RX8 Overheats after over rev
09-08-2008, 11:55 AM
#1
RX8 Overheats after over rev
I own a Mazda RX8 2004 1.3L Rotary 6spd Manual. I perform in the car but yesterday ended up overreving it a few times by mistake. I was performing for about 10 minutes before that doing donuts and slow leaving on the wet road. I was really punishing the engine, holding down for at least 30 seconds or more at a time at 8000rmp before accidently overreving.
The engine started to smoke and heat guage went up to hot, so I stopped performing and parked (the afterrun cooling was still active and stayed on a several minutes to cool down the car).
When I check the car about 30 minutes later, the coolant level was very low and the engine had no oil (a little about empty).
Yes, I know I should have checked my oil, but I forgot and I must have burned off a lot of it during the high rev performances (I am usuing hi quality synthetic oil).
So my question is, what could have caused the engine to overheat and emit smoke? In my other Mazda which had a piston engine (MX3), when this type of thing happened (without overreving) it was because I had blown a head gasket or cracked the block, but with the Rotary engine, I am not sure what it is.
It sounds like the coolant just got very hot and fizzed out, but if so, what could have caused that. So i'm green on Rotary's and would please like some help. The engine and the car still runs very smooth today after toping up the oil and coolant.
Let me know what you guys think. Oh, by the way, I live in a small territory that has no Rotary specialists and the only Mazda dealer here screwed up all my other vehicles and I will NEVER take another vehicle to them...EVER!
The engine started to smoke and heat guage went up to hot, so I stopped performing and parked (the afterrun cooling was still active and stayed on a several minutes to cool down the car).
When I check the car about 30 minutes later, the coolant level was very low and the engine had no oil (a little about empty).
Yes, I know I should have checked my oil, but I forgot and I must have burned off a lot of it during the high rev performances (I am usuing hi quality synthetic oil).
So my question is, what could have caused the engine to overheat and emit smoke? In my other Mazda which had a piston engine (MX3), when this type of thing happened (without overreving) it was because I had blown a head gasket or cracked the block, but with the Rotary engine, I am not sure what it is.
It sounds like the coolant just got very hot and fizzed out, but if so, what could have caused that. So i'm green on Rotary's and would please like some help. The engine and the car still runs very smooth today after toping up the oil and coolant.
Let me know what you guys think. Oh, by the way, I live in a small territory that has no Rotary specialists and the only Mazda dealer here screwed up all my other vehicles and I will NEVER take another vehicle to them...EVER!
09-08-2008, 12:06 PM
#2
Do you have a Check Engine Light (CEL) lit? Are there any error codes in the computer? You haven't given us too much information. How much oil did you have to add?
The oil in a rotary engine is used more for cooling than in a piston engine. Running low on oil could push up engine temps to cause the coolant to boil.
At this point, I would say, just run the car and see what happens.
The oil in a rotary engine is used more for cooling than in a piston engine. Running low on oil could push up engine temps to cause the coolant to boil.
At this point, I would say, just run the car and see what happens.
09-08-2008, 12:30 PM
#4
Firstly, thanks for your replies. Secondly, if anyone has a problem with what I do in my car, then just don't reply to my post. Keep your thoughtless and ignorant comments to yourselves.
I had to add about 1 1/2 qts of oil and the engine light is not on and never came on.
I've been performing for a long time in the RX8 and doing donuts in it, etc. I have never had this problem, though, as I never over rev and usually have in enough oil.
I suppose, as you say, as the oil is used for cooling and it was very low, could have cause the temperature to rise considerably. Any other thoughts? As I said, the engine is still running very smoothly as normal.
Also, what would I need to check the status of the computer? What type of hardware?
RX8 Prodigy
I had to add about 1 1/2 qts of oil and the engine light is not on and never came on.
I've been performing for a long time in the RX8 and doing donuts in it, etc. I have never had this problem, though, as I never over rev and usually have in enough oil.
I suppose, as you say, as the oil is used for cooling and it was very low, could have cause the temperature to rise considerably. Any other thoughts? As I said, the engine is still running very smoothly as normal.
Also, what would I need to check the status of the computer? What type of hardware?
RX8 Prodigy
09-08-2008, 12:33 PM
#7
Administrator
iTrader: (7)
I'd flush out the coolant and go with a high water to coolant ratio and put a bottle of water wetter in there.
Oil has to be topped off if you're going to be performing in the car as Al mentioned, it is used for cooling.
Oil has to be topped off if you're going to be performing in the car as Al mentioned, it is used for cooling.
09-08-2008, 12:39 PM
#8
The coolant was full but the oil was low. All of the coolant ran out when the car overheated.
