Fall is here and Winter is coming! Things to remember about YOUR RX-8
10-19-2007, 06:01 PM
#28
Grand Chancellor
In regards to FL22 coolant, read your manual.
Also if your rx8 is FL22 filled, it should have an FL22 label by the radiator cap area or thereabouts warning to mazda techs not to fill with non-FL22.
According to my manual, FL22 lasts 192,000km or 120 mths.
Also if your rx8 is FL22 filled, it should have an FL22 label by the radiator cap area or thereabouts warning to mazda techs not to fill with non-FL22.
According to my manual, FL22 lasts 192,000km or 120 mths.
10-19-2007, 07:57 PM
#29
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zoom-
all excellent info so thanks so much.
when i was having issues with one of my TPMS (which i ended up just replacing) i found a nice little tip with the air at gas stations. i'm not sure if it's something widely known but i didn't realize that if you have to fill up at one of those places, many have a small button on the bottom or sides that if you press twice it starts up. i prefer not to fill at those places but in a pinch a few times it certainly felt better than paying the $1 for air.
all excellent info so thanks so much.
when i was having issues with one of my TPMS (which i ended up just replacing) i found a nice little tip with the air at gas stations. i'm not sure if it's something widely known but i didn't realize that if you have to fill up at one of those places, many have a small button on the bottom or sides that if you press twice it starts up. i prefer not to fill at those places but in a pinch a few times it certainly felt better than paying the $1 for air.
10-20-2007, 02:42 AM
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Great post. Saved my having to post and get flamed numerous times. By the way, people who live in non-snowy places don't enjoy their car as much. There is nothing like that feeling of warm air and dry roads after having been forced to suffer through the ice and snow.......ah who am I kidding, I want to live there to. For the record, Wet ****** on South Beach is one of the most enjoyable places to spend an afternoon.
10-21-2007, 09:24 AM
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10-22-2007, 01:06 PM
#38
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well there is one good thing about florida, if we do get below freezing, its for like 1 hour in the middle of the night and it doesnt get there often! (good for the car, sucks for me who loves the cold!)
10-22-2007, 01:20 PM
#39
EXCELLENT Info...new owner and this is my first winter parking up my baby so very useful for me!!Fall has arrived here in the NW and around other parts of the country. Soon It will catch up with the rest of you and Winter will be upon us as well.
With that in mind there are a few things everyone should remember about your RX-8 at this time of year. Many new owners may not have experienced these things yet. With the amount of new people owning Used 2004s and 2005s I thought this might help.
Flooding-
Because of the design of the Renesis it is possible to flood them when moving short distances when the engine is cold. Remember that warming your car up is the best way to avoid this. Instead of just moving the car cold from the garage to the driveway and shutting it off, take a turn around the block. Gives you a few minutes seat time and you will thank yourself later when the car starts.
Loss of power when cold-
Talking about warming up the car brings up another topic. High Revs on a cold engine is a bad thing. To help keep your engine safe the RX-8s PCM can and will lower the effective redline until the engine is properly warmed up. So when you feel a loss of power at @ 6000rpm just after you started driving that’s the PCM pulling timing to save the engine. Drive casually a little longer.
Frothy Dipstick-
When checking your oil you may notice a frothy, milky, yellowy substance on the dipstick. This is condensation and is quite normal. Especially this time of year as the dipstick tube can be very cold, giving the condensation a perfect place to form. If it disturbs you there is a redesigned and insulated dipstick tube available from Mazda.
TPMS-
The more the temperature drops the less pressure is in your tires. The TPMS light on the dash- looks like this (!)- will light to tell you the tires need to be inflated. Some folks will post to us that the light was on in their dash but they drove to the place with the air filling station and checked their tires only to find the pressures were fine. They surmise then that it must be a sensor/light malfunction.
That is incorrect.
That driving heated up the tires and the air inside thereby increasing the pressures and giving false gauge readings. Check your tires BEFORE driving. Note the amount of air needed for each tire, and then ADD that amount when you get to the place with the air filling station.
And please folks don’t pay for air! Remember you can always use that inflation kit in your trunk that came in the car.
Tires-
The OEM RE040 tires are NOT WINTER TIRES. They dont have the tread for snow and they turn into bricks when it gets cold. If you expect to travel much this winter on snowy roads or in consistently below 35F temps your downfall will be the RE040s. Please, please, please get a set of steel wheels with some dedicated snow tires. They will save you allot of hassle and us allot of “the rx-8 sucks in the snow” threads. Really the rx-8 drives fine. Just remember it’s a RWD car, which many of you might not be familiar with, and get those snows on!
Radiator-
Fall is a good time to check that your coolant/antifreeze is the right mixture. You can get the appropriate gauge at any automotive store. Make sure you have the right mix for the winter temperatures you will normally face in your area. If you haven't done one on your car and it’s a couple of years old it’s also a good time to do a radiator drain and refill.
Remember folks- if you see the Lincoln Memorial start to shine on your dash, that’s the low coolant sign. Put a little 50/50 coolant /water mix into the coolant reservoir to top it off.
Important Note(thanks delhi)- Before adding any coolant you need to determine if your car came filled with FL22 type coolant. To do so look at the coolant cap- If you have FL22 it will be printed there. Most '06 and newer Mazda's come with the FL22-type. If yours is one of them don't use/mix any other type coolant with the FL-22.
If you're in Snow prone or Ice prone areas its a good time to check that you have a ice scraper/ brush in your car. Also top off your Washer fluid and keep the extra in your car for those snowy days.
Thanks for Reading!Keep the Dirty Side down!
With that in mind there are a few things everyone should remember about your RX-8 at this time of year. Many new owners may not have experienced these things yet. With the amount of new people owning Used 2004s and 2005s I thought this might help.
