Mine seemed to start at around 5,000 miles, and at the end of a 200 mile trip. Been doing it since. Doesn't do it when the engine is cold, but once warmed up, all acceleration gives a sound similar to engine ping. The recall was done at the end of the 200 mile trip with no effect. Power feels great, and gas mileage is 18-22. I had been running 87 octane since about 1,500 miles, and switched back to premium on the last tank. So far no difference. Will do premium for a couple of tanks, then, if no difference, back to regular. Car is totally stock.

 

I have all the recall work done, and my 8 will ping easy on 87oct fuel if its over 80F. I have to use prem-fuel or it will ping. It did not ping on reg for the first 20k. Why? Do I now have carbon buildup?

 

I'm not sure we have the same sound; I do agree with zoom that there are several different "marbles" on this board. Besides; if the sound I'm hearing is carbon induced ping, then how does that explain the dealer car with 30 miles that I drove that made the same sound?

 

By the way, I'm not trying to doubt you or anything, but how do you know that it is ping since rotary ping sounds different than piston engine ping. Also, has your car ever thrown a CEL when it pings?

 

lol, perhaps

 

Never a CEL. This being my seventh rotary in twenty six years. This is not the first rotary-ping I've heard. Though the 8 engine sounds alot louder then my previous RX's If I run prem-91 it runs perfectly without any detonation, even if its hot out. If I run reg-87 I can get the ping easily at 80F and above. I am thinking of trying different carbon build-up cleaners. Waist of time and money?

 

No - I think you should. I recommend FP60 from Lube Control in every tank (1 oz per 5 gallons, so is pretty cheap to run). The guys at BITOG swear by FP60 and that is what got me started using it.

BTW - I have no "marbles in a can" for my 8 (but it is pretty new) and I intend to keep it that way.

 

I have an 06 with about 2500 miles on it and notice the rattling sound below 3 or 4K, especially when the engine is cold. I don't know if it was always there or I just started noticing it after reading these forums (dang you all). It does sound like a piston car I had that used to ping or my old diesel MB, though not as loud. Other than that, the car runs strong. I started pre-mixing but this was doing it before the pre-mix. I always use 92-93 octane in the states.

 

Another observation; there are times when the marbles (or sand or whatever) sound doesn't appear, but there is a whirring sound coming from the same location. Once again, this is only sometimes; when I rev my car I can either get straight rotary blare, just the whirring sound, or the whirring sound with "marbles." I don't know if I sometimes get marbles without the whirring sound as the marbles are a bit louder and so I need to strain to hear the whirring sound when the marbles are also present.

 

Hi all, I have a 2006 6MT GT. I've had the marbles effect since day 1 from 8,000RPM to 9,500RPM. Just did the Recall with a new set of Plugs and the latest flash. The noise is gone now. Now I can hear the niec engine tone at 9,000RPM with no distractions.

 

Mine's still there anytime over 6k. Worse when the engine is cold, mild when it's hot but still there. So much so I just turn the radio up.

 

For those of you that have the noise, when you hear it, bring it up maybe 1000 or so more revs and take your foot completely off the gas. Is the sound still there? It is for mine, which is why I believe it's not detonation as when you get off the gas, the injectors shut off and so there should be no fuel in the rotary chambers to cause detonation.

Thoughts on my reasoning?

 

As soon as I take my foot off it stops, and comes back as soon as I get on it again in that gear or the next.

 

It looks like Old Rotor and myself at least have different types of "marbles."

 

I think I am on to something with mine. Running the heater on full for a while stops mine from getting the marbles in a can with power loss. I don't have to run the heat the entire time, but I have to run it when the pinging happens. It stops after that.

I am lost at this point. How does the heater core affect power? It is a night and day difference. Since I wrote this it will go back to pinging and knocking. The heater is now a player in troubleshooting this. FYI.

 

k so i guess we need to do the throttle by pass mod for fixing this. is this true. how about a synthetic oil?
has the throttle bypass mod been proven to stop the sand and the marbles? what about radiator hoses. like blitz hoses?

 

NOOOO!!! SYNTHETIC OIL IS EVIL !

IT WILL DESTORY ALL MAZDA MADE ENGINES, BECAUSE MAZDA DO NOT RECOMMEND FOR ANY OF THEIR AUTOMOBILES!

oh wait , Im using Synthetic oil .... bite me.

I dont think hoses makes a different

 

k so sarcasm? still the question exists... is synthetic better for the 8?

 

The ones that Mazda accepts.

 

ok, after reading this im not sure i have the same problem as you, but ill post here anyway..

04 mt, currently around 45k on it. in july i replaced my brake lines and pads as part of track prep and went out to bed the pads. at first all went well, got through the 20 and 40mph stops, but as i was getting to the 60 i noticed that, upon wot, my engine began to crackle and there seemed to be a lack of power. i wouldnt necessarily describe it as marbles in a can, but i guess it could be muted marbles in a can. it almost reminded me of a bowl of rice crispies. as i said, there seemed to be a lack of power, but it was definitely still accellerating. it was nothing i had ever experienced before, and with a track day coming up i had been very attentive to the car over the past few weeks. took it home and didnt have any more issues, track day went well, all was good. but the noise started showing up at random times and has been doing so since. its almost something i can feel, its hard to describle. i happened to be headed into the dealership one day when it started happening so i could show them, but the tech was pretty much a moron and said he didnt hear anything so nothing was done.

any suggestions?

 

Update:
Only seem to get the sand when I don't let the car sit at idle for a few mins. to warm up from a cold start. If I don't let it warm up about 1/2 way to op. temp. then I only sometimes get the sand, and it only lasts for a couple of mins of driving.
Heater core? Water pump?

It does go away when I let off the throttle.

 

There's a list of different marbles in the general forum if you search. The techs often don't know what they're listening for, so whenever I take my car in I make it a point to sit with them/have them sit with me on the diagnostic drive. It also prevents them from simply joyriding my car (how many times have you gotten the car back from the dealership with a "Couldn't replicate sound" and yet your stereo is set to some rock station with the volume at like 20). How apparent was the loss of power? Does it go away if you lift? Did you get a CEL?

 

My marbles are there only on acceleration when the car is cold. It sounds more like the old piston type of ping. I use 92-93 octane and always have. It will go away once warmed up and it does not affect power. I just got the reflash and it did not change. If it is detonation, my engine should shell out before my warranty is up, but I am not convinced it is detonation. I think I will have my GF ride the triangle in the engine compartment to listen for it. You think she will go for that?

 

haven't we discussed that already? yes I have exactly the same thing, the throttle position has no imact on the saound - just revs...
I was driving home yesterday and the sound was gone - I was so happy I could rev it up to redline and hear only pure rotary sound... but ofcourse it returned after engine restart

For now I think that me, Zenmoused and LionZoo are in the same club

 

the passenger probably doesnt feel the loss of power, but i do. its a situation where my foot is deeper in the pedal then it should be to accelerate like i am. never had a cel accompany it, it only happens when the cars moving and ive only noticed it warm. i tend not to push it cold so that could factor into it.