RX8_Newb

Hello all,

I just recently bought a new 09 RX8, and just wanted to get everyone's two cents on how to "correctly" maintain the car. Does the 09 models have the same defects that the 04-06 models had with the engine. Also my car currently have 200 miles on it, and when i checked the oil dipstick...the oil is very thin and it smells like gas. Is this normal??

Thanks

ken-x8

Defects? There were no defects. Although the '09s do have an additional oil injector pointed at the tip seal.

Just follow the recommended maintenance schedule (Schedule 2), but change oil and filer every 3000 miles. After it's broken in, red line it every day, to blow out the carbon (engine) and boredom (you).

The recommended 5w20 oil is kind of thin. (Hang around here and you'll come to believe in thicker oil.) Gas smell does not seem right. If it really is coming from the oil, I suggest you have the dealer take a look and smell.

Welcome to the rotary world!

Ken

CarAndDriver

Welcome, pics and try the search engine and come back with questions after that. You're not gonna get advice from the experts on here w/o doing homework first or expecting people to answer a question asked a trillion times.

iwc3707

welcome aboard, from a fellow newbie- 09 GT.
As the above says, don't be zipping it up to 9k rpm until you break it in. Check the oil every second tank. Fill it with premium. Change the oil every 3k. Let it warm up and don't be starting it up cold, backing it up and shutting the engine down.
I'm sure there is a million other things, but I'm a newbie.

RX8_Newb

Ok good, that's what i've been doing this past week. Giving the engine about 5 minutes to warm up and reving it up to 3-4K before shutting it down.

One more question...I'm still debating whether i should get the 7 year/100,000 bumper to bumper extended warranty. Im only driving to work and back home five days a week (approximately 10 miles each way). However, I do drive to places during the weekends. The extedned warranty will cost me about $2400 with 0 interests over 24 months. Did anyone else get the warranty? I read that the rotary fails prematurely and just want to protect myself in case that happens. Any comments would be appreciated.

thanks

rodjonathan

iTrader: (6)

welcome to the club surf around here and youll find everything you need to know

shazy

Only the ones in the 04-05 due to Mazda's retarded ecu programming. But once those were recalled and fixed, the others were fine.

09's have the extra injector so that the apex seals get proper lubrication, therefore lasting longer :D
But for any car I would always get that :D A good selling point.

bhop

Welcome and good luck with your new 09

ken-x8

If you're warming by letting it idle, you're not doing the engine any good. That could be the reason for the gas smell. As far as revving before shutdown...read the Quick Tips guide that came with your car.

Extended warranties generally lie somewhere between not worth it and ripoff.

Ken

NautyOne

iTrader: (1)

Like Ken said, it does no good. Its okay to take it out after you start it up(unless its very cold outside), just shift particularly in the lower RPM range(which you have to do anyways for a while since you're breaking it in).

But all in all, welcome to the club, and +1 on posting pics!

Pico

iTrader: (2)

Welcome to the club. The search button is your friend. There's a lot of great info on the forum if you look for the problem/answer. Also, the 09 has some changes that will prevent some problems that the first generation had. Just follow the normal maintenance schedule and I would change the oil every 3K. As for the gas smell I would put some more miles on the car before bring it in to the dealer. It could be just that new car smell coming from under the hood (only 200 miles on the car). Let the the normal operating heat burn/ break in your engine components. ??? Like I said, i would give some time before jumping to conclusions.

I would follow this link: (Click on the how the break in your RX8)

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

Spinning Sushi

iTrader: (21)

You just bought your first RX-8? Will there be a second?

ken-x8

That probably depends on his age (match the 8's longevity against an actuarial table) and driving skills.

Ken

NACer4lyf

iTrader: (1)

can you give us some pics?

swoope

iTrader: (5)

so you read about the 04 to 06 defects, but missed the 07 and 08s..

odd.

i would check out that crazy owners manual..

get a photo up with the dipstick with the thin oil and smells like gas..

good luck my friend.

beers

Shini

Wowowowow Hey, my car has no "defects", it had blemishes, maybe imperfections but certainly no defects! HOW DARE YOU INSULT MY 04 SIR!

And it doesn't even have those anymore! Not after the engine was replaced back in 07

All kidding aside, welcome! Congrats on the new 8. - Need pics to commemorate the moment!

As far as the oil being thin I don't know, synthetic is thinner than regular oil right? Couldn't tell you about the gas, I know on my old 97 Trans Am when it was cold and hard to start sometimes the gas would drain into the oil pan which can make it smell like gas. Not trying to compare apples to oranges, but sometimes my 8 takes a few more cranks than usual, maybe that could be the reason you can smell gas? If that's even something that could happen in a rotary =/

Banilejo

Congrats on the new car! Search and you'll find all the answers (I have!) Post pics...

Red_Fox

congrats and hope to see you out meeting other fellow 8's enjoy your car!

Mazurfer

Tips................used the "advanced search" it works better.
Read the owners manual.
Read the stickies on this site.
Welcome to the addiction!

chris__n

hey the dipstick in my 09 r3 also smells of gasoline. i have been letting it idle for about a minute before starting to drive and before shutting it down. am i doing it wrong?

mtellam

I would hope this would be his one and only for the foreseeable future. I just joined the family yesterday also! I'm planning on keeping this for a long long time!

unknown__Disciple

iTrader: (1)

....i have only one thing to say....DONT HIT POTHOLES...they bend the hell out of your rim...i already hit one and i got a whole new set of rims...one of the oem rims cost $635 thats insane...