First Time RX-8 Owner
 

As the title says, really excited to have one. :boink:

It is a 2005 Shinka Model. What should I do to make sure my car stays in pristine condition?

https://www.rx8club.com/new-member-f...t-here-202454/


RX8 Club’s recommended maintenance schedule, more comprehensive and proactive than Mazda’s schedule.
30,000 miles:
- Replace Ignition coils
- Replace Plug wires
- Replace Spark plugs
- Clean MAF (mass air flow sensor)
- Clean ESS (e-shaft sensor)
- Reset ESS profile
- Clean power steering connections
- Clean battery terminals and clamps
- Replace transmission fluid
- Replace coolant (Mazda FL-22 is highly recommended)
- Replace air filter
- Replace brake fluid (fluid in the brake lines AND the clutch line)
~$300 USD in parts if you shop smartly.


every 60,000:
...all 30,000, plus...
- Clean all chassis electrical grounding points
- Replace accessory belts
- Clean OMP lines
- Replace rear differential fluid
- Replace thermostat
- Clean / Straighten AC condenser fins
- Clean / Straighten oil cooler fins
- Inspect catalytic converter
- Clean / Inspect intake valving
- Consider / inspect all points in 90,000+ as well, many items fail early
~$130 USD in parts if you shop smartly.

90,000:
...all 30,000, plus any 60,000 not yet done, plus...
- Replace coolant bottle
- Replace radiator hoses
- Replace radiator
- Replace front O2 sensor
- Replace motor mounts
- Inspect clutch pedal assembly for flex / weld breaks
~$900 USD in parts if you shop smartly.
At 100k, anything original in the cooling system is really suspect and failure prone. It represents the biggest threat to your engine.
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I would also recommend you look up premixing.

I used plain Penzoil 10-30w oil and it seemed to work well for me, but I think Idemitsu makes a specific oil for this purpose.

Check oil levels every other fill up and refill as necessary since the Rx-8 injects oil into the combustion chamber.

Change oil and filter every 3 -5k miles to save bearings and housings.
There have also been several recalls on this car. Look them up and make sure your car is up to date.

When you turn your car on, baby it for the run time of first 5 mins unless you need full throttle to get out of a dangerous situation.

I usually let mine idle down to 1500 RPMs before I drive off when it starts cold.

Those are just some of the things that helped my car stay running.

If you begin experiencing exclusive hot start issues, it's most likely rebuild engine time.

Store it.

What others have said. Contrary to popular perception, it's NOT hard to keep your 8 in top shape. In fact, it's no harder than proper maintenance for any car; it's just different. (Think about it; if you had a new electric car or hybrid, you'd have different guidelines for maintenance, wouldn't you? Well your rotary engine is different, too, and requires a slightly different set of rules):

1. Check oil level every other fill-up.
2. Change oil every 3-5K miles. (There are big debates about what kind of oil to use: synthetic or non, 5W-20 or thicker, etc. Make no mistake; the important thing is simply to not let the oil level get too low and to change it regularly!)
3. When starting cold engine, try not to rev high until it's warm.
4. When starting cold engine, don't turn it off until it's warm (or you risk flooding it; just a few minutes of idling gets it fully warm).
5. Rev freely and regularly! Rev it to redline - 8,500 RPM - at least once a day or more. Many RX-8 owners fail to do this, as it's counterintuitive to how we're used to driving; either no one explained to them how it's important to rev high, or they feel like they're taxing the engine by revving it above 6K RPM so often. No! The Renesis loves - and needs - to be revved! Getting it up to 8,500 RPM helps clear out/prevent carbon buildup. And is fun as hell!

It's my belief that most cars have a larger margin of error for owner neglect. Skip an oil change or two, it's not the end of the world. Let the oil level get too low now and then, it's no big deal. But that's not true with an 8. Follow these simple guidelines and your 8 will be just fine.

Happy revving!

Where are you located? I have an 05 Shinka too. Black Cherry Bomb!!

^ LOL, I'm on the Upper West Side, but I get out to NJ now and then. My dealer is Wayne Mazda, they have a real good rotary mechanic who loves rotary-powered cars.