How well does the RX8 start in winter? (looking to buy 2005 RX8)
 

Hello gentlemen,

I would like to join your fine establishment, but I have a few questions to educate myself about your membership product.

I would like to buy a 2005 RX8 GT manual transmission and have it for my year around car. I live in central Canada where the weather drops to -40 degrees Celsius (-40 degrees F). How is the Renesis for starting in this weather? Also if I understand the engine design properly, a cold crank without the engine starting will flood the engine correct?

This might be a very silly question, but does the RX8 come stock with a block heater? I’ve read about guys adding an oil dip stick heater in the winter.

Basically my questions all pertain to winter application for the sexy RX8 beast.

Side question: I read the 2004 first revision Renesis did not properly lubricate the center of the apex seals so they would wear out prematurely. Do you know model solved this issue? (did this issue actually exist?)

Thanks!

I live in Michigan so it doesn't get quite as cold as where you live but my 2004 GT hasn't had a problem yet starting. I kinda think my starter is the old version because it seems to crank a little slow at times but she always fires up. I plan on changing to the higher cranking starter in the spring.

To my knowledge the 8 doesn't come with a block heater.

The apex lubrication problem does exist. I'm not quite sure if it'll ever be fully resolved but you can pre-mix your fuel to help the situation. Check out this thread for information about that. https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-tech-garage-22/gas-oil-premix-thread-99636/

Good luck.

I have seen a photo of an RX8 with a block heater plug hanging out of it once. I'm not sure who made it or installed it, but I live in Texas and I think I was 14 before I realized why people had extension cords hanging from their cars lol.

Hello and welcome

For cold weather you'll want to run synthetic transmission fluid because the standard fluid will turn to molasses in the cold and mess up your shifting. Might as well do the diff as well. Lots of threads here about what to use.

Oil pan heaters are great on the rotary. I never tried a block heater. You could look at a battery warmer as well.

Use an oil temp gauge. You'll have to purchase and install it. You want 80C min before you shut down. You'll have to somewhat block off air flow to the oil coolers to achieve this temp. (Don't let the oil get too hot though). The oil temp at the oil filter is after the oil coolers and before the engine...
In 9 C weather my 8 struggles to keep 75C at 120km/h in 6th

To answer directly, I drove for three winters and never experienced an issue starting. Don't forget winter tires!

Cant he fix the shutoff problem by idling before shutdown? as long as your not moving air through the coolers he should warm up right?

I'm not sure how cool the oil would run at -40 but it can't be good, right?

Well I'm sure if it got to cold the thermostat would close.

never had a problem starting but in cold temps its not uncommon for the car to take a second or two longer to turn over

My oil thermostats never open in cold weather

Remember that all the oil runs through the hoses and across the top of the coolers whether the thermostat are open or closed.

So the thermostats only control whether the oil runs through the fins.
The entire path somewhat cools the oil even if the stats are closed.

No problem starting at -40C (= -40F). It does rev up pretty high in the first minute or so. Heaters do help (and you probably should install them as well as a onboard battery charger), but I have started at -40F without plugging in several time. Yes the shifting is sluggish in the first couple minutes, but it is not too bad even without synthetic. We have been driving RX-8 for 4 years all winter long.

It was 5C this morning when I got off work and the car started without any delay. She was warmed up when I hit home as well which is normally what I see in the summer. So it basically ran exactly the same.

Three things needed.

The revised starter, as it turns faster
The BHR coils, for hotter spark
Larger than stock battery, for CCA

Warmed up by what measurement?
My stock temp gauge shows the engine is fully warmed up when the oil temp gauge has not reached 60C and water temp is under 80C

The engine runs fine and starts well but I have to wonder how much extra wear the low temps cause.

Well I can't speak for driving in 0C weather, because here its an extreme rarity to drop below that. Although in the next week it is supposed to unfortunatly. its a 3 mile drive for me to get home, I usually get in the car, start it, then put my seat belt on and get settled. I don't start driving till the rpms have finished their ups and downs, so I would say 30 seconds when it levels out in cold weather. I did not read the oil and water temp guages, I just took a quick glance at the dash before I shut her off, but Next week when Its below freezing I will give you my exact numbers.

3 miles is not a long enough drive to fully warm up a car. You are building up condesation in your car.

The oil and exhaust system.

Nah thats just the one day I drive to work. I only drive on my half day, the other days they provide transportation. My normal drives are to and from school, and thats plenty of distance to warm her up. its a 20 min drive at 80mph.

If you look in StealthTL's pics he has a photo of his temp sensor reading -36C.https://www.rx8club.com/forum/pictur...pictureid=9644

Last winter there was a week where it got really cold here (high of -30C) and I had no issues all week long other than incredibly long warm up time. Fuel economy suffers from the large amount of idling.

well the other differing factor is that you guys are running the stock insulated hood. I'm running a CF vented hood. So my warm up times in the extreme cold would be a little slower than yours in the same temp. I can tell you what my times to warm up are at maybe -5C at the coldest.

What's up Doc! read in your thread "till the rpms have finished their ups and downs" I thought I was the only experiencing that. their must be thread around here somewhere! Does it vary between 1300rpm and 2000rpm?

Thats normal during start up. Once the vehicle is fully warmed up it goes away. I have seen it jump at high as 2500 rpm but usually 10-15 seconds later it drops to 1500, then once fully warmed drops to the normal.

Mine starts at 2500, moves down to 1500, blips itself up to 2000, goes back down to 1500, then steadily drops until it idles at 750 when fully warm.

Check the link below! :) I dont know what happened to the sound in the video i think my blackberry is just gay and didnt record it properly since the engine sound is wayyy louder! it happened today after leaving the car at the train station for like 10 hours and not using the oil pan heater. Yeah this car comes with an oil pan heater not blocker heater. The car always starts like a champ! I also got new sparkplugs before the winter just to be on the safe side. I recorded this video just for you op so you better watch it! haha

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyRQ3Mo58_0

that up and down I heard is a throttle position sensor, but Ive never started mine that cold so I have no idea.

those up and down happened to me once in a while...cant find answer and I used to it now..at least the car do the revving for me...lol

I live in alberta canada and this is my first winter with the rx8. We've had some -35 nights so far and ive never had a problem starting it whatsoever. I dont have any heaters for it ( i live in an apartment and I wouldnt have access to a plug in anyways)..when its really cold it fires up just fine but it does that idle jumping for a couple of minutes until it warms up then it drops down to regular idle. I do have the updated ECU flash and updated starter/battery. I think if you get all those done then you'll be fine. GET SOME WINTER TIRES THOUGH!!!!

P.S mine is an 05 as well with 41xxx KMS on it.