robrecht

It all depends on how long you might be able to coast instead of engine braking. Engine braking may use less fuel than idling but if you coast much farther than you would be engine braking, you'd use less fuel. Bottom line, 'though--if you want to be a hypermiler, you bought the WRONG car. And, yes, brakes are for stopping, egines are for accelerating, and rotaries are for revving to 9k.

77mjd

Either he's lying or there is something seriously wrong with the car. Babying it or mostly highway driving should put you near 20mpg. If he's babying it and only getting 11mpg, there is something very wrong.

ASH8

Totally agree here, engine braking does not save any fuel, to turn around and say the fuel is "CUT" from the injectors? is a load of Bulls**t.
If fuel was cut during downshifting your engine would stall.
Where do people dream up these ideas from?

Blackout04RX

+1. using the engines own natural resistance to slow the car does NOT take less fuel then neutral. for a split second the engine will have more fuel in it due to the sharp drop in rpms, but it is worked out and the computer operates on the idle level, which is much much lower then 4k, 3k, and yes even 2k. and then when you downshift and put it back up to 7 k to do it again... guess what... lol
sry neutral is easier on gas, and is a baby the car strategy. the only thing that may happen is that the car will adapt this shift strategy into its long term memory and MAY dog a bit at a track day.

Edit: this is something you probably wouldnt notice because if you baby the car, the car gets used to being driven like that.

MazdaManiac

iTrader: (3)

"Engine braking" (leaving the engine in gear with no throttle pressure) uses absolutely NO fuel whatsoever. The PCM cuts all fuel delivery under this condition.
Idle uses the most fuel per rev than any other engine load condition.

No, not really.
The car is not human. Its adaptive strategy is not nearly this powerful.
There is a fuel trim table that modifies the tuned table by a small amount based on measured differences between commanded lambda and actual lambda in closed loop and an ignition retard table based on knock detection.
That is it.
The only thing that "babying" the engine does is develop carbon.

Engine braking can cause an adverse load on bearings in both the engine and transmission.
In real life, only the clutch sees "abnormal" wear from engine braking because it will see more disengagements over the course of its life.

On topic - I will hit 100k miles sometime before the spring.

Brettus

iTrader: (2)

3rd axe handle - 2nd head ?

MazdaManiac

iTrader: (3)

There is more original mass than not.

Silver_Mazda09

here you go:
[IMG] By Silver_Mazda[/IMG]

Following Mazda Regular Maintenance schedule. Just went to the dealership here in Tracy, Ca for the MSP16 Recall. The Dealership was very shock to see an rotary past this mileage. So they gave me an Free Oil change!

I do all my work on my Mazda. Kinda helps being a Certified Mechanic! I take care of my Mazda very well. I have an 05 model.

Change My oil every 3k. (running Gastol GTX 5W-30)
Change my Air Filter every 3k. (Stock Airbox)
Change my Tranny and Diff. fluids every 15k (running Redline fluid)
Change my Plugs & coils & wires very 30k.
Did the Mazda Engine Cleaner @ 60k ( Looking to do it again soon.)
Running the OEM Clutch.

The engine run strongs, No issue. Very proud to have an rotary that runs good and seeing people faces on how much mileage I have on for it's year!

ASH8

Well done,
There is a club member Philip from South Africa who has done 199,000 KM, or close to 120,000 miles, still on original COILS which are giving him some start issues, I tell him to replace them.

I would have thought replacing your air filter at 3K is a little too soon considering 30K is the manual time, I would halve that..

If anything I would be renewing my oil filter more often than the air filter.
Ash

ASH8

Forgot to ask,
How do you drive your RX-8, any little habits or procedures you do when you drive her, what RPM do you run at, do you red-line daily?

Silver_Mazda09

It is my daily car. I put about 120+ miles on it everyday for work. I redline it everyday. Mostly freeway driven.

When we get together for meets, and do little twistes, I drive the hell out of it! I guess you can say I change all my maintenance early.

Freeway driving is about 80mph. around 4k RPM. About an hour drive to work, and then about 1-2 hour from work, due to traffic.