Flooding-
Because of the design of the Renesis it is possible to flood them when moving short distances when the engine is cold. Remember that warming your car up is the best way to avoid this. Instead of just moving the car cold from the garage to the driveway and shutting it off, take a turn around the block. Gives you a few minutes seat time and you will thank yourself later when the car starts.
Loss of power when cold-
Talking about warming up the car brings up another topic. High Revs on a cold engine is a bad thing. To help keep your engine safe the RX-8s PCM can and will lower the effective redline until the engine is properly warmed up. So when you feel a loss of power at @ 6000rpm just after you started driving that’s the PCM pulling timing to save the engine. Drive casually a little longer.
Frothy Dipstick-
When checking your oil you may notice a frothy, milky, yellowy substance on the dipstick. This is condensation and is quite normal. Especially this time of year as the dipstick tube can be very cold, giving the condensation a perfect place to form. If it disturbs you there is a redesigned and insulated dipstick tube available from Mazda.
TPMS-
The more the temperature drops the less pressure is in your tires. The TPMS light on the dash- looks like this (!)- will light to tell you the tires need to be inflated. Some folks will post to us that the light was on in their dash but they drove to the place with the air filling station and checked their tires only to find the pressures were fine. They surmise then that it must be a sensor/light malfunction.
That is incorrect.
That driving heated up the tires and the air inside thereby increasing the pressures and giving false gauge readings. Check your tires BEFORE driving. Note the amount of air needed for each tire, and then ADD that amount when you get to the place with the air filling station.
And please folks don’t pay for air! Remember you can always use that inflation kit in your trunk that came in the car.
Tires-
The OEM RE040 tires are NOT WINTER TIRES. They dont have the tread for snow and they turn into bricks when it gets cold. If you expect to travel much this winter on snowy roads or in consistently below 35F temps your downfall will be the RE040s. Please, please, please get a set of steel wheels with some dedicated snow tires. They will save you allot of hassle and us allot of “the rx-8 sucks in the snow” threads. Really the rx-8 drives fine. Just remember it’s a RWD car, which many of you might not be familiar with, and get those snows on!
Radiator-
Fall is a good time to check that your coolant/antifreeze is the right mixture. You can get the appropriate gauge at any automotive store. Make sure you have the right mix for the winter temperatures you will normally face in your area. If you haven't done one on your car and it’s a couple of years old it’s also a good time to do a radiator drain and refill.
Remember folks- if you see the Lincoln Memorial start to shine on your dash, that’s the low coolant sign. Put a little 50/50 coolant /water mix into the coolant reservoir to top it off.
Important Note(thanks delhi)- Before adding any coolant you need to determine if your car came filled with FL22 type coolant. To do so look at the coolant cap- If you have FL22 it will be printed there. Most '06 and newer Mazda's come with the FL22-type. If yours is one of them don't use/mix any other type coolant with the FL-22.
If you're in Snow prone or Ice prone areas its a good time to check that you have a ice scraper/ brush in your car. Also top off your Washer fluid and keep the extra in your car for those snowy days.
Thanks for Reading!Keep the Dirty Side down!
10-23-2007, 01:15 PM
#40
I remember, they told us about a frothy, milky, yellowy substance on the dipstick in jr. high health class. A shot of penicillian was supposed to take care of it.
Seriously, good advice. I garage mine from November through the end of February (other than periodic warm-ups/seal-lubing sessions) but any DD's should heed all of it.
Seriously, good advice. I garage mine from November through the end of February (other than periodic warm-ups/seal-lubing sessions) but any DD's should heed all of it.
10-24-2007, 08:34 PM
#42
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Thanks for the awesome post it will be my first winter with the car, and I am a bit worried about it. Luckily i'm used to driving a 300hp Rwd Lincoln with All Season Sport tires on it, and I got my winter wheels in the garage ready to get put on in a few weekends. But what i really want to say thank you is for reminding me to get a snow brush for my car!
10-24-2007, 09:51 PM
#43
Registered
Good question. But it's been three days and no answer. So...
I googled and searched. It's Mazda's own brand of antifreeze. It's pre-diluted with water, so you put it in straight from the jug. Good to -44 C, lasts an insanely long time that others have posted.
My owner's manual says that if your car has FL22, use only that. Zoomy's coolant filler cap has a FL22 sticker.
Good thing this thread came along. I had no idea. Maybe not a critical deal like Honda power steering fluid, but it's good to know there's something special to watch out for if I ever need to add coolant.
Ken
I googled and searched. It's Mazda's own brand of antifreeze. It's pre-diluted with water, so you put it in straight from the jug. Good to -44 C, lasts an insanely long time that others have posted.
My owner's manual says that if your car has FL22, use only that. Zoomy's coolant filler cap has a FL22 sticker.
Good thing this thread came along. I had no idea. Maybe not a critical deal like Honda power steering fluid, but it's good to know there's something special to watch out for if I ever need to add coolant.
Ken
11-04-2007, 01:54 PM
#49
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Hey Yall I searched and cant find any specific info on which coolant to use. Can you help?
I think its a 50/50 premix, but if I recall the manual says 60/40......I have an 04, so no FL22.
Thanks.
I think its a 50/50 premix, but if I recall the manual says 60/40......I have an 04, so no FL22.
Thanks.
Last edited by hough2696; 11-05-2007 at 07:23 AM.
11-04-2007, 10:10 PM
#50
Administrator
Thread Starter
id say 50/50 is good but ive been in NC in the winter (camp lejeune) and been thru some hellacious ice storms there. so my suggestion is to test it with one of those coolant testers
to make sure it works down to the temp you will likely see this winter
to make sure it works down to the temp you will likely see this winter