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First Time Rotary Engine Owner

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Old Mar 23, 2012 | 08:17 AM
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First Time Rotary Engine Owner

Hello everyone! Sorry for this very first post but I really have a lot of questions about rotary engines. Because I really don’t know what to believe

I had Honda for 7 yrs now and I got my very first 2004 Mazda RX8 6speed
Got it with 80kmiles on it. I’m in love with the high RPM and handling on this car

I’ve read a couple of posts and stickies but I still need more answers from different members (I’m really sorry I just care for the car so much )

So far this is what I did… I went to the dealership and had them do a complete fluid change. Oil, coolant and transmission. (Rip-off price of course)
I had them check the spark plugs and they said it’s still good

My questions.

Oil – is it 5w-30 ??
- Is it true that you have to fill a qt of oil each 1k miles, can I just get the regular mobil1 oil in Pepboys?
- What’s the difference between mineral and synthetic ?
- What’s the approx mileage that I should get before having my oil change ? 3k ? 5k ?
- I got a change oil but my oil meter on the right side is still on the middle, is that normal ?

Engine questions
- Car start up / I need to wait for 5-10 mins before driving it ?
- Changing gears, master tech in Mazda said to shift when rpm reaches 4k ? Is this true?
- Do I need to beat the car by redlining every day? They said not to baby this car
- Turning the car off, rev the car to 4k then turn it off (Is this true)

Major Maintenance ?
- I believe the engine doesn’t have cams or timing belt ? What is the major part that needs replacing and what miles ? 100k ?
-
Anything else I need to know ? J

I really appreciate everyone’s input

Thanks in advance
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Old Mar 23, 2012 | 08:41 AM
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I'd take the time to answer your questions, however, since I already took that time at a prior date, and keep the information updated, I'm just going to point you to a sticky that you clearly missed: https://www.rx8club.com/new-member-forum-197/new-potential-owners-start-here-202454/
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Old Mar 23, 2012 | 08:52 AM
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Originally Posted by tigasTT
- Changing gears, master tech in Mazda said to shift when rpm reaches 4k ? Is this true?
- Do I need to beat the car by redlining every day? They said not to baby this car
I have to ask you this one question:

Don't these two things above sound like they conflict against each other?
You can't really redline it if you shift at 4k rpms every time, now can you?

BC.
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Old Mar 23, 2012 | 09:14 AM
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Originally Posted by RIWWP
I'd take the time to answer your questions, however, since I already took that time at a prior date, and keep the information updated, I'm just going to point you to a sticky that you clearly missed: https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=202454
Thanks will be reading this

Originally Posted by Bladecutter
I have to ask you this one question:

Don't these two things above sound like they conflict against each other?
You can't really redline it if you shift at 4k rpms every time, now can you?

BC.
I'm sorry let me re-phase...

What's the ideal RPM to shift ? 4k ?

Is it true that redlining the car once a day helps burn the gunk ?
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Old Mar 23, 2012 | 09:17 AM
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Originally Posted by tigasTT
What's the ideal RPM to shift ? 4k ?
Every single individual RPM in the range from 3,000 to 9,000 is an ideal shift point. Do NOT get locked into the mindset to shift at a certain point. You need to keep it varied plenty. Too much of any one behavior in this engine is bad. Balance through variety.

Originally Posted by tigasTT
Is it true that redlining the car once a day helps burn the gunk ?
Yes. I wasn't lying in the thread...
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Old Mar 23, 2012 | 09:51 AM
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Originally Posted by RIWWP
Every single individual RPM in the range from 3,000 to 9,000 is an ideal shift point. Do NOT get locked into the mindset to shift at a certain point. You need to keep it varied plenty. Too much of any one behavior in this engine is bad. Balance through variety.



Yes. I wasn't lying in the thread...

Appreciate your quick response! Really!

Okay so anything about 3k is good, I'm so used to piston engine where you can shift very low.

Wow... nice to know Thanks!

I have a quick question that I might have missed on the thread. My oil gauge is in half even I had an oil change. Is that normal ?

Thanks in advance!
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Old Mar 23, 2012 | 09:52 AM
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Originally Posted by tigasTT
I have a quick question that I might have missed on the thread. My oil gauge is in half even I had an oil change. Is that normal ?
If I interpreted that question correctly, the answer is in the 2nd post of my thread.
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Old Mar 23, 2012 | 10:23 AM
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Originally Posted by RIWWP
If I interpreted that question correctly, the answer is in the 2nd post of my thread.
I read it again. THANKS

BTW... I drove today and red lined to 8500 after changing gears my oil indicator came on.. I turned the car off.. Turn it back on and it's gone.... What's up with that ? I just got an oil change...

Hey how do you turn your car off ? I've read a couple and they're all different
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Old Mar 23, 2012 | 10:24 AM
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Oil indicator light means your oil is critically low. Fill it ASAP. You are more likely to trigger a low fluid light (oil, coolant) at high RPMs if you are hovering near the trigger point.




