rx8 dx

After almost a year since the release of the RX8, I come to the conclusion that Mazda knew that adding a Turbo to the renesis was going to be hard on the engine causing problems to the structure/function aspect of the engine and decided no to add it. I believe that aftermarket will be able to make a Turbo system for the RX8, but either is going to be tough on the engine and thus reducing the life or it will completely blow up the engine. I think that the engine as it ,is already max out to perform without risking engine lifespan. Maybe Mazda will make a Renesis 2 engine that will allow a safe add of FI either by them or by the aftermarket people.

Kari

??? Brilliant deduction sherlock.

rx8 dx

So why all the hoopla on the aftermarket turbos and superchargers, if at the end the engine is going to get hurt? So there is no sense to have a discussion on FI on this board because it will be just destructive to the RX8?. Why are we discussing aftermarket products that wont be of any benefit to the car?If only you knew you wouldn't call me sherlock( I hate name calling).

Genom

So youve done engine analysis of a turbo'd renesis and know all this for a fact eh?

Just the fact that there has been 4 ECU flashes in the 10 months the car has been out shows one thing at least. mazda still doesnt know evertything there is to know about how the Renesis works. Know what else I know? A turbo on this car can be done no problem. Tuning is a bit of work, but so is any car where a turbo kit is being developed. Can a FI solution be done on the Renesis without causing major damage or major engine wear? Most likely yes. Dont know where you deduced that FI solution wouldnt work with the car. Hell, the turbo'd 8 I rode in was much smoother than my car.

Me thinks you need to read up a little more. For example, how the engine tuned for racing is putting out over 75HP more to the wheels over stock setups. Not turbo'd, just tuned. The Renesis in an 8 is nowhere near being at it's max. At all.

rx8 dx

I dont doubt it could be done. I know that a bunch of people are working on the project. It just that, is strange that Mazda did not coup on a FI for the renesis like they did with the 3rd generation RX7's.

takahashi

Well it could be done but definite not on my car just yet. Wait for 2-3 years and let THEM discover the problem. I hope this make sense. It takes a brave soul to be an adventurer. So I never be a Columbo or Captain Cook :D

bureau13

Why is that strange? The FD wasn't exactly the most successful car on the planet, in terms of sales. So, they went back to their roots...normally aspirated, good overall driving experience, (hopefully) reliable...and then added in a dose of practicality for good measure. Neither the first nor second generation RX-7s came out with a turbo at the start...I would consider the 3rd gen to be the exception to the rule, not the standard.

jds

Mikelikes2drive

i agree with bureau13 that mazda just wanted to back to their roots and go with the NA type. I've read that the FD had lots of problems and little kinks with the twin turbo and just wanted a more reliable car with the RX-8 and the insurance would be much higher with a FI car.

there isn't a doubt in my mind that you can add a turbo or a supercharger on this car its just taking a little longer because its a rotary engine IMO. You'll see a lot more FI alternatives in the years to come for this car dont wry

Kel Rx8

reason why the fd didnt do so well after a certain time is the market for supercars.not cause of turbo model/reliability
same reason why a supra couldnt sell at show room dealers $$$
lets just face it mazda is wacky at times but i love them for
keeping the rotor alive.turbo or not.
but damn i wish my 8 at least got p-p turbos.

zoomed

There have been some aftermarket tuners out there putting turbos on the car and promising a production version eminently only to never be heard from again (some on this forum). Something is difficult....?

Its sad to see the aftermarket support -- for engine parts -- for a car like the Evo (and even the Z) which doesn't seem to sell in any greater numbers than the RX8, while almost a year after release, there really isn't anything of significance for an RX8.

murix

The demise and decline of sales of japanese sports cars is not just a fault of the market but also a partial fault of the Japanese manufacturers themselves. They went all out and built the best car money can buy but made the mistake of charging for it. There is a certain price point where perception and prestige matters to the mass market of those who could afford a $$35k+ car. That was just an entry price. In the early 90's, that was a lot more than it is now.

Mazda did no service to itself by building a car, while explosive and the closest thing to a track car at the time, had the reliability of an exotic that people, due to said prestige, were willing to contend with. It was a supercar accessable by the masses which is both good and bad.

Of course emissions did not help. Turbos hurt emissions, reliability, and cost. 3 strikes right there.

