DeViLbOi

iTrader: (1)

My understanding is the AT is only a 4 port and the MT is a 6 port. So it would be true, for those of you unlucky enough to own an AT. Then again...how do you redline an AT? It isn't like you can stop it from shifting.

motorups

nope nope...
04 and 05 at were 4 port, 06 and later are 6 port at models. you can hold any gear in manual mode without it up/down shifting. the at car has a auto/stick combo even though the manual shifting part is not a true manual stick shift (it just lets you hold a gear until you tell the transmission it is ok for it to up shift).

onefatsurfer

Won't frequent redlining damage the alternator and other accessory systems?

Socket7

Theres no real evidence of redlining harming the cars electronics. Could be a bit hard on the coils I suppose, but they'll go bad anyways, may as well enjoy em.

9291150

Yeah, I go WOT once a drive for carbon deposits, otherwise I redline it just for fun far too often. Engine seems to love it, and with 40 thou it's running stronger than ever.

onefatsurfer

The question is: Is there any real evidence that redlining helps the engine, transmission, driveline, electronics, or any other part of the car? Documented, real evidence? Has Mazda said, "Redline the car once a day to keep the carbon away"? or is this rotary folklore?

Drinking alcohol heavily when you're sick might kill the viruses and bacteria making you ill by raising your blood alcohol content to the point that they can't survive... but the damage caused to the rest of your body will make you sicker if you do that than if you treat it properly. Beating the **** out of your engine might get rid of the carbon build up, but wouldn't just running some injector cleaner through your engine every once in awhile do the same thing, and prevent the damage redlining very frequently is doing to the rest of the car?

Startl_Respons

There's another thread on this topic currently going on. Plus, this topic has been discussed a ton over the years.

1.3L

Exactly. And this is how it happens:

1. rev engine to redline
2. pop clutch
3. release parking brake.


1.3L

New Yorker

Far as I know, there's nothing from Mazda that says to redline daily. However... the 8 did come with a little "Driving Tips" pamphlet and, if memory serves, in there was something about how the Renesis likes to be revved.

Socket7

We have photos of 04's with pretty gnarly intakes caused by the oil overflow dumping into the intake manifold. The pathways to the ports that roll open get filled with black, tar like crud which will eventually cause the ports to stop opening correctly. Frequent redlining can keep the ports working longer, but it will not prevent the oil dumping into the manifold in the first place (you'll need a catch can to stop it. Or a newer 8. I know my 07 has the oil overflow vent right next to one of the main intake ports as opposed to behind the airbox).

So yes, There are documented situations where a red line a day (WOT specifically) can keep an engine functioning longer then it would function if you did not. Theres a lot of anecdotal evidence of this sort of behavior as well. Lots of people here have had power problems cleared up by a tank full of fuel system cleaner and some very hard driving.

jd89rx7

REDLINE IT! don't listen to someone that says not to i redline my rx7 several times a day and it runs like a champ

motorups

First, not sure if I got me webees and wabees mixed up when i posted b4 that the 06/07 is a 6 port instead of a 4 port. Thought I read that somewhere but now not so sure

Second, it seems amazing to me the amount of comments saying red lining is a good thing or at least it seems many feel that mazda says to do it. The little booklet that came in my car indicates that the rx8 engine does perform better at high revs and that it is good to buzz the engine. It even indicates that there is a rev limiter to protect the enginge though making such a statement is not, I infer, the same as mazda saying 'go forth and rev your engine to red line often (or every day).

Last, I pretty much give up on figuring out the 2 port, 4 port, when they open and when others open and how it all comes into play so far as carbon build up goes. Just seems to me to be a large black hole that users do down into and post comments about yet at the same time I don't see any sticky thread saying exactly what is true and what is the correct thing to do so far as rpms to run the rx8 at. In the end I figure it is all just everyones option and each does what they figure is best. But no....I don't see where mothership Mazda is telling us that we should red line our cars in order to take correct care of the engine.

Spin9k

Look at it another way. Let's say a good number of people actaully DO redline their rotary engine on a regular basis. Heck, perhaps SOME actually have been know to spend minutes if not cumulative HOURS of time in the rarified upper RPM zones, JUST FOR FUN! But let's say that's only 10% of the people with 8s though.