Always checking my oil every 2 fillups at gas station. Always Running Chevron 91 octane.

ZachLegend

This is inspirational

Silver_Mazda09

Thanks

SV650S

When my RX-8 grows up I want it to be just like Silver_Mazda09 's

HockeyRX-8

iTrader: (1)

Congrats Silver. May your car live to see 200k miles.

ASH8

BTW, Philip the Club member from South Africa is just doing a rebuild on his 8...

It made it to 206,000 KMS (123,000 Miles) before he had starting issues.
After engine dismantle found out a broken side seal with Rotor Housing damage and Concaved Apex Seals which is the issue for ALL S1 RX-8's without the middle (leading) oil injector.

There is really nothing that can be done about that issue no matter how much oil the MOP delivers it is not getting to the middle of the Apex Seal.

So, Pre-Mixing is a must IMO.

SV650S

What models came with engine missing the middle oil injector, is it up to a specific build date. I have an 04 in canada built in 03... should i be worried?

Sleepy-z

FYI, if your engine ever does go try giving Mazda a call and I am not saying they will but there is a good shot that they may be willing to extend the warranty so they can tear down your engine to study its wear and why it lasted that long. Any time we get a 90k+ mile engine in the japanese engineer comes out and watches it get dissambled and take some of the parts, even sends it back to japan if they ask for it. Its worth a shot to try if yours fails and you dont want to rebuild it on your own.

Mazurfer

Interesting Sleepy-Z............as I was helping a girl with an 04 with 154k miles. Someone told her to sell it as it need a new motor and myself along with another forum member went over and got it fixed it. Mostly just flooded and minor issue or two. It's running fine now..........but don't know for how long! Several forum members helped out online assisting us with ideas/suggestions!

Long read, but might be worth a read for those interested.

https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-discussion-3/rx8-sale-needs-new-motor-repaired-update-163605/

ASH8

Only the Series II RX-8's (2009~) has the 3rd Middle leading oil injector, none of S1's had it.

Should you be worried..well you have an 8 year engine warranty.

To be frank the damage/wear is already done, sorry.
Pre-mixing can help, don't lose any sleep, what can you do.
And NO you can't retrofit the new injector set-up.

jmil

Just topped over 151,000 miles!!

CyberPitz

Damn, that's one long lasting engine! Congrats!!

Old Rotor

So it seems you do about 2K miles a month. Please give us all the details. The service it's had and parts replaced. Model, type of driving it gets(long commutes), fuel used, oil type and consumption, ever flooded, red lined. Just any thing that you can add. Have you had your engine de-carboned? How do your spark plugs look when you change them(miles?) Third set of tires! Must all be hiway.

Hidef1080

I think I'll start pre-mixing now.
I wasn't sure at first but now I know I need to do it.

I was thinking that if I got over 100k I would keep an engine rebuild in the back of my mind.
I'm at 24k now and I average around 10,000 miles a year so by the time I break 100,000 if I need a rebuild then maybe one of the newer '09 type engines can go in there.

I really plan on keeping this car.

jmil

All Highway ,I commute to S NJ to NY 3/4 days a week!

Change Oil every 5k or so - Nothing Special

Always Always use HI Octane 92+

One time - when I first bought it I flooded it! Learned my lesson but I also got the update.

I had every update/fix provided by Mazda added up to about 1 1/2 ago (When I went over 100K)

3 Set of Tires - I by Cheap LOL

I red line it when ever I can but I do treat it nicely too - I run up and down the Hwy at 85- 90 MPH Typically.

NO I have never cleaned it - Yes I have changed the plugs and coils 3 times - but now she is starting show her age:

P0301
P2070
P0037

I plan on doing a complete Tuneup, Replace Wires and Replace Fuel Pump Clean Engine (I will use the Mazda product engine Cleaner). Should clear up most of those! She is staggering a bit now! Once i get those done - I will let you know how it goes and run the codes again and post. She needs to last up to 200,000 K (I run all my cars to the ground LOL).