ElGuapo

But I was wondering if this specific situation is "dangerous" for causing engine flooding:

I was out doing some holiday shopping, and I would drive out to the store (10-15 minutes), do some shopping for maybe 30-minutes to an hour then go and drive maybe 30 seconds to a minute to another store across the parking lot. Stop, shop, and repeat a few times.

Is this scenario ripe for flooding, or would the engine stay warm enough from the initial drive so it wouldn't be a problem?

Also, has anyone actually measured the time it takes for the eninge to come up to temperature?

I'm strongly considering getting a new '8, but like alot of people I'm trying to weigh the known problems with the benefits.

cas2themoe

Usually I just let it warm up to normal temp and the car is fine. I haven't flooded mine yet(knock on wood).

therm8

You should be ok. Just let it rip on the way home a couple times to clean it out. It really takes some time after "cold" shutdown, for the flooding to set in.

ElGuapo

Because sometimes I'm a lazy American...why walk when you can drive

Nubo

Folks have suggested various rpms for the rev&shutdown approach. 7000 is the highest I've seen recommended.

If you're doing this, it's because the engine isn't warmed up. 7000 rpm is high for an engine that's still cold. Try 3000 instead. The original procedure was 3000 rpm for 10 seconds then turn off the key, iirc. That should be plenty to purge excess fuel while the rotors spin down.

dazygirl415

Hubo - You do remember correctly. I think it's the owner's manual that states to rev to 3k rpm for 10 secs and then shut off if the engine is not warmed completely. I would NOT recommend 7k rpm revving for a cold engine.

Your question is posed in aspect of time. The time it takes to warm up an engine is different depending on the car and the environment. For example, it takes a car in Texas at 5pm in July a lot less time to warm up than a car in Ontario in January at 4am. The same circumstances apply to when you question whether or not it is still warm enough after the first drive.

Instead of questioning time, simply look at the temperature gauge. It should read in the middle when it is warm. If the needle is still to the left, rev to 3k RPM for a few secs (at least 2 full secs) and then shut off then engine. Don't worry about the "water" sounds you may hear when you do this, it is normal.

Astral

what happens if you stall the engine while cold? say it's 20F outside, i start my car. wait about 15 seconds, then start backing up and BAM, don't give it enough gas and stall it.

is this an instant flooding situtation or can i salvage it by cranking right away? i would assume that if you left it like that (i.e. would not try to restart after the stall) , you would almost definitely flood.

since i'm a relative stick n00b and stall once in a while on a bad day (or a late night at work), i'm always wicked afraid of stalling when getting out of work while the car is cold.

zoom44

your trying to say it takes less time to find a new parking space then to make the walk? if you are goingto be lazy at least be consistent about it

NgoRX8

iTrader: (1)

I believe 15 minutes drive is enough to warm up the car if you are revving to about 3000 rpm each time. The car should reach normal operating temperature through that. Then you should be able to take those short 30 second drives because it stays at normal temperature for a while.

therm8

Even then you should be ok. It might have a little trouble starting, but the deflood starting procedure in the owner's manual should salvage it if it won't start. Most of your flooding cases are cold shutoffs left for a couple of hours+, or random, drew the short straw, bad luck. It is a rare occurance.

I've used the start procedure twice in 50000miles. Once when my thumb slipped off the key as I was starting the car, and it stopped mid-crank. And once after stopping at a rest stop following 200 miles or so of highway driving (<--random no start). Both times it started right up.

rx8forlife

does anyone know where i can get rx8 fog lights for a cheap price

zoom44

mazmart

JonsToy

I've done alot of the short-trip, shutdown and start-up after achieving a warm engine on my first trip in the series. The engine temp normally shows as "warm" when I shut down.

I've never used the 3000 rpm shutdown procedure, and I've yet to have any problem starting it up.

Nubo

I'd say the quicker you try to recover, the better. A big part of the flooding scenario is loss of compression sealing as the oil on the housing is diluted or "washed off" by excess gas. So I'd definitely try to restart right away. Letting the vehicle sit doesn't help resolve a flood in the rotary because not all the gas can drain off, unlike in piston engines.