Local dealership just ordered me a factory refurb engine for my R3
 

3 months before the warranty is up. Needless to say, I'm stoked. It failed in flying colors--both rotors, all seals, all chambers. I can't wait to feel this thing with full power, maybe for the first time, since I bought it only 6k miles ago.

This is more of a celebration thread, but anything I should know going into this replacement?

Right after the new engine is installed will be when this car is worth the most. Sell it then.

I'm seriously considering it, BUT I put so much love into it last summer--refinished wheels, new tires, full brake job, BHR ignition, AutoExe wheel and knob... I'll probably post it and see what happens.

Please provide some details - how many miles, any driveability symptoms, what were the actual compression #s?

Just be sure to slowly and properly break-in that reman engine over first 2000 miles, if you decide to keep it. Or like 9krpmrx8 suggests, sell it right away.

Mazda's Guidelines

The Mazda RX-8 Owners Manual lists the following information for the break-in period of a new vehicle:

"No special break-in is necessary, but a few precautions in the first 1000 KM (600 miles) may add to the performance, economy, and life of your Mazda.

Don’t race the engine.
Don’t maintain one constant speed for long.
Don’t drive constantly at full-throttle or high engine RPM for extended periods of time.
Avoid unnecessary hard stops.
Avoid full-throttle starts."

A review of the Mazda RX-8 Service Manual Highlights revealed the following information regarding break-in:

"A fluorocarbon resin coating has been added to the trochoid surface (rotor housing) for improved initial break-in."
Racing Beat's Guidelines

The Mazda guidelines are reasonable and prudent. If you have any questions or uncertainly regarding the break-in period, we suggest you follow these official recommendations.

The following are Racing Beat's recommendations:

For the first 1000 miles do not accelerate under full throttle.
During the first 1000 miles do not exceed 4000 RPM.
For miles 1000-2000, expand the RPM upwards - but do not accelerate at full throttle.
Over 2000 miles, full throttle and high RPM is acceptable.

In summary, Racing Beat's guidelines offer a progessive method to increase the working loads placed on the engine.

I got a reman engine (under Mazda warranty) at 70k miles on my 2008 40th Anniversary edition, and I followed Racing Beat's guidelines. Yes it was tough not to rush the run up to using full rpms and full throttle, but I stuck to the plan for the full 2000 miles and it was worth it. The engine pulls beautifully every day and was not overlly stressed before it was ready.

In my past I had to break-in race rotaries quicker to get them ready for track duty, but their longevity will benefit from a slower progression.

It's a used engine, no need to break it in.

For any reman engine , unless you can go inside,you don't know what parts are used and what new pieces they may have used in the remanufacturing. Still safer to break it in properly.

Well you may not know what parts are used inside, but I do because I have read sleepyz's (opened the Mazda reman plant as an engine builder) posts and talked to him. There are only a couple of things that are sometimes replaced and non of those would make it a new engine that needs a break in period.

So are you saying that you know exactly what new and used parts go into every individual Mazda reman engine? Great if you know that, but if anyone has a rebuilt from any other rebuilder, there may be parts used that would benefit from proper break-in.

9krpmrx8 it is not responsible to let folks think it is fine to take any reman engine and immediately run full throttle end full rpm, before all parts are seated properly over hundreds of miles, at least.

Yes, the Mazda reman plant has a controlled process that sleepyz outlined years ago, it's not like they just rebuild them willy nilly. And we are not talking about other builders here, this is a Mazda reman.

Fine I don't know your friend at Mazda reman, but I got a Mazda reman and I followed proper breakin. I have seen many dozens of rebuilt rotaries (only two from Mazda reman plant. Reman engines opened after failures) but my personal experience has borne out the longevity benefit of breaking in ANY rebuilt rotary before fully stressing them.

To each his own philosophy about what will help these RX8 reman engines last longer. Mazda remains have other issues like often too much sealant used in assembly. Excess sealant which can start to travel after many heat cycles, and start to clog the cooling system ,leading to overheating, etc. We could go on, but those other issues with Mazda remans have been discussed on other threads. Moderator RIWWP has good advice on how to treat these reman issues.

Sell it

Seriously considering it. They also offered to put a new clutch in and charge me only parts. Dealership price for the parts, but still, less than $700 for a new clutch and flywheel installed is pretty tempting.

When I got my reman engine put in, I also had them do the clutch for just the cost of the parts, since the engine is out already for the swap.

You would save more money by supplying the clutch parts and paying an hour of labor. As long as they are Mazda parts, most dealers will grudgingly install them.

If you haven't discovered this site, hold onto your wallet.

parts.com

I thought new rotor housings were almost a definite when you bought a Mazda reman. From what I have researched they are sort of grab bag, sometimes you get an awesome one that last 100k, others I have heard only last 5k and are toast...

This is why I chose to rebuild my own, I know EXACTLY what has been done internally.

do you have a 2009 R3? how many miles is your car and were you taking it to the tracks?