We need Sleepy-Z in here

 

You guys are funny. Plenty of us are on our second or third motors so obviously the rebuilds are not what they are cracked up to be. I guess a lot depends on which rebuild plant did the early rebuilds but either way a rebuild is only as good as its re builder. No matter which way you look at it, getting three motors in 95,000 miles when you meticulously maintain your car sucks. A modern day engine that is properly maintained should last at least 100k in moderate driving conditions. Chances are if they just replaced the initials failures with new engines from Japan we would all be better off.

 

My opinion would be different if I had gone through 3 engines like you, but since I have 75k miles on my original my opinion on the rotary's reliability is different then yours. And that is that it is fairly reliable.

 

Oh I think it can be reliable and obviously the verdict on the 09's is still out but with the changes to the motor it is obvious they identified real problems. Too bad we are SOL. If the later models prove to be reliable (at least 100k average on a single engine) I would buy another 8 but to be honest I have had many other issues beside just engines. If I didn't love this car so much it would have been gone years ago.

 

Apparently what "completely up to spec" means.

An engine with 140,000 miles can be up to spec, can it not?

 

Maybe not. I have a general idea. I believe that it, at least in part, means I'm getting an engine with probably more mile than I have, that has failed and been fixed. Better than average chance of shortening the life of my dream car.
Thats the pessimist view.

Who's got the peaches and lollipops definition for me? I could use it.

 

Agreed.

 

I can't believe these bone heads are blasting this guy because he is bummed about getting a refurbished engine. The refurb may be within specs but could be closer to being out off specs through ware then his engine with 26K. If I had 90K and my engine blew I'd be a happy camper but at 26K I would be pretty pissed. Lets say that my engine with 90K on it blew, would you be happy getting it as a remanufactured, I think not.

As pointed out the rebuilds don't have a great track record as well. Would any of you rather have a remanufactured engine rather then a new one....no you wouldn't because you view a new one as better and rightfully so. So cut this guys some slake, I'd be as pissed as he is if I was in his shoes.

 

Some poor SOB will be getting my blown engine with 73k and a ton of 100+ degree days on it.

 

I would be lying if I said I understood why my engine has been so lucky and why some fail in 25k miles (with no maintenance issues noted). Boggles my mind..is it really just luck or are some built [rebuilt] better??

 

That's OK I'm sure it will be "completely up to spec", just like new.

 

That all depends on why the engines are failing. Until we get numbers on what caused the failed motor, then we can start determining. People that premix their engines have them failing a little early...more than likely a stuck seal from carbon or some random "**** happens" moment. The rest, there's no real way to tell.

It's kind of a "We can point fingers at what we know are issues on some motors...but the biggest issue for low mileage is hard to point."

 

I agree, I think most of the speculation as to why they are failing is just blabbering. I think they are failing for various reasons. But one thing is for sure, you are not completely safe with proper maintenance and care.

 

The replacement engines are rebuilt, not refurbished. Rebuilt means they replace and/or machine everything so that tolerances are within those of a new engine. As opposed to overhauled, where parts are replaced to within wear limits. A rebuilt engine should be the same as new. I'm not sure what refurbished is supposed to mean, but that's not what these are.

Rebuilds can actually be better than new, since the used parts have survived the "infant mortality" phase of the bathtub curve. With piston engines, a good used block is better than new because it's seasoned. Remember how Roger Rager pulled his block out of an old school bus, rather than buy a new one from GMC?

The place rebuilding engines here is supposed to be pretty good.

Ken

 

Is that really true? I mean, is there any statistical data to back that up?

 

Ken,

On the rebuilt engines, if there are parts that are within spec they are left alone. If I gave you the option of having two donuts and one was made fresh this morning and the other was made on Monday, which one would you rather have? They would both full fill your hunger pangs but the one made this morning would sure be a lot more satisfying.

 

Guess I can only hope this is true as I have not other option.

 

Personally, I would hope to get a new engine, but between having a car that is an immobile hunk or a mobile hunk that has a rebuilt engine, I'd take the rebuilt engine.

It is a crap shoot as posters have said - it all depends on what was rebuilt on the engine, who did it, if they really fixed the problem...

Either way, you could always get the new engine and sell the car. Not that resale is very good on our 8s (understatement).

 

Yeah the resale is just falling and falling. I saw a 2007 loaded GT with Nav locally with like 2,000 miles on it for 20k (which means it probably could be had for like 17k. This RX8 is on ebay for like 20k. It was customized by RJ De Vera of RoJA and given away and an old lady won it and is selling it on ebay. It would be a great starting point.

 

I would also like to see the stats on this....more engine lubrication=early failure? I don't get this? the reason mazda was having so many probs early becuase the MOP was not "injecting" enough oil that's y there have been so many reflashes..

 

Where do you get you info that the premix is failing before non? Some pretty knowledgeable people are swearing that premix is the way to go but, data speaks louder then word so what do you have.