have seen a lot of new members who buy an 8 and think it's super fast. It is very quick and handles & rides beautifully, but 0-60 is over 6 seconds and won't beat too many of the newer sports models.
My apologies if I offended you.

 

I deleted your post, discussions of street racing isn't permitted here. Feel free to discuss what happened at the drag strip though.

From your description, you have a Sport, which is also the lightest of the trims, contributing to your results.

 

Ah was not aware of that. As for launching if amyone can give me there personal experiance that would be great. For a good burn ive been launching at 5000 and for quicker take off at around 3000 im sure more experianced drivers with the 8 have better knowledge of quick take offs and would like to know as much as possible. Also with shifting, where do u prefer to shift? At the beep or just before? As i said before im new to the rotary scene and dont think ill ever get tired of that beautiful sound of wraping it out but i want to get the most performance i can from it. Also if anyone knows of a really good intake would be great, im putting alot of thought into the k&n typhoon but worried about messing up the sensor with the oil.

 

There is a thread in my signature that specifically addresses all the common modifications that people do, including information on the intakes and while the K&N Typhoon is the 2nd worst brand name intake you can get for the RX-8.

If you like power, that thread is going to depress you, but it's still all true.

There is a drag racing thread around here somewhere, which is probably your best bet for info on how to launch. 99% of us don't even bother, so we can't really answer. It will still also depend on your tires, clutch, diff bushings, motor mounts, shocks, and surface

 

Launching repeatedly from high rpm's is it doing your clutch or transmission any favors. This car was not designed for 0-60. If straight line performance is what your after, you purchased the wrong vehicle.

 

Even after the warnings, I know your going to do it anyway. So, here's the deal. High RPM launches will make the rear end jump around and cause you to snap axles. 3K RPM's is a good place to start. Minimize your wheel spin on take off. You have to upgrade the shocks and springs. Do it all around to keep the car's handling and to be safe. One of the best mods would be a lightweight flywheel. There's a big *** nut on that which holds it on. It's also torqued to an insainly high number to keep the flywheel on. You'll likely want help in replacing it. As long as your down there, to prevent slippage, replace the clutch. A sprung 6 puck will hold up. It will be a bit grabby and you will likely kill the engine on takeoffs until you get used to it. With the lightweight flywheel, you will need to increase your launch RPM slightly to keep the engine from bogging down.
This should get you going before you start on engine mods, cat delete, NOS, .....

 

I dnt think i will be doing nos, im probably going to get a lighter flywheel now that u mention it. I didnt know that these beauties were so custumizable till i started reading these forums the only reason i did a quick burn launch was to heat the tires a bit. As for the wheel hop part i dnt knw if im just not feeling or what but the burn felt very smooth and not jumpy at all. But im willing to head advice im not one of those knw it all guys, im aware of my noobness i guess would be a good way to put it and dnt want to break an axle.
My car dealer ive been with for quite sometime and he was up front with me, he told me this wasnt a car desinged for super strait line power, and more towards handling and stabilty in turns. I just want a little boost in the strait nothing to outrageous just enough for a personal satisfaction. Im not one to have to do 0-60 in 4.5 to have fun and love the car lol. No offense intended
Can u post a link to the thread

 

In my signature?

 

Thanks. I think im going to look into the mazdaspeed and aem options

 

Was looking under the symptoms and causes amd didnt see amything for this. I have a burning oil smell after some fun driving trying to keep the carbs from building up. I can only smell it when heat is on or i step out of car, but im not seeing any oil on ground or seeing any loss of oil on dip stick anyone knw what it could be?

 

With that general of a description, it could be anything that is normal, or anything that isn't.

 

You'd probably have more luck searching the troubleshooting section.
Try "RX8club burning oil smell".