If there was significant HARM to be done doing this, well it stands to reason there'd be a good number of really pissed off people yelling "I redlined my car! _ The engine BLEW!!"

But there aren't any. I never heard tell of even one person who has managed to redline their 8 to the death. So it can't be so bad, and argeuable it's good (for us or the car).

8fan

it's a high performance car. it is ment to be redlined. they expect it to be done often. they probably have done tests to measure the durability of the engine in the upper rpm range for extended periods of time. they dont build high performance cars for them to be driven around like a hyundai accent.

Razz1

then you haven't seen the link to where they put a brick on the gas peadal.

24hrs later she blows.

ggreen29

From the book RX-8 by Jack Yamguchi, the diagram on page 115:
all at WOT:
<3750 rpm--ports 1 & 2 open
3750-5500--ports 3 & 4 open
5500-6250--aux intake in front of airbox opens (to reduce intake noise)
6250-7250--ports 5 & 6 open
>7250--Sequential Dynamic Air Intake opens.

Additionally, the 3rd injector for each rotor is employed above 4000 rpm and at WOT.

The purpose of running hi revs is to clean out the carbon, but also to exercise the valves. If you don't move 'em, the regular grime and tar buildup that occurs in an engine will cause the valves to stick shut after a while. One of the ways Mazda tries to combat this for at least ports 5&6 is to flick open those valves when the engine starts; presumably other valves are also treated this way, though in the older rotaries (like my 1991) it was primarily the aux ports (5&6) that got stuck (twice now in mine).

Fortunate Few

iTrader: (2)

redlining in our cars is good dont be worried.

motorups

ggreen29....
thanks for the input/information. Still not sure if I have a 4 port or 6 port on my 07 auto but based on what you wrote I'm figuring tossing it up to 6250 would do the trick (assuming I have a 6 port).

motorups

hum...running at upper rpm range, yeap I would buy that since this engine design spins up so well and more power is in the higher range. that fact though would not lead me to feel that they are 'ment to be redlined' or rather maybe not meant to be redlined a heck of a lot of the time.

btw - I'm a newbie and a automatic owner no less so like the other posters said...if 10% of the owners do it and no issues then...ok redlining works and won't hurt the engine (yes I know rev limiter). still, for me, not having to redline the rx8 each day just makes it easier to drive (imho). yes I know, taking the engine up to the red zone is half the fun...and owning a stick rx8 is the other half many might say.

me, i'm happy doing the 3 to 5 (and now) 6250 though mostly below 7k range.
enjoy the ride all

Spin9k

Show me!

Haaaaaa haaaaaa 24 hrs on one tank - an 8?? I've seen the RX-7 vid where they ran it wide open til blew . But they drained out all the oil 'cause they knew that's the only way they ever kill it!

I'd call that MURDER.

Currin

I def want to see those two videos!

LINKS PLEASE!

Eelfinn_Ty

There is this vid...

I'm not sure if it the same one either of you are talking about.

alnielsen

iTrader: (4)

While I don't believe that hitting redline is bad for the engine, I also don't think it's the only way to keep carbon out of the engine. A good long Interstate road trip, of a couple of hundred miles, will achieve the same thing. That isn't a possibility for most people so, running to redline is the other option.
I do both.

CyberPitz

Ugh, that video makes me cry.

There have been numerous threads on the internet with comparisons to "This engine was never redlined at WOT, while this one was." and you could see the insanely noticeable difference in Carbon Buildup. They were both taken care of essentially the same. Oil changes every 3k miles, same oil used, coolant always topped off and clean, premixing with the OMP blocked off. I'd have to say, for me, that's proof enough...and the fact this engine just LOVE the high revs.

kersh4w

iTrader: (3)

i was actually wondering about that the other day. i drive 60 miles a day, 50 are freeway miles at 4k-4.5krpm. i make sure to wot it a few times a day too. but i've been thinking that the constant semi high power has to be cleaning out the carbon as well.

with my last tank of gas i got 21mpg!