ken-x8

Take a look at Tire Rack's winter packages. They recommend 17 inch rims. They also have TPMS sensors at a reasonable price.

Ken

SpecialBlend

I have a quick question about winter temps and our gear box:

I live in Calgary Canada and it is usually 0 to -20 celcius (32F to -4F) all winter and sometimes -30(-22F) for a week or so. Long story short i notice now when it is cold my gears grind from first to second, it isn't a violent grind because i only shift at 4000rpm when it isn't fully warmed up but it is still enough for me to not like it, lol.

Only way around it is to warm up for about 2-5min before driving or doing a quick double clutch between first and second. After a minute or so of driving the grind does not happen and the worst that happens is a notchy or clunky shift to second.

Is it a bad idea to switch to something like Redline tranny fluid or will it not like the cold weather either?

P.S. i just had my tranny fluid and diff fluid swapped out by the dealership about 5000 km ago.(Of course it was OEM stuff that they replaced it with though)

Thanks for the help guys,

SpecialBlend

longpath

iTrader: (1)

It definitely sounds to me like a job for Redline or Amsoil. May I ask how many Km you have on your 8?

SpecialBlend

Just went over 70,000 km this weekend

longpath

iTrader: (1)

You're just a wee bit further along than I am, so maybe I should take my own advice and swap my transmission and differential fluids with some redline. Best of luck to you!

Cheers!

kleptomaniak

whoa whoa whoa... inflation kit..?? where???
ive got an 04 and i dont see this inflation kit anywhere...

RK

iTrader: (1)

Your tire repair kit. Little black case that looks like it could hold a gun. I don't believe it was standard but almost all models included it.

kleptomaniak

i bought my car used, so who knows if it has all the right gear still in it.. where might this little gun box be found?

rotaryPilot

One of the best threads I have ever read.

A question about the following statement:


What if you mix FL-22 with a bottle of Red Line's water wetter ? Are you going to have a problem?

Thanks

Tim Tim Tim

I was actually just looking at getting the rx8 16" wheels off the base model and putting snow tires on it.. Just through online pricing, the tires for the 18" rim on the car now is about 210 at its cheapest whereas I can get the tires for the 16" rim for half that. On autopartswarehouse.com they have the 16 inch rim for like 130 a piece with free shipping

Rick

^Does your 8 have 18'' wheels? If so the 16'' will not fit over your front brakes

SpecialBlend

17" is the lowest you can go if you have the brakes that are on the GT.

Remember that for winter conditions a skinnier tire is better.

I stuck with pirelli sottozero winter tires that are 17", 215 wide and 55 side wall.

Would we be able to fit 205 tires providing a thinner rim?(enough brake clearance)

Tayninh

Good advice on the tires. I learned the stupid hard way. OEM Pole Position All Seasons and the car is basically been useless in any amount of snow. The 18" is too wide and so it plows and the tires stink although I paid a good deal for those tires which are excellent for dry and wet pavement conditions. I am going to try and find 17" steel wheels and put on snow tires just for the winter driving in Colorado. Also, my battery just died today. The dealer put in a new stronger one as well has a stronger starter as part of a recall notice last year. Now the battery is out. I think I will buy an Interstate battery. Hopefully that will hold up better. This car gets driven to work too so it was charged up and there were no CEL lights on. Course it was 9 degrees this morning but its 50 now and no reason why the car is dead now unless a light is on somewhere. I'll need to check that out once I get the car gets a hot shot and is home. My 04 only has 14,000 on it and already its on its third set up plugs, a new battery, new starter and several computer upgrades or restarts or whatever they are called. I have always had the oil changed at the Mazda dealer.

Tim Tim Tim

Thanks for the info. I didnt realize the base models had different brakes too. Sucks for them lol. I went ahead and bought a package deal from www.discounttiredirect.com which is a set of cheap 17's with tires with free replacement and free shipping for under a grand

Tim Tim Tim

your probably going to have a shitload of issues with that car.. 14k miles on an 04? drive the thing already lol

petra

Thanks for that post.. I'm learning so much at this site. I have parked my rx8 for the winter (in October) . I live in Yellowknife. Question! I'm being told by some people that I should start my car once a week and some say don't start it at all , just leave it. The temp here gets between -30 to -45. Is there anything special I should be doing or just keep it covered and start it up again around May? I bought the Rx8 40th anniversary edition this past June. Thanks for your help!

longpath

iTrader: (1)

The only thing I would say is that if you do decide to start it once a week, make sure it reaches full operating temperature before shutting it down. Since my own 8 is a daily driver (my only daily driver) I don't have the luxury of mothballing it for the winter; but I am curious what long-term storage tricks folks might have and whether they might have applicability to general winterising.

SebtownRx8

/golfclap very well done Sticky needed.

petra

Thanks for the reply! Cheers

shaunv74

Either way make sure you add fuel stabilizer so the fuel does not break down and gum up your fuel injectors and clog your fuel filter.

Also it's a good idea to start it once per week or so to keep all the rubber seals lubricated etc.

longpath

iTrader: (1)

Are there any fuel stabilisers that are particularly good for or safe in a rotary?

shaunv74

Nothing different that I'm aware of. Anyone else have any recommendation?

Huey52

iTrader: (2)

Sta-bil is just fine. I use it in all of my machines, year round.

http://www.amazon.com/Gold-Eagle-222...8923817&sr=8-1

(available locally, Autozone, etc, just the first weblink I came to)

longpath

iTrader: (1)

Since they state it is OK for 2 stroke engines, would it be a reasonable assumption that it is safe for use in fuel that has premix added (even just supplementary premix)? I don't mean to be obtuse. I just don't want to go off half-cocked because I thought you were saying something and didn't bother to check it out first.

Tayninh

Wow, I sure hope not. I kept the car in the garage for the winter because I had a back up vehicle when it snowed in Colorado. This year my backup is with my son so I am stuck trying to get the RX going to get me to work. The battery was replaced by the dealer for free. So I'll take a free battery any day. The dealer does the oil changes and also checks the systems as well as provide any new computer updates. I will just have to put with the issues one at time until I get much more miles on it then it has now. Its on its 3 set up spark plugs too! LOL