RX8Buffalo

I got a remanufactured engine from Mazda under warranty for my RX8 12 days ago ago due to low compression. With the replacement engine it drives better, is a bit quicker and it gets 21 MPG on the freeway, which is better than before. One concern I have is that 4 days ago after I had driven it 200 miles at freeway speeds (with two 5 minute rest stops), I got back in the car and I cranked it for 7-8 seconds without the car starting. I tried again and it started right up. This has only happened once in 900 miles total, it did not do this when I got to my destination 40 miles later, and it did not do this at any rest stops on the way back yesterday even after I had driven it for similar distances at freeway speeds.

My question is that I know a hot starting problem is the key signal for compression issues and that some remanufactured engines have problems, luck of the draw. Is this anything to worry about if it only happened once? Is it silly for me to pay for a compression test just to be safe before my original 8 year warranty ends in one week? If you have hot start compression symptoms, does it have trouble with hot starts consistently, and not just one time out of 10 when you try to start it? The compression symptoms on my previous engine were mostly loss of power and not hot start issues.

Also, just as an aside, after I got the replacement engine there had been an oil leak as I noticed oil was leaking under the front passenger side. The oil was about 1/3 of the way down from the high mark to the low mark (although I hadn't checked to see if it was right at the upper "full" line when I first picked the car back up from the dealer after they replaced the engine). So I took it into the dealer and they said it was a leaky gasket and they fixed it and I haven't noticed any leaks since. I also don't notice that the oil level has gone down anymore since I got it back, but it appears they may have overfilled the oil this time and so it is hard to tell if the oil level has gone down.

Ong2764

Hey RX8Buffalo, I have the similar problem with the oil leak, I bought an RX8 with a re manufactured engine, was wondering how much did it cost to get that Gasket changed? I think mine came with a 1year/12k miles warranty. I was wondering if this will cover it? Seeing this engine might have a couple hundred miles on it. Mine is however coming from the Driver side.

RX8Buffalo

They had just put the remanufactured engine in 3 days earlier, so they didn't charge me to change the gasket. I keep noticing one or two very small green drops on the floor under the car in the middle front about every other morning of coolant, and for the past 2 years I have to add a little coolant about once every 6 months but I hope thats not anything to worry too much about

Well, when I got to work this morning after a 20 minute freeway drive, I turned the car off and restarted it and it took about 5-6 seconds of cranking to start. It seems like it just happens randomly one out every 5-10 times that I re-start it when its been driven and is still warm/hot, so I don't know if it means anything. But I think I'll get a compression test before the warranty expires Monday just to try to be sure I didn't get a bad engine. I asked the dealership I got the reman from and he didn't think it would be worth doing a compression test and he charges $200 for one anyway so he's probably right. I found out another Mazda dealership does it for $99 so I'll take it there I guess. Hopefully that's OK to take it to another dealer, but its probably worth it just for peace of mind for $99 but not $200.

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

Yes, $200 is a very high compression test price, $99 is under average. It's always worth having compression scores if you think there is a problem.

If the hot/cold start delay isn't consistent, then it's more probably a battery or starter problem though.

JamesD31

I have the same issue, even with my brand new remanufactured engine, which has a few thousand on it now, I still have problems. I HONESTLY thing the ECU is the main problem and is getting heat soaked and no1 ever has cared to actually do TESTS on the ECU.

My long trip to FL and back (IL) was around 2600 miles on the new engine and I wouldn't ever turn it off after driving and stopping to get gas ~4 hours BECAUSE of the "hot start" problem even when the engine was almost brand new.

I want to take it in too to get it checked out, but dont want to drop the money - also all stupid Mazda dealerships are scams and i hate each one and their techs are the dumbest people alive (rant).