legendracer

Does anyone know how to install the plug to the block?
newbie here that lives in a cold city, and car seems to not start well when its just under +7degrees

is installing the block heater hard? and where could i get the right plug for it?

any suggestions from those who live in a cold region? such as flooding due to cold engine shut off (if im correct)?

StevieG

iTrader: (2)

Can't comment on installing a block heater, but I can comment on the cold weather. The engine is much more likely to flood in cold weather so here are my tips

--If you start it, let it run for a while (until it starts to make temp) before shutting it off
--When shutting it off, rev it up to 3k RPM then immediately shut off the engine
--Get a good battery

legendracer

how cold would be too cold to start the engine?

would -25 Degrees start up?

im not too worried about flooding the engine, since i know not to turn the car off when its cold. Im just worried if the car doesnt start up at all (not flooded, just too cold)

today the temperature is -30 in my city, and i was to scared to go outside becasue i want to go home after LOL

PS* theres no block heater for rx8's apparently, however there is a oil pan heater thing that the dealerships are offering, which cost 300 bucks

StevieG

iTrader: (2)

-30degF?! Put that thing in a warm garage already!!! But seriously....

In terms of oil, the recommended 5w-20 engine oil is rated down to -30degF, as seen in this chart. If you expect regular exposure to -30degF or colder days I'd look into some sort of heater. The warmer oil will help the engine crank faster and will keep it lubricated and protected.



In terms of your car battery, colder batteries produce less power, so you may want to look at getting a battery maintainer to keep it warm which will help your engine crank easier.

As long as your engine is able to crank fast enough, there should be no issues with the fuel system.

And, I'll add these tips in, as they all come from personal experience.

When it gets that cold, the LCD displays in the interior (speedometer, radio, etc) will turn into one big blur until they warm back up.

Also, avoid using your parking brake in the cold as the urethane "flap" that covers the opening in the console will get hard and brittle in the cold weather and will likely snap off if moved. In later model RX-8s Mazda made "improvements" to the urethane material to make it more plyable in cold temps, but I still wouldn't risk it if you don't have to. Just keep the car in place by leaving it in 1st gear.

alnielsen

iTrader: (4)

Search the Canadian forum for anything. If you can't find an answer, post something there. The coldest my car has seen in 4 yrs is -10 and I had no problems starting and warming the car.

legendracer

MIRACLES happened lol

my car was parked for 5 hours at -30 degrees and it started!! but the car didnt sound very good and it reved to 5K!!!! first time ive seen a car start up and rev to 5k, and right after it started i kinda smelled some burnt smell, only for like 10seconds tho...

ive had no problem at all starting the car at -30, if i only park for 3 hours, just that i let the car sit idling for 20 minutes before driving it cause its f'ing too cold for me and too cold for my car to move

luis_o_98

iTrader: (-1)

well its 5 deg out and mine wont start again. i think i need a new battery. it starts fine when its 20 deg so probably the battery

alnielsen

iTrader: (4)

The PCM has a 5k rev limit when the car is cold. When it warms to operating temperature, that limit will go away.

alnielsen

iTrader: (4)

Yes, I think so. I haven't tried yet this morning, but I started fine yesterday.

Socket7

This is not very good advice. It's a lot cheaper to replace a bit of plastic then to have your car roll down a hill and hit something because of the low static compression our engines have. 1st gear will not hold an 8 still on an incline. Use the E-brake. I'd say just park on a flat surface, but then you'd get into the habit of using first and not the e-brake. One day you will park on a hill, forget to set the brake, and tears will follow.

EDZRIDE

iTrader: (1)

This might work, check it out: http://www.jcwhitney.com/ZEROSTART-T...0776_10114.jcw

loco-8

^Nice find, but I'm weary of manipulating hoses to get the coolant warmer in there. Anyone have ideas of hot pad or magnetic engine heaters? I'd like to try the magnetic heater since I can switch it to other cars easily. I'm now living in Alaska and it's -25 F outside. My 8 is in the garage but my wife might kick it out to park her SUV in there (1 car garage; and I rarely drive the 8 here.)

Thx in advance.

StealthTL

iTrader: (1)

Stick-on type - why fight it?

Sixth winter, never failed.....

https://www.rx8club.com/general-automotive-49/oil-pan-heater-163132/

S