I don't quite understand.... if the NA Renesis is not capable of making the claimed 250hp and follow emission regulations, then exactly what is the point of moving to NA Renesis rather than turbo? Either way, I think all the 6MT RX-8 owners deserve an explanation and apology from Mazda USA for this embarassing screw up. Write to automobile medias and magazines about this, complain to your dealership and spread the words. Make it perfectly clear that Mazda's reputation is going to drop like bird poo unless they fix this issue RIGHT NOW!

 

Well for the moment let's assume it can and that this is either a non issue or easily fixable. Nevertheless Mazda need to get it together and speak to the masses. If there's no problem then it's an easy P.R, job, if there IS a problem then the P.R. needs to be swift and surgical. Mazda's rep can suffer just as much from a continuing rumour as from a genuine issue.

Having said that: the engine clearly can't meet UK emissions laws in it's 247bhp form. Much to my annoyance.

 

Yet that is the case. Cars usually stay in port 1-2 weeks. The RX8 was in port for a month and the official reason given to dealers was updating the ECUs to meet emission requirements.

 

was that indeed for mazda or just for porshe? i remember there was speculation about it for the 8's, but dont recall anything definative.

the reason i say porshe is because someone posted a scan of something that said the new porshes couldnt meet emissions and had to be held for remapping.

 

What I meant was I doubt there was a last minute engineering change to the ECU map. The ECUs may have very well been updated to US emission standards at the port, but I have to believe the engineering design of the ECU was already completed months before the cars ever left Japan. But if I'm wrong, and there was a last minute change that detuned the engine too far, it should be an easy fix for Mazda.

 

All this "dyno" stuff is way over my head. I undertans that the dyno is suppose to adjust for conditions present at the time of test. BUT, what about air flow at the intake? I've crawled all over the one at my dealer (mine is still 2-3wks away) and it seems to me that there would be some sort of "ram" air induction when the car is underway. When they dyno, do they put a big fan in front of the car? Or is this something the dyno is supposed to adjust for? But how? If there is no air being crammed into the intake... But I'm repeating myself. If it's wrong, Mazda will fix it I'm sure. I ain't cancelling my order!

 

I am interested to see that the calculated power appears to be more inline with the UK(Europe) Spec car, which they have revised to 228-230 or whatever it is. Have you guys got the same engine as us perhaps????

Also, are the problems with Dyno's down to the fact that they are designed for "normal" piston engines? Does the fact that the car has a lighter than normal carbon prop shaft have anything to do with the results??? (I am not an expert, as this statement may or may not prove!)

Ed

 

Yes a big fan is usually placed right beneath the intake to simulate driving conditions.

 

Thumtimes i feel tho thtupid!

How can you improve emissions by making an engine run richer? Is it NOX?

 

Also, if it helps to ease anyone's mind, there was significant dyno testing done on the 03 cobra's by their owners when they first came out. Many people took them straight from the dealership to the rollers. 340-350rwhp was the average. After a few thousand miles of break-in, many people began to report feeling an improvement in power. Returning to the dyno, the same cars were putting out closer to 360-370rwhp with no modifications at all.

Now obviously there's going to be differences with air temperature and dyno variances, no matter how closely they are controlled, but there was enough people going to the dyno to uncover a conservative 15rwhp gain average.

I know NOTHING about rotary engines, so I can't say that the same thing is happening here with the RX-8, but I wouldn't be suprised to hear you guys finding 200rwhp numbers once your cars are broken in.

I feel compelled to point out that a break in period rarely exceeds 5k miles, and often occurs after just 1k. Not after the 20k that I've read theorized somewhere on this board.

 

You don't

Richer will cause higher emissions

 

What a great idea! Let's all jump to the conclusion the dyno results are perfectly fine and that ALL of our ASSUMPTIONS are correct. Forget about waiting a REASONABLE time period for the actual makers of the car to respond - let's start pumping this speculation to the mass media ASAP! That way, even if we're wrong, it won't matter because we've already done the maximum damage!

Perfect! Really winning!

 

Is everyone taking into account the cat and how it affects Wideband O2 readings?

 

Has anyone noticed the little sticker on the underside of the hood to the right of the latch?? It's a sticker with hand written stuff on it that says on mine:

PORT CAMPAIGN
Rework# 03F02, 03F04
7/8/2003

Could this be anything about what was done re: emissions or something to the engine, or was it my port installed options? (splashgards frt/rear and rotary appearance pkg?)

Sounds a little interesting. Does anyone else have this, any idea what is is?

 

someone noted exhaust pipes dripping something (black and gooey id assume, possibly fuel or something), RodsterinFL i think it was

 

Aw now, there you went & done it. You've acknowledged his presence. Darn.

SM - as his moniker would imply, has been a genuine pain in this forum for many moons. Now you know.

COMPADDICT - I dunno about the others, but you got me hangin' here. Care to expound just a little more???

 

I think the a/f is more like 12.2

-Mr. Wigggles

 

I don't know about your state, but Colorado (OK, the Front Range of Colorado) has mandatory emissions inspections after the first four years of ownership of a new car or upon transfer of ownership, then every other year thereafter...

 

looked even lower on that first Dynojet that was published... just from visual memory of the curve, it really really went south about half way through the band.

 

The beauty of flash memory: a program for every occasion.

 

Keep in mind, that's a 20hp increase over 340-350hp or about a 6% increase. 20hp over 180 is an 11% increase, or almost twice as large. I don't think the Renesis would "find" 20hp after "break in".

 

lol
how very true

edit:
woah, i was refering to the thing about flash memory
although i suppose "finding" 20hp is perhaps a little far fetched also, though i dont believe that it is even gone

 

You're still polluting the environment terrible.. and for what? An extra 10hp? 20hp?

Besides, do we know that the ECU is flash programmable?

 

Thanks Romano m for your summary of the power dyno saga , i have downloaded the info and sent it to mazda australias managing director hopefully they may be able to shed extra light on this issue .

 

Yes, all of the literature that I've seen says that the ECU IS Flash-programmable!