Avoiding engine flooding: how to stop engine when it is cold
 

hi everyone,

i'm from Moscow, Russia, and I've just got my new black RX-8 about a month ago! love it! :)

i have been reading about engine flooding issues on this forum and talked about it with Mazda dealer engineers.
engine flooding occurs when your stop engine when it hasn't been properly warmed up... so warming up is neccessary.
but in case you have to stop it when it is cold (e.g. worked for about 1-2 minutes), they adviced me to do following: switching to neutral, revving the engine to 7000 rpm and then turning ignition to OFF position. This stops fuel intake and makes the rotor clean spark plugs, and safes from engine flooding!

What do you think about this?

thanks

p.s. i'm really happy to join the beautiful car owners club and rx8club forum!

I think the recommended is 3000 RPM for 10 seconds then shut off

If you were to rev to 7000 RPM with a cold engine you probably would damage your engine?

Previet Vofka8! I got my black RX-8 a couple of weeks ago and feel the same as you do. I would also not suggest high rpms when the engine is cold and in Russia, I guess it gets pretty cold. I sometimes drive less than 1 mile to where I work and by then the engine is always warmed up. It warms up quickly since it runs hotter than a piston engine. I am curious how much fuel costs in Russia?

Revving your engine to 7000 rpm is not advisable anything over 3700 rpm causes the secondary fuel injectors to come in causing more fuel to be dumped , so you will have more unburnt fuel to deal with .

Then next time you want to start your engine you may find it truly flooded , especially in your cold winters .

Come to Australia and you want have these problems :D:

Michael

The price for fuel now is about 0.75 USD (0.58 EUR) per liter.

When guys from Mazda suggested me this technique (revvying to 7000 rpm and shutting down the engine), they didn't meant to hold gas pedal for a period of time - hold until there will be 7000 rpm, and then turn off the engine immediately.

Actually, I don't use this technique. I'm just curious about opinions of RX owners :)
i even installed a remote engine starter for my RX-8. be sure that the engine is warmed up enough when I get from my office or home.

However, sometimes it becomes neccessary to start the car for a really short period of time (e.g. repark the car)...

This is what I do :icon_tup: :icon_tup:

Remote engine starters are good for cold climates but its best to drive initially bellow 5000 rpm allowing your engine to be warmed up naturally ,having your car sitting for 5 minutes warming up will cost a lot in petrol and its not neccesarily good for your car 2 minutes warm up then drive bellow 5000rpm until engine is warmer then give it some more .

Try and redline your warmed up engine every drive as this gets rid of the carbon oil build up in the engine .

What grade of oil and type are u using ?

Michael

I gun mine at about 9k RPM for 5 straight minutes. Is that bad?

Thank you, Michael!

I usually warm up the engine for about 3-5 minutes when the car is idle (now we have ambient temperature about 15-20 C)... in winter warm up time will be higher of course.
Michael, I than you for suggestion... you are right. i think i'm too afraid of egine flooding and that is why i waste fuel for warming up... i think that is because i have just got my car recently, and very anxious about it :)

I'm using Mobil1 5w30.

:yelrotflm

What? Is that bad? :dunno:

Even when I know I'm gonna drive longer, I leave it in first gear for at least the first 10-15 minutes to ensure the engine gets good and warm.

Only if you are in a warm climate.

Come on, No Tears. Vofka8 asked a reasonable, serious question.

Not true. The secondaries come on to lower the over all duty cycle of the injectors. They still inject the proper amount of fuel.

I have revved mine to 4000 for 30 seconds many times after washing it in the driveway and putting it back in the garage and it has always worked for me.