Thank for your help with my research to get to know my car nycgps. Now that we have completed your lecture series on "How-to-Be-Negative-And-Not-Helpful-and-Bash-RX8Prodigy 101", we can move on to actual fulfilling information for my research about my car overheating.
Yes I know the basics, but need more info.
Thanks again, everyone who's actually helping.
RX8 Prodigy
Thank for your help with my research to get to know my car nycgps. Now that we have completed your lecture series on "How-to-Be-Negative-And-Not-Helpful-and-Bash-RX8Prodigy 101", we can move on to actual fulfilling information for my research about my car overheating.
Yes I know the basics, but need more info.
Thanks again, everyone who's actually helping.
RX8 Prodigy
09-08-2008, 12:44 PM
#9
The coolant was full but the oil was low. All of the coolant ran out when the car overheated.
Thank for your help with my research to get to know my car nycgps. Now that we have completed your lecture series on "How-to-Be-Negative-And-Not-Helpful-and-Bash-RX8Prodigy 101", we can move on to actual fulfilling information for my research about my car overheating.
Yes I know the basics, but need more info.
Thanks again, everyone who's actually helping.
RX8 Prodigy
Thank for your help with my research to get to know my car nycgps. Now that we have completed your lecture series on "How-to-Be-Negative-And-Not-Helpful-and-Bash-RX8Prodigy 101", we can move on to actual fulfilling information for my research about my car overheating.
Yes I know the basics, but need more info.
Thanks again, everyone who's actually helping.
RX8 Prodigy
09-08-2008, 12:52 PM
#11
Thanks. This is what I thought, but wanted to confirm it. I was told that this forum is the best when dealing with RX8 questions. I'm new here but have already been broken in by nycgps....and I seen he's broken in a few other folks in another topic...:-)
RX8 Prodigy
RX8 Prodigy
09-08-2008, 12:59 PM
#12
Administrator
iTrader: (7)
haha, Ny is part of our welcoming committee. If you survive him, then we know you'll survive the rest of us. 
welcome.
and whoever told you that this forum was the best, well... they were right.
welcome.
and whoever told you that this forum was the best, well... they were right.
09-08-2008, 01:00 PM
#13
A radiator needs air to RADIATE heat, doing donuts and stupid stuff like that won't help engine cooling.
Why don't you have fun on the track?
I don't want to sound rude, but i really love the car and motorsports in general and reading some stuff really upsets me.
09-08-2008, 02:08 PM
#15
Administrator
iTrader: (7)
donuts!! yummy!!
09-08-2008, 02:43 PM
#18
Well...I don't do many donuts...and not for long...maybe 2 or 3 turns in like 5-10 seconds....and maybe once every 1-2 months or so.
I would love to take it on the track, but we don't have a track where I live and the heavy rains has stopped all other racing...so performing last night was my only way of getting the adrenalin rush.
...well we have a track, but its the kind that gets shut down when the flashing lights appear.
Anyway, I plan to do some mods for racing...but plan to do my research first, before asking any questions :-)
RX8 Prodigy
I would love to take it on the track, but we don't have a track where I live and the heavy rains has stopped all other racing...so performing last night was my only way of getting the adrenalin rush.
...well we have a track, but its the kind that gets shut down when the flashing lights appear.
Anyway, I plan to do some mods for racing...but plan to do my research first, before asking any questions :-)
RX8 Prodigy
09-08-2008, 06:26 PM
#23
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if i could do three donuts in ten mins....I guess it would be in slo-mo matrix stuff there. lol The rotary engine is an oil burner. It has injectors in the rotor housing and squrts oil to help lubricate the apexi seals. Probably that is why it got low on oil like that . Sounds like it might have been around in donuts and revved alot more than that in its previous days. The main thing that a rotary owner knows about is proper maintenance. Always keep an eye out on your fluids and other stuff.
09-08-2008, 06:39 PM
#24
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Seems like you're punishing your engine while going at a very slow rate of speed. I don't think there was enough air going over the radiators due to the slow speed you were driving and hence the cooling system got overwhelmed. This is especially bad from an oil perspective as the oil coolers don't have fans like the radiators and so all airflow over the oil coolers are velocity dependent.
09-08-2008, 06:43 PM
#25
Momentum Keeps Me Going
... but yesterday ended up overreving it a few times by mistake. I was performing for about 10 minutes before that doing donuts and slow leaving on the wet road. I was really punishing the engine, holding down for at least 30 seconds or more at a time at 8000rmp before accidently overreving...
I'm sure sooner or later regardless what anyone here tells you...you'll need to visit a Mazda dealer for him to explain how you blew your engine.
