imput1234

iTrader: (6)

Dn't listen to the haters, change your brake fluid, and have fun.

yannc

I'm in Ireland, it rains 300 days a year and we don't go over 20 degres C during summer and not under 0C during winter
my track day will be in january so the temperature should be around 3-4 degres C.

my brake fluid was changed last february.

imput1234

iTrader: (6)

make sure the fluid you use is liek ATE or something that can withstand high heat, or else it'll boil.

yannc

The Mazda dealer did this for me. Will check with them because I have no idea what they used.

dynamho

imput1234 is giving sound advice about minding your brake fluid.
My first thought would be to pay attention to your brakes. A few hot laps and they will get very hot.

Ease off at the first sign of fade and cool down.

SouthFL

Fresh brake fluid bled the day before (or a few days before) the track event is a must. Try to get a hold of some ATE or Motul. As mentioned before, readily available off the shelf Valvoline Synthetic is a good option as well.

yannc

Thanks again for all the advices everyone. I will get my brake fluid changed before the track day. And I also checked for the autox thing, but Ireland doesn't seem to have any unfortunately...

yannc

I was getting all excited about my track day for next january...But then I got the coolant light again this weekend (which again went off immediately after I slowed down), and did another top up. It's between the F and L so it should be fine...Now, it feels like the car has half the power! I've been on a rough idle for a while but didn't have any other symptoms (car was driving perfectly).
My plugs are due to be changed for the next service, so I will doing this soon rather than later. But this loss of power worries me...

swoope

iTrader: (5)

that is part of the track weekend fun.. the coolant light comes and goes.

ignore it..

the lose of power is a different issue.. new motor time?

beers

yannc

[QUOTE=the lose of power is a different issue.. new motor time?

beers [/QUOTE]

I hope not, it only has 30k miles on it! And no extended warrantee over here in Europe (we use 5W30 over here, which I think didn't cause the engine issues you are seeing in the US).
I can also hear a clicking sound in the engine, something I've never had before.
In Europe, you have to "fight" hard with Mazda, and in the best case scenario, they will pay for the engine and you pay for the labour (only if they can find a defect in the engine). If they don't want to pay for the engine, then it will cost around 12000$...
The car is going to the dealer this morning, so verdict later on. One thing that keeps me positive if the car starts no problem every single time (less than 1 second), so compression must be good.
finger crossed...

swoope

iTrader: (5)

sounds like it is a coil / plug / wire issue.. i hope that for you...

clicking sound in the engine is bad.. but more often a coil issue..

the stuff going on here is more about the epa than oil type..

good luck on you!

but compression or vacuum test is paramount..

beers

yannc

back from the dealer, and they did find a fault (bad connection to the battery with one of the ignition coils, that's what he said anyway). They fixed it. Still my idle is a little rough (swing between 900 and 750 rpm) and there are quite a lot of vibration in the car. I'll get the car serviced before the track day (will change the plugs as well) but I don't think I will bring it to the track if it doesn't feel right... :-(

parkpy

iTrader: (1)

First track day advice

Prep:
1)Change Oil, carry an extra quart
2)Have fresh brake fluid
3)make sure you have enough tread
4)bring tire pressure gauge
5)bring LOTS of water

Day of track day
1) ask if you can ride with someone before you drive your own car on the track, otherwise you'll become an unpredictable moving chicane
2) have said person ride with you around the track
3) remember what you've learned, and have fun.

Out of the box, the RX8 is ready for 7/10s track work It's a very drama free car that let's you concentrate on driving.

MazdaManiac

iTrader: (3)

Absolutely wrong.

You have one of the best instructional tools built right into your car - the DSC/TCS.

When you can drive without tripping it, then turn it off.

You will be so much smoother and so much more aware of your car's initial limits that the first time you drive without it will seem like you are the master of the universe.

yannc

I'm planning to drive with it first, and then turn it off. It is very important for me to learn the limit of the TSC as it has saved me a few times on the rainy irish roads.
Thanks for all the advices everybody!

04RX8man

yeah keep the vehicle stock for the first run and see how it feels....have fun