whataputt

brother bought new...mine since 32k...2nd engine...2nd trans...pushing 172k...

Glaxzor

BEEP BEEP! SAME MILEAGE AS ME, I HAVE 171,345 Rebuilt Engine

PowerBound

I currently own a 2005 Mazda rx8 gt that I purchased from a friend. It had 103k miles and low compression, I personally swapped out the entire drivetrain out of a low mileage donor.

The vehicle was never pre mixed, the vehicle had original coils (which I might add are still in great shape) spark plugs were beyond gone, car rarely had its oil changed (he kept adding oil when it would get low) car was redlined at least 20 times per every time it was driven.

When I opened the engine up she had bearings so worn they all showed copper, and the apex seals were all worn down a lot.

Other then that everything was beautiful.

DG07

137,060 on original motor. Developed a leaky water jacket seal at around 137,000. Don't shun me on this but I used some blue devil in it and I haven't had an issue so far. Hoping for some extra time until I buy the new engine. Love this car though! I rented a dodge charger se to go up to hollywood for a wedding. Although it was fun, I couldn't wait to get back in my car lol. 04 RX-8 MT

danielk015

iTrader: (1)

132K on original motor and tranny. 2004 6mt

smurfin8

Hi, I'm Leo, I work most of the time so I dont offer much input, but always have a blast reading all sorts of threads on this forum,when I have a chance I'll post more info on my ride.
The basics
04 6 speed, just rolled over to 145,000, original engine
Mod list
Custom 2.75 full exhaust
Injen short ram
Racing beat V2 flash
Maintenance
Oil change every 3000 miles, either castrol 10w30 or Mobil1 Super 10w30
Never premixed
Religiously change spark plugs and coils
Problems
Idle is now starting to go erractic, bounces all over the place, Ill upload a video, its very random
Engine codes
P0172 recently came up as well, front 02 sensor has finally passed on, part has been ordered xp

RX8Soldier

iTrader: (24)

Hey Leo, it's good to hear that your original engine is still relatively healthy. I would have been worried about your choice of intake system though. You would most likely last even longer with just the oem air box (or aem/Mazdaspeed to free up space).
For your erratic idle, check your neutral switch. There is a lot of info that can be found in these forums regarding the issue.

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

We had a guy recently post up in the FB group when he hit 160,000 miles. I called BS and asked him to provide his VIN and reluctantly he did. A local member and Mazda employee ran his VIN and found out the engine was not original and had been replaced in 2006. This guy was not the original owner but the previous owner had insured him that it was the original engine and he believed him. The skeptic in me doubts most of the high mileage cars. I am sure there are a few, we had a local guy get to 128,000 on an original engine but by that time I think it made like 130WHP on the dyno. He just bought an R3 rather than rebuild it.

rsquaredh

I just passed 135,000 miles on my 2004 6MT. I am the original owner and can guarantee that it is still the original engine. Clutch replacement in April 2015 is the only major repair that my car has needed.

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

Post up your VIN and we will find out

smurfin8

Ill post it lol xp ive been to the dealer for the recalls though xc

smurfin8

Yea, I think I am eventually but what I really want to do is either get the enigne rebuily and ported or wait for that renesis/rew hybrid lol

smurfin8

Although my local mazda dealer told me it was the original engine, I called another dealer provided my vin, engine was replaced 2 years by the original owner at 15,000 miles with supposedly a new one, tally comes out to 130,000 miles, still love my 8 though xp

New Yorker

Goodness, many of the regulars here (and I've been on here for almost 10 years now) would swear on a stack of bibles that this thread could never happen! Sure, there have been engine replacements. Many cars get them:

Some Porsche 911 GT3s Are Getting New Engines?Again ? News ? Car and Driver | Car and Driver Blog
Hyundai recalls 470,000 Sonatas to replace engines | Fox News
2015 Honda CR-V, 2014-'15 Accord Recalled To Replace Engine Short Block | Edmunds.com
BMW N63 Customer Care Package: A Recall That BMW Refuses To Call A Recall | car News @ Top Speed

Fact is, most of the thousands of RX-8 owners with high mileage cars - enjoying the one and only Renesis they've ever known - have no reason to ever find their way to this forum. Why most RX-8 owners don't even know it exists! So we will never hear from the vast majority of owners who's engines are just fine, thank you.

