Notices
RX-8 Discussion General discussion about the RX-8 that doesn't fit in one of the specialty forums.

Should I bother going turbo?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Rate Thread
 
Old 11-12-2008, 01:41 PM
  #1  
04 metallic RX8 GT
Thread Starter
 
Goldy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Winnipeg
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Should I bother going turbo?

Hey, guys I was just wondering what would be the best thing to do, I have a manuel 2004 RX-8 its got 72,000 km I just got it this past may havent had any real issues with it so far. I installed a AEM CAI durin the summer, but i was thinking of going turbo with the greddy turbo kit, I have seen used ones for sale for around 2 g's. I'd be getting the whole kit, Cobb Access port to tune my ECU, and two new fuel injectors. My only worry is that something may occur to my engine after the install either due to the turbo or otherwise. I have noticed sometimes ill be in neutral at a red light and the rpm would drop and the car shakes like its about to stall, but it raises up again. So my question is should i waite until this summer passes for the turbo to see if anything occurs with the engine, or is it probly nothing and should get the turbo. Any suggestions will be appreciated, thx.
Goldy is offline  
Old 11-12-2008, 02:04 PM
  #2  
Administrator
iTrader: (7)
 
Jedi54's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: The Dark Side
Posts: 22,394
Received 2,625 Likes on 1,875 Posts
goldy, few quick comments:

- sounds like you have a bad motor mount. the RPM's can fluctuate when the AC kicks on and the vibration is due to a cracked mount. Talk to your dealership, it's a known issue

- Greddy kit: not the greatest turbo out there. It's undersized and some people have not had them last very long.
with the standard greddy kit, you might not even need upgraded injectors.

My personal advice: save up a bit more and get a different turbo. Will it cost you more initially? YUP, but in the long run it could be a better buy. Take into account the cost of upgrading / rebuilding your greddy every year or two and having to uninstall everything.
I'd rather get it right the first time.

There are a few good turbo kits out there, look at the Greddy Upgrade from Mazda maniac or the Esmiril

- You also want to make sure your engine is running well BEFORE putting on a turbo, for this I recommend doing a compression test. If the engine is healthy now and you get a good tuner, there's no reason why you should have any issues once the turbo is installed.
Jedi54 is offline  
Old 11-12-2008, 02:15 PM
  #3  
Registered
iTrader: (3)
 
DynamicDookie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Venice, CA
Posts: 169
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Do you have the latest Mazda ecu flash? I have an 04 and on one of the earlier flashes, the rpms would stumble and shoot up at stop lights. Didn't happen all the time, maybe once a week.

If you were planning on getting the AP from MM, I'd definitely wait until the backlog for the map service gets resolved.
DynamicDookie is offline  
Old 11-12-2008, 02:25 PM
  #4  
Reginald P. Billingsly
iTrader: (5)
 
bose's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Taylorsville, UT
Posts: 1,915
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Can you buy the complete turbo kit from MM? I was under the impression the upgrade was the injector, AP, and the turbo.
bose is offline  
Old 11-12-2008, 02:33 PM
  #5  
Boosted Kiwi
iTrader: (2)
 
Brettus's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Y-cat-o NZ
Posts: 20,523
Received 1,490 Likes on 839 Posts
Originally Posted by Goldy
Hey, guys I was just wondering what would be the best thing to do, I have a manuel 2004 RX-8 its got 72,000 km I just got it this past may havent had any real issues with it so far. I installed a AEM CAI durin the summer, but i was thinking of going turbo with the greddy turbo kit, I have seen used ones for sale for around 2 g's. I'd be getting the whole kit, Cobb Access port to tune my ECU, and two new fuel injectors. My only worry is that something may occur to my engine after the install either due to the turbo or otherwise. I have noticed sometimes ill be in neutral at a red light and the rpm would drop and the car shakes like its about to stall, but it raises up again. So my question is should i waite until this summer passes for the turbo to see if anything occurs with the engine, or is it probly nothing and should get the turbo. Any suggestions will be appreciated, thx.
This is not an upgrade to be taken lightly - from your tone I have a feeling it would be a mistake for you . Could be wrong

As far as the Greddy goes - I just fitted one (with mazsport upgraded cold side) and am loving it .
The only downside (apart from longevity) is that it is probably not a good turbo if you want to track your car as it is inefficient and loses boost at high rpm.
Brettus is offline  
Old 11-12-2008, 03:32 PM
  #6  
04 metallic RX8 GT
Thread Starter
 
Goldy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Winnipeg
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
kk thanks for the info, ya i think once winter has passed and I bring my rx8 out ill take it to the local mazda dealership to get the engine inspected, and look info other turbo's on the market.
Goldy is offline  
Old 11-12-2008, 03:36 PM
  #7  
04 metallic RX8 GT
Thread Starter
 
Goldy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Winnipeg
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Oh and ya I did get the reflash over the summer so I don't think its linked to that.
Goldy is offline  
Old 11-13-2008, 09:49 AM
  #8  
Registered
 
arghx7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 654
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
if this is your only car and you depend on it, do NOT turbo it.
arghx7 is offline  
Old 11-13-2008, 11:36 AM
  #9  
Registered User
 
Jaggerbomb's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Goldy

I was going to do mine when I get it but after seeing all the current Issues have decided not to.
Jaggerbomb is offline  
Old 11-13-2008, 11:37 AM
  #10  
2004 Titanium Grey GT
iTrader: (1)
 
RyanX-8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 286
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I would just take that money and get another car. Just me tho
RyanX-8 is offline  
Old 11-13-2008, 11:55 AM
  #11  
Huge hole is huge
 
