I am picking my brand new GT Titanium Rx-8 up on Saturday. I will drive 700 miles back home. What should I do to ensure proper break-in? How often will I need to stop for gas? I will need to get used to stop more often than usual. How much gas is left in the tank when the reserve light comes on?
Any advice would be appreciated!

Csaba

 

http://www.racingbeat.com/FRmazda4.htm

That's quite a trip. You'll need to vary your RPM periodically as recommended by the owner's manual. Which is as easy as downshifting every now and then.

On a new car, and it varies from car to car, expect around 18-19mpg on the highway (could be significantly higher though). So expect to stop for gas every 250-280 miles, and you won't be disappointed. I can go 300+ on the highway now, but it was a little lower when the car was new.

 

do a search, you'll find lots dating back to 7/04 when other owners and I were discussing this a lot. Keep the RPM under 6K for the first 600 miles, IIRC. I did 7K at 700, 8K at 800, and it wasn't until 1000 that I really hit 9K much. I let mine idle for an hour the first morning after picking it up (about 50 miles on car at the time). Many argued against that. Never have had any engine related issues (27K+ now). I'd suggest letting it idle 15 minutes before you leave the lot. 30 if you are patient. Maybe while doing the paperwork? It has to do with the rotor housing seals.

 

keep lightly on the throttle but dont stay at the same rpm for long periods of time, either upshift or downshift to change the load on the engine. dont stray near redline, and dont race the engine at all. at each gas stop, check the oil level regardless of what the gauge inside the car reads.

and, according to the manual, avoid hard stops...and full-throttle takeoffs. anytime after the 2,000 mile mark, feel free to do whatever you want.

 

Here is what I found when I was a noob. I compiled a list of different break-in techniques. Mazda says that there is no specified break in ... just don't hold the rpm at the same for too long. I personally feel that the racing beat is too conservative. I went with the Japanese Mechanics advice. Well here it goes:

RACING BEAT
- For the first 1000 miles (1609km) do not accelerate under full throttle.
- During the first 1000 miles (1609km) do not exceed 4000 RPM.
- For miles 1000-2000 (3218km), expand the RPM upwards - but do not accelerate at full throttle.
- Over 2000 miles (3218km), full throttle and high RPM is acceptable.

Japanese Rotary Mechanic
0-600 (965.4km) Follow the Manual, but keep it under 4000
600-800 (965.4 - 1287.2km) Open it up a bit, vary accelerations and speed RPM < 5000
800-1000 (1287.2 - 1609km) Drive the car, enjoy it but still keep RPM's < 6000
1000-1250 (1609 - 2011km) Drive it as it's powercurve intended it to be RPM's < 7000
1250-1500 (2011 - 2413.5km) Test the car frequently from RPM's 6000-9000 in every gear
> 1500 (2413.5km) Drive it anyway you want, U DA MAN NOW!!!!!!

Mechanic
0-100 miles 4000 rpm
100-200 miles 4500 rpm
200-300 miles 5000 rpm
300-400 miles 5500 rpm
400-500 miles 6000 rpm
500-600 miles 6500 rpm
600-700 miles 7000 rpm
700-800 miles 7500 rpm


As to your questions about the fuel ... people will flame you on not doing a seach. But in our collective experience people have had mileage ranging from 250km-500km per tank (50 liters). Depends on your driving (highway vs city) and the type of fuel. I personally get about 350-375km per tank before the yellow light comes on. When the yellow light is on, you have about 10 liters left. I assume my crappiest mileage (5km/L) to be on the safe side ... so this translates to at least 50km before I'm complete empty.

Oh on a side note, one of our Canadian RXClub members did a cross country trip and he found that American gasoline compared to Canadian gasoline (of the same octane) yield LESS mileage! But per gallon (or liter), American gasoline is inexpensive.

Happy zooming!

 

I say drive it like you stole it for the whole thing just don't run at a steady rpm for long amounts of time. change the oil as soon as possible after you get home.

 

Thank you for the good advice. As far as I can see, the "most" dangerous thing is to keep the engine a the same rpm for a long time. The questions is how you define "long". When one drives on the highway it is difficult not to keep the engine at the same rpm.

Csaba

 

don't maintain 1 rpm range, give or take 500 rpm for more than half an hour. Just alternate 3rd ,4th, 5th and 6th.you want to wear the apex seals and at higher rpms they have more force outward.. and less at lower rpms.

 

Ok so I have posted this in the AT forum but here's my question. I read on the AT forum that I should take my 8 to 6000 rpm at least once every other day. My problem with that is that I'm only at 260 miles right now. So which is it? Should I still do this or should I wait until 1000 miles have gone by to do that?

 

After the breakin period, you should hear a stead stream of redline beeps. Those are beeps of happiness from the engine.

 

I made it back from Texas (700 miles). I have to admit it was mighty difficult to keep the revs under 4000 for 600 miles. The speed just keeps creeping on you. This car is amazing. It handles 80-100 mph so easily that one does not even notice it. I have not used cruise control deliberatley, so taht the engine would not run at a constant rpm. I varied the speed between 60-85 mph. It was not easy to dive around 60 on the interstate I have to tell you. Fuel consumption was pretty constant at 21 mpg.
Now I am at 720 miles, so I started to rev the engine a bit.

Csaba