Having a little trouble.
 

I just bought an 05 with 122k. Everything was running great. I stopped and got gas and when taking off from the pump the car seemed to have no power. Then CEL came on. Luckily there was an Advance right down the street. So I puttered on down and had them read the code. P0302 Cylinder 2 misfire. Afterwards I limped over to a friend's house and she was running rough and obviously missing. Couldn't figure out what was happening. The next day I got her home and into the garage. I searched the Web and came across this site. Read the misfire section and a few others. I replaced the plugs, wires, and coils. Cleaning the MAF and throttle plate along the way. Got her back together fired her up and she was still running rough. Then came to the conclusion that there had to have been in water in the gas and was the cause of my problems. Since then I've added HEET to 1 fill up and Sea Foam to 3. I also gutted the catalytic converter and clean the SSV. She is running better but not all the way there. Once this happened she also started making a loud firing sound when under acceleration and rpm getting upwards of 4500. This is my main concern. She is starting to get her power back with everything that I do. But this firing/knocking noise is kind of worrisome. Up next I plan to clean the ESS and replace injectors, and see how she acts then. But does anyone have any idea what this noise that I'm hearing is coming from? Also one more thing since I started doing this work on my car it seems that when I go out to start it in the morning the security system has disabled my car and I have to disconnect the battery to reset system to start car. Any other way around this and what can I do as a permanent solution?

Thanks in advance.


https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...a34434d533.jpg

the loud firing noise is from having a gutted cat, your car should be shooting flames out the exhaust. its normal for a rotary that doesnt have a cat. enjoy it

What 200 said.

After you cleaned the ess, did you perform the "20 brake stomp" procedure to reset the NVRAM? Also, unplug the battery for 20 min to reset the fuel trims

Had the firing noise before I gutted the cat.

Haven't cleaned the ESS yet. Just got home from work, getting ready to pull her in the garage now. I am also aware of the brake stomp though mine seems more like 25

A little update and some new problems. Everything in the post above I have taken care of. I haven't heard anymore knocking over the past few weeks. Though this bad gas really jacked my motor up. I have come to the ultimate conclusion that I am going to replace the motor. I plan on rebuilding and keeping my current motor as a back up.

With that being said my current motor has developed an oil leak. The leak only happens under heavy load. It seems to me that when under load the system build up excess oil pressure and pushes the dip stick out and the oil sprays from there. All the oil is centralized to the location. Though I can find any leaks or excess oil there. At first I thought maybe it was the oil filter, because of the location and the projection of the spray. Changed the filter and am still having this problem. I noticed the dip stick once or twice before, but those few times the dip stick was barely pushed out. Yesterday I ran into another 8 and we were having some fun with each other and when I got home I smelled the oil leak. Opened the hood to find my dip stick how it is in the picture below.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...d1235f0d57.jpg

So the question is. What could be causing this excess pressure, that it blows my dip stick out?

So a little update to my problems. It seems that I have been able to fix the misfiring and the strange detonation type sound that the car was making. Though now some new problems have arisen in the form of an oil leak. What seems to be happening now is that when I put the engine under heavy load oil sprays all over the driver side rear portion of the motor. I wish that I could put a camera in the engine bay to see what is happening, but to me it seems like the system is building excess oil pressure and blowing the dipstick out and the oil is spraying from there. Though the oil pressure gauge never moves. I have noticed that when this leak occurs that the dipstick is not seated as it should be and yesterday after running into another 8 and having some fun with each other. I got back and noticed that the leak had occurred again and this time my dipstick was pushed out about a foot or so. I have a picture on my phone if it is needed.

Anyways the question is what could be causing this excess pressure to be built up and blow the dipstick out and spray oil all over that area of the engine compartment?