Okay, I'm currently sitting in Ohio...it's really cold outside. My car was sitting outside (i just drove it last night)...just now tried to start it, engine won't even turn over. Upon inspecting the engine to see what's wrong, I found that my oil and engine coolant have chunks of ice in it. The stupid thing froze! We had to push it into the garage, shut the doors, and suspend a space heater above it so i can drive it home tonight to get to work tomorrow!! Has this happened to anyone else with their RX8 in the cold? I've never heard of such a thing happening...EVER! Also, during the cold (i had this car last winter) my car misfires so many times upon starting, and my check engine light is on consistently throughout pretty much the entire winter. I am in love with my RX8 in the summer, and wanting to beat it with my foot in the winter...such polar opposite feelings for my car!! I think i'll be getting rid of it...it's been in the shop so many times since purchasing it...and only in the cold (if i lived in warmer climates, this car would be a dream!). Anyone else having these problems? And also, if anyone else has had their car "freeze" can someone help me out?

Thanks so much.

Lindsey

 

It really sucks that this happened to you, but did you really have to start the same thread / re-posts in this AND the rx8 discussion forum?

 

sorry, i just needed some help...i'm exhausted and need to get home to sleep for work in the AM. So i posted it as many places as i thought someone could give me some help.

Lindsey

 

i thought that for something to freeze it had to contain water or h20 molecules....I was also under the impression that water is used to extract crude oil from the ground and then the oil is processed to get rid of undesierable substances(which would include water). also i don't know what engine coolant has in it but i didnt think it was water either. On this theory could some water have somehow gotten into the oil and coolant maybe through a leak or something becuase even though its cold i don't think its cold enough there to freeze oil!

 

How can you tell that your oil has ice chunks in it?...did you remove the oil pan?

 

The oil icse chunks are new to me... The water in coolant is...well water in coolant, the only thing antifreeze does is alter the freezing/boiling point of water. The ice in the coolant is an issue. If it was really frozen, then your water to coolant ratio is way off. As mentioned above, how do you know you had ice in your oil? Condensatin around the dipstick is normal, and it could possibly freeze locally, but I am not sure how it would be in the chambers to the point where your starter could not turn the engine. Perhaps your battery is weak?...?...

 

if you are still using the stock battery, then you should definately get that replaced with either the new, more powerful battery that mazda is using or replace it with an aftermarket battery. i don't remember which model exactly, but lots of people on here like the optima batteries. do a search and you should find the info on it.

if you are getting a bunch of misfires, you should also have the dealer put the redesigned spark plugs in.

and also have them check your coolant because like was mentioned above, the coolant/water ratio is probably off for your climate.

 

The stock battery is weak. Mazda recommends the Interstate MT-35 or MTP-35 which has much more CCAs. Consumer reports rated the batteries at Price Costco as the highest and this Interstate as middle of the pack. But you might get it taken care of (at least partially) at the Mazda dealership.

Is the white stuff this? https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-trouble-shooting-95/strange-gunk-oil-dipstick-info-questions-49652/

 

Your story would be more believable without the "ice chunks in the oil part". Your car got real cold and you flattened the battery tying to crank it.

Leave out the fictitious symptoms, then maybe someone can help.

Any car with a steady engine light should spend time at the dealer's until they fix it.

S

 

I've actually heard of ice freezing up an engine before, in a Civic piston engine. The reason was that the guy lived 5 minutes from work, so the car never warmed up. Since a cold engine creates condensation internally (any engine, piston or rotary will do this in the right conditions), the water kept accumulating until there was enough to freeze up the engine. Letting the car warm up for a long enough time will gradually evaporate all of the condensation, which is you rarely hear of this happening. Do you take a lot of short trips with your 8?

 

I doubt the ice has anything to do with the car not starting. I'll dismiss the ice in the oil and small chips of ice in the coolant probably wouldn't be an issue, though the coolant should be checked. I'll venture to guess you don't read these forums often and probably flooded the engine. Get the car towed to the dealership and request a deflooding, latest PCM flash, new battery, and perhaps a new starter and spark plugs too. With this updated equipment you should never have a problem in cold weather again (provided you follow the standard flooding precautions).