I just finished detailing the car and pulled it into the garage where it was warming up. I revved a few times(under 3 dont worry, to listen to my exhaust and the sucking sound of the intake when I noticed something. I know this is normal, but this car runs ridiculously rich at idle! And we still get rough idle like it is not rich enough! I looked at the smoke coming out the exhaust and it was pouring out at idle. I revved it to 2-2.5 and held it and the smoke virtually disappeared. I know this could be because the faster velocity of exhaust gases would shoot they out of my eyesight but someone stood behind and witnessed much less exhaust. I guess there is no way to really cure this because leaning it out would get severely rough idle(practically chocking the engine/detonation?) Don't know if detonation really occurs at idle speed but I guess any incorrect air/fuel mixture could detonate which is why tuning is so important. This would also contribute to the gas mileage issue, I am aware everyone knows the 8 sucks it down at idle.

It was just an interesting observation and though some peeps might wanna discuss it. Is there any cure for this? As for as I know there is not because the design of the rotary and it's just the way it runs.

 

did you drop a scanalyser on it to see what the afr was?

 

when the engine is cool, the car runs really rich. once it's warmed up, your idle will be very lean - in the 15-16 afr range.

 

ok, I am going to see tomorrow morning how rough the idle is. That makes sense mysql cuz I always seem to notice rougher idle after it has warmed up. No I don't have a scanalyser and don't want to drop 200+ on hymees. Isn't it on mazdaparts? Or is there another place that has it cheaper, besides ebay.

 

I have noticed this as well, the 8 during cold winter start ups runs rich as a pig...

 

not sure about really cold (IE freezing level) starts - but I know from my scanalyser that normal cold starts are not rich at all . Runs at 14.6 at idle hot or cold .

 

Rotaries LOVE a rich idle..the more fuel you dump in at idle, the smoother it will idle. Talk to Tofuball on the RX7club about his tuning experiences on his 'Vert.