Increased HP w/ Higher Mileage?
 

Does the Renesis gain HP as you put more mileage on it? Just curious because of the quote, "A rotary's fastest lap is the last lap". (or something like that)

I searched and I couldn't find anything.

im at 26k right now and i did not notice a difference at all..I did notice a difference after the reflash and my new single outlet exhaust, but my mileage has gotten worse..

I'm at 1500.. And I do feel a little quicker. Hell, everytime I start it up, I gain HP.

I think that quote might have something to do with reliability when you start to mod it heavily. The more you mod it the faster it goes hence the faster times until it just gives out. Otherwise the renisis is just like any other engine out there. I'm sure it will decrease in hp over time as wear and tear take its toll on the engine itself and other parts.

I've been told that as you put the miles on, your MPG should slightly increase. Of course, there's a point where it'll start falling as well...

FS

yeah, because we just burned off a 1/2 tank of gas during the session
:lol:

same thing, but mileage at 18.6k

-Cody

mine's almost at 50k miles, does the engine feel more powerful? i dunno and i don't remember how it felt at 20k miles either, but it's more fun than ever though lol

I thought Road and Track or some other Car mag who did a long term test and racked up 40-50K miles said at 40K.......the RX-8 felt stronger and more alive, seem to have more power with more miles......i wish i could find that article. cause it kind of goes with what the Orginal poster was asking. I think the car seems to have more punch with a few miles on it but i think it tops off somewhere after the break in period....maybe after 5-10K?? Maybe someone had dynoed their car with less than 1K on the odometer and then dynoed it again at 40K to see if there was increase or decrease in HP given if the RX-8 wasn't modified during that time.

ah now i remember, indeed it was road and track's long term test of their 2004 RX-8, I think they got their test car's 0-60 time down from 6.3 when new to 5.9 at 40k miles or something

The rotary engine DOES get stronger with mileage-but as I've mentioned before-only to a certain extent.

Over the course of mileage, the seals wear in, seat in their grooves, and set their chatter marks on the engine surfaces (housing, irons, etc). They "get to know their surroundings"..for lack of better words.

Eventually, they begin to wear, just like any other metal-on-metal object, and begin to lose compression. There is no set point for this, however, you should know that this point will come much sooner without freshly changed oil and a good maintainence schedule.

:rollingla


however, i believe it was caranddriver or road&track that reported that after 40K, they had noticed an increaed time in the 1/4 and 0-60. I'd have to look up those changes if your really gonna be specific

It was the C&D long-term test...I know...I have the issue and read this article so much the mag fell apart! :Eyecrazy:

Linky: Here.

Putting in battery with higher cranking amps made her more frisky, but I think the 'improvement with age' may be improvement in driver handling over time and getting a feel for the sweet spots...

I found that Road&Track gave a slightly more optimistic view of the 8, primarily because of their quick acceptance of *GASP* MPG. I'm not sure who to follow more on their differing opinions...C&D or R&T

http://www.roadandtrack.com/article....&page_number=1

mine is at about 30k milage...(alot :()
I do notice that I can get 26mph by 6000rpm(1st gear), back then I was only able to get to around 30mph at red line, I wonder why

:eyetwitch

Why would you even worry about which article to follow? It is the personal opinion of someone. Everyone has an opinion. They are all determined by different personal experiances, taste, attitude, even enviroment. I love my 8. I have driven cars that cost as much as 3 times more. I would not trade it for any of them.

Such as when he said that it has lack of passing power. That is what the shifter is for. Gear it down so your tach reads 5,000 plus rpm and go for it. To get into a hole in traffic, just do the same if you need the burst of speed.

I do like to read aticles on the 8 just to see someone's opinion. But that is all that it is. That is why there are many types of cars. The question is if the 8 is the car for you.

mine picked up more power.. but what was more impressive is how much it smoothed out. the more i drive it the more i like it. i'm closing in on 60,000 miles in 2 years, come may.

This would be unlikely unless you've changed wheel/tire sizes or if you have somehow changed your gear ratios... Our memory plays nasty tricks on us.

FS

I cringe at this post.




I hit exactly 44mph in first gear at rev limit :)


So I normally shift at 43... :wiggle:

yeah, I've hit low 40's in first gear more than a few times... though with the winter gas I haven't been able to pull it off.

I suppose you still don't understand? Even after all the posts above? Lol..


Your horsepower, or gas octane, or any of that, none of it affects your RPM, or MPH per RPM.


Your gear ratios, both in the transmission, and the rear end, in conjunction with your maximum RPM, gives you your top speed per gear.

Both R&T and C&D stories are pretty complimentary. I have yet to see a car that they have nothing negative to say about them.

As for the OP, the C&D story suggests yes. But most engines increase a tiny, usually inperceptible bit once "worked in", but in the case of the rotary it is quite noticeable. But I'm sure there's a point in the mileage where it all goes the other way though.

I understand the quote in the original post to mean something else...

I don't think the quote has anything to do with the total mileage on the engine - I think it means that the longer the renisis has been running, the harder it wants to run. I've done a couple of 2 or 3 hour drives in 8, and after pushing 90mph on the highway, never letting the revs drop below 4500, when I finally exit the highways I feel like I have 50ftlb more torque. The car just feels like it wants to race; launches harder, accelerates faster, shifts smoother, and hits the redline in 4th with almost no effort.