And just to clarify, an RX-8 "engine failure" is, in fact, not an engine failure, but the failure of the Renesis to pass a series of tests. Most "failed" Renesis engines still run, albeit with reduced power. Go up to any man on the street and say "engine failure" and it conjures up one clear thing: an engine that's suddenly stopped working. Done. Kaput. So I find the fast and loose use of the phrase "engine failure" misleading. And very damaging to the Mazda/RX-8 brand. Whoever coined it should write for Fox News.

danielk015

iTrader: (1)

9K, how can i verify the engine? I am the second owner, bought at 16K miles or so.

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

Low compression is low compression regardless of whether it is a piston engine or a rotary and technically failing since it is not operating in it's designed parameters. If you have low compression then your engine will completely fail at some point, that is a fact.

As for numbers and whether the vast majority of RX-8 owners know this forum exists and the "Thousands of of RX-8 owners with high mileage cars", well that is just opinion on your part as a long time owner who barely drives his car and probably has never even turned a wrench on it. You don't work on them or personally know anyone with a high mileage RX-8 with an original engine (let alone thousand of them) so you are pulling your opinion out of your ***. And the number of engines the reman plant pumps out and has pumped out has been published and discussed and it is what it is, despite what you think based on your 30,000 miles in 10 years of ownership.

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

Yep, your scenario is a common one. And honestly if you are buying a higher mileage RX-8 you should want it to have had an engine replacement. The idea that the original engines are any better than a reman is pretty silly. My original engine died at 22,000 miles and the reman that replaced it made it 74,000 miles. Both were meticulously maintained.

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

You can call Mazda USA, call a Mazda dealer, or you can PM me your VIN and I can ask my buddy to run it.

smurfin8

I guess its all luck lol, Im the second owner, vehicle had about 70xxx when I bought it, I come from muscle cars but the 8 just puts a grin on my face everyday lol I drive it like I stole it everyday, Im going to post a video of the problem im having with the idle though, hopefully the ride doesnt stop here.

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

Yeah man, my car has 144,000 miles on the odometer and I have owned it for 10 years. You just have to accept it for what it is. As long as you know engine failure is a possibility and you are willing to accept it then it should not stress you out. But really now days, I try and recommend people pick up a 2009+ RX-8 if possible. There are many factors to engine failure, these are hand built engines after all that many people are buying with little maintenance history and lots of mileage.

I love my car, I would not put up with as much **** over the past 10 years if it were any other car. But reliability is not something I expect from my car due to the turbo and extensive mods. But my new engine being turbocharged from day one has outlasted my first original engine

danielk015

iTrader: (1)

thanks, i'll give the dealer a ring. Have to ask about the airbag recall anyways

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

Even if the dealer does it, you may want to call Mazda North America anyway. I had my buddy run mine and one engine replacement wasn't even on the report and it showed a cat replacement that I never received. My buddy thinks the cat replacement was some shady **** going on but he was unsure how the engine replacement was not on their system but Mazda North America had it.

You can also see what shows up on mymazda.com

smurfin8

What turbo set up do you have? This is something I really want to go with, the only problem being that I live in Houston Tx, no one messes with rotaries anymore, I have always considered it but just didnt want to run the risks and have just done these mild mods lol believe me I put up with crap as well, and any other vehicle I wouldn't tolerate it, but hearing the screaming rotary is just amazing, and more than makes up for the troubles lol, when I purchased the vehicle, I wasnt expecting crazy power or reliability, I just wanted to try something unique and different, and fell in love with it lol

smurfin8

Here's what I was talking about https://youtu.be/u-dd4ha6oxI

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

Just click on the link in my signature for my build thread. We have a local member who is from Houston (Houstonrx8er on this forum) and visits often as well as a couple of OG members in Houston. If you need a shop recommendations let me know.

Once you go turbo you will never go back. As long as you are realistic in your expectations and do proper, prior, planning then you won't regret it. The problem with most turbo builds is that people go into it cutting corners and not really committed or able to do it financially so the builds end up half assed and never really finished.