derwankel

I was at my dealership yesterday and speaking with the tech folks, Service Manager and General Manager when the conversation turned to AT 4-port engine failures. Turns out MAZDA is seeing statistically higher numbers of 4-port engine failures tied to the AT.

The reason is simple ... we are not driving them hard enough. The rotary needs to be rev'd into the higher rpm ranges at least a couple of times a day to aid in removing carbon buildup on the internal surfaces, namely apex seals. Because many AT drivers tend to "cruise" around, there is not an opportunity to burn off and scrape off carbon buildup ... which can lead to premature engine failure. This is not an issue for manual transmission 6-port cars which are often rev'd and higher than the 4-ports.

So the recommendation is to put it in paddle mode and redline the engine (after proper warm up of course) at least a couple of times a day to aid in removing carbon buildup. Hear the BEEEEEP!

Please note, and I know there is always someone out there that reads these kinds of posts the wrong way, there is NOT an inherent defect or design problem related to this and the 4-port engine. It is merely a statistical observation based on driving habits. It is simply a matter of driving habits that may need to be altered slightly to improve engine reliability and not something to "freak out" about.

Just redline it a couple of times a day. I do not work for MAZDA and I am not their spokesman ... I am merely passing along information from an informed converstaion I had yesterday with very competent MAZDA representatives. These representatives have regular, dedicated, in-person, contact with a Southeast US based, MAZDA Japan rotary support engineer. I trust them implicitly with my car and have been doing business with them for well over 10 years.

therm8

I redline multiple times a day. 39000 miles and still purring like a kitten.

Phil's 8

iTrader: (3)

No problem for me - My engine should last foever

mikeyr

Oh is that what that bloody beep is, I thought my radio was playing up:D

demob05

How 'bout those of us who drive on infrequent basis, as the 8 is a second car for me? Is letting the Rx-8 sit around for long periods of time, and/or driving around mostly in city stop & go type traffic just as bad for carbon buildup problems??

Gigolo Jason

Third gen owners went through the same thing when our cars were new.

derwankel

Sitting around for LONG periods of time causes problems of it's own for any car (i.e. flat spotted tires, weak battery, etc.) but I'm talking months here. You can't build up carbon if the engine is not running. You sound like you drive it a few times a month. Stop and go city traffic can be part of the problem, if you can't really get the revs up. Just be sure when you do drive it to DRIVE it. Do the beep a couple of times ... your engine will thank you.

TeamRX8

iTrader: (25)

then why are some dealers telling 6 speed owners not to rev over 7k or they'll bounce their warranty???? See the P0302 error code threads

they had a lot of engine failures on the FD automatics too, I don't think it's a rev out issue personally, but Mazda is offering so many FOS excuses trying to CTA on ballooning warranty claims it's hard to say what's what

therm8

<1000 miles to go here, 0 warranty claims for me. Abusing a rotary is not redlining it :D

derwankel

I'm not aware of 6-port engine owners being told by MAZDA to not rev above 7K. I searched for P0302 and found a few misfires reported ... some related to aftermarket cats, and other mods.

... all of which really has nothing to do with this issue, which is carbon buildup resulting from rich AFRs and low rpms.

And again, sorry ... I'm not aware of the "excuses" you reference or CTA activity. My dealer has always treated me like a valued customer with honesty and integrity. Sorry yours apparently has not.

TeamRX8

iTrader: (25)

both ones I know of were stock RX-8's no exhaust or engine mods, one I have spoked to personally in the NW

I'm not knocking your particular dealer, but they are not created equal, Mazda Corp is bouncing warranties based on abuse and the owners are claiming not to be abusive, maybe a few would lie but not everybody, a classic is the blue clutch abuse excuse, they are all blue unless they are new and have not ever been driven

can't speak for the Automatic, but doing data logging on my 6 speed I don't see rich AFR's cruising around at low rpm, so that claim seems rather strange just off the top of my head

all is not well: https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...3&postcount=18

rotarygod

I have always recommended to everyone with a rotary to redline it at least once every time you drive it for the exact carbon reasons stated here. You will not hurt it and it is only better for it in the end.

As far as voiding the warranty if revved over 7000 rpm, that's is complete nonsense. If Mazda didn't want anyone revving over 7K, they'd have put fuel cutoff at 7K. The redline is where it is for a reason. It is the maximum safe engine speed.

Vertigo-1

iTrader: (3)

Not easily done unfortunately thanks to the ridiculously tall 2nd gear. I drive in a city environment and the only times I can "safely" run to redline is when I'm taking a turn onto a stretch in first gear. Redline puts the AT RX-8 at around 50 MPH, which already blows away the speed limits in the entire city. Redlining 2nd gear puts it at 70+ MPH, not to mention the engine and exhaust starts screaming bloody murder at that point and attracting everybody and their dogs attention. I rarely get to redline 2nd...with the stupidly tall 2nd gear, there's just no real room to redline the car often.

I'm really pissed at Mazda for not taking the time to properly develop at least a 5 speed transmission for the AT...hell I can live with the lower 7200 redline cap as to not blow up the tranny, but at least let it spin up to 7200 a little faster. Just one more gear + shorter gears would've made the AT so much more fun.

derwankel

6-Speed AT from the MX-5 should make its way to the RX-8 along with the 6-Port engine for '06 ... it'll be time to trade up then. Unfortunately it's probably not gonna help the lack of space you encounter to stretch the car's legs.

Seems to me you describe a situation kind of like running from room to room in an apartment ... does not make a whole lot of sense.

storemannormin

My mazda mechanic told me to rev high .

zoom44

yes it is.

myrx8

My Tech told me nothing about having to run the car hard. My car is still out after 50 days and three engines later.

They stated that the oil metering pump was bad which caused an internal engine failure, then the second engine had a cracked engine mount, then the third (which I had for 6 hours and drove for only 45 minutes) - died on me. So i am back in another car rental paid by Mazda. I wonder waht new problems I will come up with now.

dannobre

iTrader: (3)

Dude...3 engines........bad luck You have a black cloud folowing your car around like that Schleprock guy from the Flintstones :D

zoom44

why would they swap a whole engien for a bad mount?

VelociRedBeast

Let's just say if my car was a person she would be in GREAT shape.

storemannormin

That is bad luck I would paint it yellow and park it front of mazda's head office with a sign saying lemon's for sale.....I would demand a new ride.

guy321

I wonder the same thing, seems fishy.

army_rx8

no kidding.after 3 engines i think it would be easier and more cost effective to just give you a new one.

Rotary Rasp

iTrader: (2)

Lemon Law!