Those who've got the 'replacement' engine from mazda...
 

I picked up my car tonite from having the engine replaced - feels...tight? that make sense? Feels unwilling to rev like the previous engine - which was quite strong when it wasn't held back by a bad cat.

Once you put over 2000 km on the clock she should loosen up :)

Michael

Gotta break it in, no?

"Breaking it in" is a bit of a misnomer. The rotary shouldn't see any drop in friction on the sealing surfaces as it ages. The idea is simply to give the seals a chance to wear to the shape of the housings.
If it feels "tight" it is probably running lean.

o rly

Ya, rly.

For the most part, a brand new Renesis will actually run harder (and produce more power) than a broken-in motor.

Think about it - if a motor could produce enough friction internally to cause a perceptible reduction in performance, it would burst into flames.

Not questioning that, just trying to learn....

If friction weren't an issue though, then what would be the point of wearing the seals?

And the fact some say the rotary gets stronger with age unlike pistons engines who loose power with age.

Check the long term test by Car & Driver. After 40k mi the 8 dropped 0.7 sec. off its 0-60mph. This corresponds with what I've always heard: rotary is faster with age.

Right - I understand all that, but when I bought my car new, the engine didn't feel like this. I know rotaries can gain power over time. Right now it just feels weird. Course, I'm not driving much over 4K or so, but I don't feel much power surge as rpm's increase. One or twice while merging I got the rpms to 7k or so - and the engine just felt like a piston engine getting close to redline...as if the power was dropping off.

If it doesn't get better, I'll dyno after a few thousand miles, and see what I see. Right now I'm thinking the car would put down about 150whp.

If it's not close to the 197 I did w/ the previous engine I'll try to raise a stink to the service dept. If they won't fix it, I'll trade the car.

<senses another HorsePower thread and runs away>

No - if things don't improve with the engine in the next couple months, I'll sovle the HP isSue once and 4 all.

the new flash takes several drive cycles to settle down...

but my new motor felt fine.. i waited all of 200 miles till the redline..

beers :beer:

(susbscribing) Interested to see how this goes...

Welp - today driving it at lunch, to the coin-op wash rack, I was able to get it sideways a bit (wet roads) AND stay under 4,000 rpms. That's a GOOD sign. I REALLY hope the S4 I'm test-driving this weekend isn't THAT good...lol :) Walking around my car, all clean - man, it'd be weird having a 'sedan'.

I'm telling you, that taking it easy break in procedure is crap. If she aint screamin' you aint tryin' hard 'nough. ;) Seriously though. After getting this new crap flash during the recall, there are occasions when Ruby just doesn't seem right. I rev the hell out of her a few times, run her up to redline under load, and she's all better though. Kinda like she needs a little motivation to wake 'er up.

I like to rev my engine when its cold every morning for a good 2 minutes to 9K rpm....hmmm nothing like that rich smell to wake you up in the morn

how much money would you like to bet that you dont, or cant!!!!


beers :beer:

If I can remember back that far... mine seemed just fine - I didn't really detect a difference in performance, other than I haven't had the marbles in a can sound since...

If you're going to that extreme a measure, should you do it right and Really solve the HP iSsue once and 4 all?

Will YOU fund the price difference?? ;)

Yeah what he said...

I have data now...data which lends to my Butt-Dyno being VERY well calibrated.


Note the dyno plot w/ the OLD engine - vs. today's dyno plot w/ the new engine.

http://www.sph33r.net/upload/files/16/rx8jan07dyno.jpg

I road my hard from the replacement time. I gave her five days of under 6k revs and after that it was on. I hit redline probably ten times a day and my new engine seems fine but I have yet to take her to the strip on the new engine and I tested my nitrous once but after this oil change, new tires I will get my ass out there to see if I can hit high 14's.

Thats so weird your new engine makes considerabally less HP....but more before 85 mph