Fact is it was still too expensive for the American market as it is still a Mazda. Slap a turbo on the RX8 and the complexity and cost go up. People talk a lot, but are there enough people willing to step up to the plate and purchase a $40k Mazda?

I think a turbo renesis is more than feasible, but I am actually rooting for an increase in displacement to 1.5l as I really do like the way this car drives in NA form. It is solid, reliable, linear, and simple. Very straightforward and I like it that way. I had 150k on my 84 GSL-SE and it ran great. I would like more of the same.

murix

The difficult part is ECU tuning. With personal experience putting a turbo on a NA tuned ecu car, I can tell you it is not easy.

Omicron

Given the choice, I'd go with a naturally aspirated 3 rotor renesis over a turbo or supercharger. But since that's not really available... and FI will be first, most likely, then FI it will be. :D

IKnowNot'ing

1) For cost reducing reasons, OEM engine are always stressed to the limit, minus a safety factor.

2) Increasing thermal and pressure strain on an internal combustion engine will always reduce its long term durability.

PS : always = 99% of the time

Krayzie8

rx8 dx, how old are you??

DOMINION

Car company's don't make cars turbo ready. If they did they would make and release turbo kits so you can purchase your car and a turbo kit to go with it, and may be have the dealership install it and tune it for ya.
Thats what turbo(s) are for. You chose the right one for you car depending on how you would like to use your car,
IE: Drag, road and track, daily driver.
Now you have to find a shop that will touch your car! or one that knows what the hell they are doing and install the Turbo and tuned your car.
You can turbo anything as long as you have the green $$$$$.
But the real questions is; "Should you add a Turbo to your vehicle?", not; "Can I add a Turbo to my vehicle?".

RobDickinson

Mazda didnt design the renesis or rx-8 for a turbo, they designed it to be the best NA rotary they could make.

IF they make a turbo version I'm sure they'll make any changes they deem necisary (especialy after the 4rd gen heat problems etc).

DOMINION

I doubt they will make a turbo version.

JSE RX-8

mazda will not make a turbo version of the RX-8. it will be too damn expensive and mazda doesnt want that. that was why the rx-7 was so expensive, because mazda wanted to compete with porsche. by the end of the summer, mazda will show their supercharger that will have a 40% increase in horsepower and HKS will show their twin turbo project that mazda has been watching over. So rx8 dx, i dont know where you got your info. if anyone plans on going FI on the RX-8, expect major internal work regardless, and that applies to all cars, pistons or rotary. the more horsepower you want, the more work that has to be done internally to hold the power.

DOMINION

Duff man:OH yea!

TotalKaos

Forget about the RX8 and turbo's anyone else notice how HOT Kari is?? I can't believe that I was the only one to point this out, with that said lets carry on. I read in Car and Driver that Mazda was working on an electric assist tubo for the RX8.

robertdot

And I can't believe how much DOMINION looks like Dave Chappelle.

It's an avatar, not a web cam. I'm not saying that the pic isn't Kari, just that I'm not going to assume it is. Therefore, I didn't say anything. Avatars are only good for identifying users w/o reading usernames (which sucks if you are trying to find MazdaManiac's post in a thread). Either way, Kari's avatar is hot. That's all you can REALLY say.

And to actually contribute to the discussion, even though it has been said: Adding a turbo to any car will increase engine wear. That's just how it goes. If you want more power, you sacrifice stock engine life. You just have to decide if it is worth it to you. The '8 can take a turbo like any other car can, as long as it's suited for the application. Just don't do more than the internals can take, and you'll be fine. If you want more boost, replace internals, and repeat. It seems pretty obvious.

Rotarian_SC

Hmmm, the Renesis has the strongest Mazda seals yet, so the internals shouldn't be that much of a problem, and since it has a high compression ratio so it doesn't need to run high boost. Omicron I am pretty sure you realize that a 3 rotor Renesis is basically out of the picture (side intake and exhaust for middle rotor) and it would be a pretty heavy engine as well. I would bet Mazda would do a larger displacement engine if they can't get their electric assited turbo to work well.

Omicron

Yup.

DOMINION

OK, Heres one to help the ***'s with questions...
Q: If adding a Turbo/SC if not good for your engine then why do it in the first place?