Notices
RX-8 Discussion General discussion about the RX-8 that doesn't fit in one of the specialty forums.

Engine #3 for me!

Old 11-07-2011, 07:33 PM
  #1  
Registered
Thread Starter
 
rodmeister's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: So Cal
Posts: 282
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Engine #3 for me!

My 2004 RX-8 (50,000 mi.) is getting a new engine core. For the last month it's been hard to start when the engine was hot, then last week it refused to start while hot during a heat wave. My first engine was replaced for the same failure in 2007 at 26,000 mi.

I believe I came in just under the 8 year extended warrantee limit, since I bought my car on November 15th, 2003. Since this warrantee only covers the engine core, unlike the first complete engine swap, I think I'm liable for several hundred dollars. But I my RX-8 has been trouble free and cheap to service for eight years so I'm not worried about a few hundred dollars.

Last edited by rodmeister; 11-07-2011 at 08:06 PM.
Old 11-07-2011, 07:33 PM
  #2  
Registered
iTrader: (17)
 
LifeAfterRx8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Florida
Posts: 782
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Your 1994 Rx-8?
Old 11-07-2011, 07:36 PM
  #3  
Registered
Thread Starter
 
rodmeister's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: So Cal
Posts: 282
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by LifeAfterRx8
Your 1994 Rx-8?
Sorry. 2004!
Old 11-07-2011, 07:54 PM
  #4  
Registered
iTrader: (17)
 
LifeAfterRx8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Florida
Posts: 782
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Originally Posted by rodmeister
Sorry. 2004!
You might want to fix that, 1994 would have been an FD Rx-7.
But 3 engines in 50,000 miles, that's a bit odd, I thought they last a bit longer than that.
Old 11-07-2011, 08:39 PM
  #5  
Registered
 
Old Rotor's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Northern California
Posts: 2,196
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by rodmeister
My 2004 RX-8 (50,000 mi.) is getting a new engine core. For the last month it's been hard to start when the engine was hot, then last week it refused to start while hot during a heat wave. My first engine was replaced for the same failure in 2007 at 26,000 mi.

I believe I came in just under the 8 year extended warrantee limit, since I bought my car on November 15th, 2003. Since this warrantee only covers the engine core, unlike the first complete engine swap, I think I'm liable for several hundred dollars. But I my RX-8 has been trouble free and cheap to service for eight years so I'm not worried about a few hundred dollars.
Do you pre-mix? How was your oil consumption? What type of driving do you do?
Old 11-07-2011, 10:29 PM
  #6  
Registered User
 
YaXMaN's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 389
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
3rd engine at 50,000 miles... ouch.
Sorry to hear you're having that much trouble with it.
Old 11-07-2011, 11:23 PM
  #7  
I HATE SPEEDBUMPS!
 
monchie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Posts: 8,549
Likes: 0
Received 7 Likes on 6 Posts
3 engines within 50k miles is a record. Have you been changing the oil and doing a tune-up by the book? Anyway, you should be glad that you have all the documentations for having an engine replaced all the time. I've never had my engine replaced yet...i'm at 33k plus miles and its an 05 (6 years old).
Old 11-09-2011, 06:29 PM
  #8  
Registered
Thread Starter
 
rodmeister's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: So Cal
Posts: 282
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Old Rotor
Do you pre-mix? How was your oil consumption? What type of driving do you do?
No, I didn't premix. Oil consumption was about a quart every 2,000mi. I do a lot of short city trips - my commute is 15 minutes each way.

From what I've read, my original 2004 model had a problem with oil metering that caused the failure, which has subequently been fixed with a computer update. I've heard that the the replacement remanufactured engines were outsourced and had problems - that was my second engine. I hope my third engine, which is being installed now, will be my last.
Old 11-09-2011, 06:34 PM
  #9  
Registered
iTrader: (2)
 
Easy_E1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Bellevue WA
Posts: 7,675
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes on 3 Posts
Is this car an AT or an MT. I'm gonna guess AT.


Originally Posted by monchie
3 engines within 50k miles is a record. Have you been changing the oil and doing a tune-up by the book? Anyway, you should be glad that you have all the documentations for having an engine replaced all the time. I've never had my engine replaced yet...i'm at 33k plus miles and its an 05 (6 years old).
Nope. I got #4 at 36000.
Old 11-09-2011, 07:05 PM
  #10  
Flame On!
iTrader: (4)
 
1.3_LittersOfFurry's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: New Orleans, La
Posts: 1,897
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
I thought that was "normal" for the 04-05's...
My 04, according to Mazda USA,
1st - @19k
2nd - @47k
3rd - Still going @99k
Old 11-09-2011, 09:45 PM
  #11  
Registered
 
Old Rotor's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Northern California
Posts: 2,196
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by rodmeister
No, I didn't premix. Oil consumption was about a quart every 2,000mi. I do a lot of short city trips - my commute is 15 minutes each way.

From what I've read, my original 2004 model had a problem with oil metering that caused the failure, which has subequently been fixed with a computer update. I've heard that the the replacement remanufactured engines were outsourced and had problems - that was my second engine. I hope my third engine, which is being installed now, will be my last.
I think the short trips and 15 minute commute hurt you. You might pre-mix....

Last edited by Old Rotor; 11-09-2011 at 11:44 PM.
Old 11-09-2011, 11:31 PM
  #12  
SARX Legend
iTrader: (46)
 
9krpmrx8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Posts: 33,784
Received 452 Likes on 366 Posts
The quality of the remans varies so you can't expect 100k+ IMO. But short trips probably don't help. But it's all guesswork until you tear it apart.

Me:

1st at 22k, loss of compression, eventual stalling
(factory 5W-20,no premix, all highway, driven hard regularly,regular oil changes)

2nd at 96k, loss of compression, eventual stalling
(10W-30, premix the last 22k, all highway, driven hard reg + dozen autox, reg oil changes)

3rd at 124k, busted coolant seal, torn down by pineapple revealing below spec housings were reused during the Mazda Reman process.
(0W-40, catless, BHR Ign, premixed and SOHN from day one, city/highway, driven hard + few events, OCD like oil changes every 2k or so)

My 3rd engine is a Pineapple Racing 2008 motor that had 5k on it at rebuild time. We shall see how it handles boost
Old 11-17-2011, 05:08 PM
  #13  
Registered
Thread Starter
 
rodmeister's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: So Cal
Posts: 282
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Got my car back with the new engine (#3). Smoother than my old engine. Mazda paid for everything in the engine change including car rental, so I'm satisfied, and will consider buying the next generation rotary whether it's called an RX-7 or RX-8.
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
vapor2
West For Sale/Wanted
11
11-03-2020 03:38 PM
mr. GrandGame
New Member Forum
5
03-23-2016 10:16 AM
badinfluence
Series II Aftermarket Performance Modifications
6
08-31-2015 11:51 AM
cschoeps
RX-8's For Sale/Wanted
0
08-06-2015 12:44 PM
Rx8Lovin
New Member Forum
4
07-25-2015 08:39 PM


Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:
You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.

Quick Reply: Engine #3 for me!



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:04 PM.