CyberPitz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Joplin, MO
Posts: 3,191
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
There's always going to be considerable work in getting a turbo onto a car. If it was just a slap on and go, we'd see more turbo 8's around
CyberPitz is offline  
Old 11-13-2008, 01:20 PM
  #12  
04 metallic RX8 GT
Thread Starter
 
Goldy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Winnipeg
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
True, true i guess i have alot to consider, well atleast i got 4 or 5 months to do so since my car is sleepin for the winter thanks for the suggestions tho guys
Goldy is offline  
Old 11-13-2008, 03:15 PM
  #13  
Huge hole is huge
 
CyberPitz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Joplin, MO
Posts: 3,191
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
In these types of things, you're going to want to take your time. Nothing is going to be quick OR cheap. Always overshoot your projects in time and money, that way you end up surprising yourself instead of letting yourself down.
CyberPitz is offline  
Old 11-13-2008, 03:25 PM
  #14  
Reginald P. Billingsly
iTrader: (5)
 
bose's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Taylorsville, UT
Posts: 1,915
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
I was told when I started modding, When tuning a car there are three things, cheap, fast, reliable; You can only have two. A lot of times you can only have one. So I suggest (and is what I'm doing) research, look for quality over the best price. As far as mods go, especially for 8's, cheap parts don't do much good. We aren't like WRX's and can run ebay parts, no we have a special machine that takes attention to make power reliably. Just make sure you don't rush it. That's my .02.
bose is offline  
Old 11-13-2008, 04:13 PM
  #15  
RX8 & RX7 owner
 
ZumnRx8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: So. California
Posts: 5,172
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Just go HKS when u do turbo
ZumnRx8 is offline  
Old 11-13-2008, 05:11 PM
  #16  
Administrator
iTrader: (7)
 
Jedi54's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: The Dark Side
Posts: 22,394
Received 2,625 Likes on 1,875 Posts
Originally Posted by ZumnRx8
Just go HKS when u do turbo
and which HKS turbo system do you recommend? Seeing as how they don't actually offer a kit for our car...
Jedi54 is offline  
Old 11-13-2008, 05:13 PM
  #17  
Registered
iTrader: (1)
 
NgoRX8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: CA, Rowland Hts.
Posts: 10,239
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
NgoRX8 is offline  
Old 12-14-2008, 06:15 PM
  #18  
Rotary Powered Countryboy
 
04RX8man's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Pittsburgh
Posts: 4,811
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
I would have recommended a Mazsport kit but seeing how they are not around anymore maybe wait for BHR's upgrade?
04RX8man is offline  
Old 12-14-2008, 06:19 PM
  #19  
Registered
iTrader: (2)
 
Easy_E1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Bellevue WA
Posts: 7,675
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes on 3 Posts
Originally Posted by 04RX8man
I would have recommended a Mazsport kit but seeing how they are not around anymore maybe wait for BHR's upgrade?
Yeah wait for that one.
Easy_E1 is offline  
Old 12-14-2008, 06:25 PM
  #20  
Rotary Powered Countryboy
 
04RX8man's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Pittsburgh
Posts: 4,811
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
^maybe BHR will just make a turbo kit themselves that is capable of 400whp right out of the box(tunned of course) that would b pretty nice....I'd buy it!!! wink wink
04RX8man is offline  
Old 12-14-2008, 06:28 PM
  #21  
Registered
iTrader: (1)
 
r0tor's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: PA
Posts: 3,754
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Jedi54
goldy, few quick comments:

- You also want to make sure your engine is running well BEFORE putting on a turbo, for this I recommend doing a compression test. If the engine is healthy now and you get a good tuner, there's no reason why you should have any issues once the turbo is installed.
what compression is actually "good" though?
r0tor is offline  
Old 12-14-2008, 08:51 PM
  #22  
DGAF
iTrader: (1)
 
Rootski's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 1,953
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I could be wrong, but I believe good compression is around 120-150 per rotor face. Anything under 100, and you're in trouble.
Rootski is offline  
Old 12-14-2008, 09:02 PM
  #23  
3-wheeler
 
Flashwing's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Phoenix
Posts: 2,734
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The most important step before doing anything regarding forced induction is to ensure that your motor (and RX8 in general) is in the best shape possible. A compression test will in many cases give you a glimpse as to the overall state of your motor.

As long as your motor is running sound, I would look into various aspects such as making sure your ignition system is working well, that you have fresh spark plugs, using good oil and have no problems with check engine lights.

As long as the car is in top shape you'll have less problems and enjoy your new found performance that much more!
Flashwing is offline  
Old 12-14-2008, 09:06 PM
  #24  
Doppelgänger
 
mysql's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Florida
Posts: 3,192
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
in the past, going FI was tricky. With the accessport, I'm confident in recommending FI to anyone who asks.

However, that doesn't mean you are without risk, or that something like your WG vacuum tube can't fall off and cause issues.

If you go FI, you will have to do a lot more than check oil every other fill up. You will be popping the hood and making sure everything is properly connected when the car is off, and when it's on, you'll be monitoring everything with gauges to make sure it's operational.
mysql is offline  
Old 12-14-2008, 09:08 PM
  #25  
SARX Legend
iTrader: (46)
 
9krpmrx8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Posts: 33,784
Received 452 Likes on 366 Posts
Don't do it unless you are very mechanically inclined and have experience with turbocharged cars. Also, if its your DD, don't bother.
9krpmrx8 is offline  


You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.

Quick Reply: Should I bother going turbo?



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:05 AM.