seanp

Hey! I'm probably one of those 'ignorant poms' and a full & active member of both clubs!

We all love each other really - and no we don't all believe only what our Mazda dealers tell us! We do have some friendly active Mazda dealers whose word and experience we also trust, as much as others trust yours

In fact most of us utterly refuse to pay Mazda's extortionate price for their 'own brand' dexilia (sp?) oil (shown to be differing grades/quality/supplier over time!), and other OEM parts etc; and know the meaning of "semi-synthetic" vs "fully synthetic" vs "mineral grade" etc. to the point of effectively educating our own dealers on oils for Rotaries! My local dealer even suggested Mobil 1 to me once!

However, we don't all necessarily believe in your arguments and resaons for insisting we all use fuel additives, no questions asked -- and alluding to the fact that those who don't or haven't (e.g. on my 54 plate 50K mile series I), were doomed!

"We" also don't believe in 3,000 mile full oil changes, as most Merkins seem to think is appropriate. There's a lot of cultural things going on, and what's good for some is not necessarily good for all

We prefer to get on and do what's best for our cars -- drive them to their max (once fully warmed up of course!)

ASH8

What.."Why you must pre-mix" in Series 1, as a "Fuel Additive"...tell that to most who know here that you don't need to and see the response....

I ask yourself, Why have Mazda added a Middle Lubrication Nozzle on series II if "Lubrication was not an issue"..this is why you pre-mix to LUBRICATE.

YOU POMS have used the word 'Doomed', and good on you your car has done 54K, you are right on the mark.

YOU POMS also said there are many engines with well over 150,000 miles on them and going strong (sorry I don't believe you), NO ONE HERE has done 150K on an original engine...a recent look shows most are being renewed or lately being refused for 100% assistance by Mazda UK, because like the USA and Australia it has become an epidemic of engine failures..

And if you don't believe my "arguments" then you don't believe 75% of members here..

Yeah it is a cultural thing...I am an AUSSIE you are a POM and this is mainly a YANK Forum..

Apologies to OP, wrong Thread for this..

seanp

Apologies to OP too (mods, please split);

I don't believe "Lubrication is not an issue" -- that's why we put oil in the blinking things I think that lack of maintenance is the main issue amongst the great unwashed -- which is why Mazda have taken a more precautionary approach with an additional nozzle at the point of most wear over the very long term.

But why do you believe that if Mazda have addressed/fixed the issue with the 3rd injector (and revised EMOPs - which appear to inject *less* oil overall, but over a greater surface area?) that you *still* need pre-mix in your Series II?? (Which I have now BTW , after my car met its demise with a visit into some Armco at Bedford - nothing to do with not using pre-mix)?

Yes, there are plenty of Series I 50,60,70,80,90,100K miles + cars in the UK, on first engine, not many using pre-mix (club/board members who represent a very small percentage of owners, and a very small percentage of them are pre-mix users!); mine was still going very strong. A higher percentage of 'failures' are seen on the boards, because they tend to attract people *when* they've started having problems (other than us out-and-out enthusiasts). My (and dare I say the 'club' experience) is that these are mostly due to complete neglect like "How long after the red oil light should I think about topping it up - I was thinking about waiting to 6 months till next service!"

It's quite simple: You believe in pre-mix, I don't; Yanks believe in a 3K oil change, I (and rest of Europe/World? - that'd be like a 100 mile fuel change IMO!) don't. Many believe in condenser/oil-cooler grilles "oh, you *must* fit them, otherwise you *will* end up with punctured rads", Not I (with 5 years and 55K of enthusiastic back-road miles).

Anyhow -- done to death on the other forums; I won't go any further. End of.

ASH8

The RX-8 Series 1 was the first Rotary Not to have a middle Oil Nozzle since the 1985 FC RX-7 or since Mazda introduced their Direct Oil Weepers (1985), IMO and from many here who re-build rotaries believe Mazda 'Stuffed Up' big time by not having one, the re-introduction in the Series II or R3 Mazda put one back and kept the side ones.

Why do I premix in my Series II, one for insurance, two for keeping Carbon softer and three for insurance, basically as a few Mazda techs have said, the correct pre-mixing has all up-sides, no downside....and it is nothing new to old rotor heads, has been done/around for 40 years.

As far as S1 engines longevity, I know of one South African who got 208,000 KMS (129K miles), a poll here does not show too many at this distance and none with more since I last checked...the "average" appears to be the 60K mile mark.

Australia has oil changes at 10K KMS, not the 20K KMS I hear in the UK, far too long.

And Yes I agree some failures can be put down to owner neglect/ignorance (can also be a typical Mazda Dealer Service /Garage response to appease concerned RX-8 owners).

There are quite a few forum members who changed their oil and serviced their cars regularly and way before Mazda Due Schedule and their engines still needed replacement.
One owner attributes his bad engine to Oil Viscosity (5W20) and not pre-mixing until it was too late....Yes it is a personal issue, but one that can do no harm.

Air Conditioner Condenser Grilles....well you should have one (Factory) on your R3 as they are standard factory fitted and were on UK Series 1 RX-8's from about 2006 on-wards and are exclusive to the UK..they are only a small Black Grille that covers about 1/3 (bottom) of your condenser.
Mazda Part Number..FE01-61-89Y (See Attachment).

Being exclusive to the UK must mean there is an issue with your countries B roads with rocks/stones puncturing the condenser?...if you do not have one I would be asking why?
BTW: I imported one for my car, just for "insurance", $90 is cheaper than $1000, having said that knowing my luck I will get a stone/rock through the unprotected part!!..