Many years ago I had an '04 RX8. Put 50k very happy miles on it. The day I sold it was a sad one.

Couldn't resist and bought an '07 zero option 6mt. Just hit 61k. Runs and drives great, but no records.

iirc you people like pics:


Since I've been gone for a while, catch me up on the latest. What's due by 60k if not done?

- Plugs and coils?
- Trans / diff fluid?
- Any oil updates? Still dino 5w-30? Will this question still spark huge debates?

The rest of the ownership quirks / Renesis care and feeding I think I remember.

Anything else I should inspect / go over? Any common problems that have popped up in the last few years? I know the coolant level sensor is busted, and just I slogged my way through several threads about that. Otherwise car seems solid and well cared for.

 

Welcome back

I added a "I just got one, what should I do first" section to the new owner's thread a while back, covers most of your maintenance questions.

The oil question is increasingly a non-issue. Oil analysis testing is showing that the high quality synthetics do great, and engine teardowns are showing that regardless of what oil is used, the spot where the oil is being injected is the cleanest spot in the engine. All the carbon problems are gasoline related.

I don't think there are any 'new quirks' that aren't in that thread. Probably the only significant warning/problem added over the last year or two is the reman sealant problem that is taking out cooling systems shortly after reman replacement. I cover that in the new owner's thread in a couple places too though.

I also disproved the common 'seafoam' method a couple years ago with before and after borescoped pics. Sucking it in and letting it sit does literally nothing. Ingesting it with the engine running is far more effective, but if you do it that way using distilled water is just as effective for far far cheaper.

 

Excellent. That thread is incredible.

Using expected weight for my specific trim package + my weight, Torque reports about 181hp to the wheels peak. 1st full tank calculated out to 18.85mpg, which is better than my '04 got on winter blend gas. So I think motor is relatively healthy. Looks like an ignition refresh should be first up just to be sure.

 

I've never found Torque's power or mileage numbers to be accurate. With the correct specs for my 8, I had to drop my 8's weight to something like 1,900lbs before the torque results matched my dyno results, and i think like 2,200lbs to match my actual mileage.

Same problem in my Miata. While i was still on the factory ECU at 177whp, i had to drop it's weight down to 1,200ish lbs to match my dyno number.

 

^I've never had luck with HP and Torque numbers on OBDII apps. Apparently my 2007 Pontiac G5 GT had 285 HPs (2.4L 4cyl NA) and now my 2002 Ford Focus (2.0 4cyl NA) has over 300 torks?!?!? Do not trust...

They are great for tracking STFT/LTFT, Timing, Temperatures and other data though!

 

I dunno about you guys, I'm pretty happy with my 912hp at the AccessPort.

 

^LMAO!!!! Ed Zachary!

 

you should do the normal maintenance thats in the schedule, with a few additions.

1. change the diff oil, Mazda doesn't have you do this until 90k, seems like 60k is a better idea, its easy.

2. check the coils. odds are that they are fine.
3. check the wires, they tend to get loose on the spark plugs, check 2 is resistance. Mazda has a spec in the FSM which is here Foxed.ca - Mazda RX-7 Manuals
4. change the cabin air filter.
5. make sure its had all the recalls.

optional stuff, an alignment is nice. the stock specs are actually completely fine on the street, you may want to pick the middle of Mazda's specs, as the tolerance is huge.

new floor mats are also nice, they were like $75, its like instant new car smell/feel.

other than that just enjoy it.

 

Did you get a steal?

 

One thing you forgot. Sea foam gets into the cat and starts to damaged it.
Only way to prevent that is to disconnect it.
Better off using water.