I turn off my RX-8 by rotating the key counterclockwise and withdrawing it from the ignition.
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Old Mar 23, 2012 | 10:28 AM
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Originally Posted by RIWWP
Oil indicator light means your oil is critically low. Fill it ASAP. You are more likely to trigger a low fluid light (oil, coolant) at high RPMs if you are hovering near the trigger point.




I turn off my RX-8 by rotating the key counterclockwise and withdrawing it from the ignition.
I just got an oil change 100 miles on it..... did they mess it up or not do it ?

Ok..

DO you rev to 4k before rotating the key counterclockwise and withdrawing it from the ignition
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Old Mar 23, 2012 | 10:31 AM
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Yes, people can screw up the oil change. Find the oil dipstick and check the level of the oil. Regardless of WHY it's low, if it's low it needs to be topped off. Do not overfill though, plenty of other issues from that. One reason I do all my own oil changes is that I know it's done right.



No, I just pull to a stop and shut it off.


The only reason to hold revs up as you turn off is if you are trying to keep excess fuel from puddling in the engine. The only reason that this puddling would ever be a problem is if your battery, starter, coils, plug wires, or plugs are failing. If everything is good, there is no flooding risk, and doing the 4k shutoff is not doing anything at all.
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Old Mar 23, 2012 | 10:56 AM
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RIWWP, you have much more patience than this thread deserves.

OP, please read the link that RIWWP has kindly spelled out and posted here for you. Ask a question when you have exhausted your searching and researching.
Every question you are inquiring about has been asked NUMEROUS times, since RX8Club began... Think about that.
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Old Mar 23, 2012 | 10:58 AM
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I get the feeling there is a language barrier. I could be wrong, in which case my patience will wear thin much faster.
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Old Mar 23, 2012 | 12:01 PM
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Originally Posted by RIWWP
Yes, people can screw up the oil change. Find the oil dipstick and check the level of the oil. Regardless of WHY it's low, if it's low it needs to be topped off. Do not overfill though, plenty of other issues from that. One reason I do all my own oil changes is that I know it's done right.



No, I just pull to a stop and shut it off.


The only reason to hold revs up as you turn off is if you are trying to keep excess fuel from puddling in the engine. The only reason that this puddling would ever be a problem is if your battery, starter, coils, plug wires, or plugs are failing. If everything is good, there is no flooding risk, and doing the 4k shutoff is not doing anything at all.
I've attached a picture on where the oil is, pretty much full

Originally Posted by RX8Soldier
RIWWP, you have much more patience than this thread deserves.

OP, please read the link that RIWWP has kindly spelled out and posted here for you. Ask a question when you have exhausted your searching and researching.
Every question you are inquiring about has been asked NUMEROUS times, since RX8Club began... Think about that.
Yeah thanks for the patience. I will use the search more and just keep reading. Sorry if I asked this questions again, I'm just in need of quick answers at the moment. Sorry again

Originally Posted by RIWWP
I get the feeling there is a language barrier. I could be wrong, in which case my patience will wear thin much faster.
Yeah I'm not American and English is not my first language. I'm really sorry.
Anyway I really appreciate your fast response and the stickies! Thanks a million
Attached Thumbnails First Time Rotary Engine Owner-oil.jpg  
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Old Mar 31, 2012 | 07:45 AM
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UK

Originally Posted by RIWWP
I get the feeling there is a language barrier. I could be wrong, in which case my patience will wear thin much faster.
its not the laguage buddy its just the not knowing of the rx8 untill you have owned 1 for more than 6 months im new to the rx8 and have plenty of questions, thats why i joined here as so many people that know f*** all about the rx8 tell you different things and just leaves you confused, so be a little more patient with the newbies and in no time at all the newbies will no longer be newbies... CHILL OUT AND BE NOTHING BUT HELPFUL TO NEW RX8 OWNERS
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Old Mar 31, 2012 | 08:48 AM
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Originally Posted by cjanddee
its not the laguage buddy its just the not knowing of the rx8 untill you have owned 1 for more than 6 months im new to the rx8 and have plenty of questions, thats why i joined here as so many people that know f*** all about the rx8 tell you different things and just leaves you confused, so be a little more patient with the newbies and in no time at all the newbies will no longer be newbies... CHILL OUT AND BE NOTHING BUT HELPFUL TO NEW RX8 OWNERS
Hey fucktard
Suck it

Search and read this isn't your mommies breast.
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Old Mar 31, 2012 | 09:20 AM
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Originally Posted by tigasTT
BTW... I drove today and red lined to 8500 after changing gears my oil indicator came on.. I turned the car off.. Turn it back on and it's gone.... What's up with that ? I just got an oil change...
Are you sure it was the oil light? It is a known problem for the coolant light to flash when revving high.
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