No big rush, I will be in break-in mode for the next few weeks...

I'm actually surprised no one else has thought of this... especially the way most complain about the POOR gas mileage the 8's get.

 

So now you want the AC on in the winter.

Make up your mind.

 

Using the scanguage 2, something that you can see is LOD (Engine Load).

By putting your car in neutral at stop lights reduces the engine load. Thus that can save gas over time.

 

True.. But you should already be doing this anyway if you want your clutch to last. Sitting at a light, in gear and with the clutch in, you are not only burning the clutch, but on the 8 you are putting stress on the weak clutch pedal bracket.

 

My home is so far north that my need for a/c occurs 20 times a year, the rest of the year it's snowy or foggy.

I just want the option of saying when the a/c comes on, not when some Mazda know-it-all Designer in Japan has predetermined it for me.

 

I'm actually surprised no one else has thought of this...

There is of course, no little solder trace to cut - the '8 computer controls all the functions - selector says 'windshield', computer turns on a/c. Simple yet complex. This was discussed and solved in December 2003, and comes up every three months since then.

We just humor people who bring it up thinking it's new.......

S

 

Funny thing is, when I first joined the forum I read this in January. And then completely forgot about it.

Im so used to using windshield or windshield and feet in winter up here in Canuckville in winter that forgot about it.

I just hate having hot air blown in my face and since Im a smoker (yeah yeah) it alsow throws ash all over the place when its blowing on you, so I just use windshield.

Like stealth said, it makes sense.

I bought mine with 41000km, its a 2005. Ive since started premixing, using UCL or Redline cleaner and changed the plugs. Got a K&N on the way.

Hopefully with all that done, and summer comming around ( I rarely use A/C in the summer, except when it get to 90F + I should see great increase in gas/mileage.

Ive already seen and increase from 300km a tank to 330/350 a tank with the maintenance Ive done so far.

P.S. A/C on in windshield position is pretty common to every modern car (2000+) even my 2001 Nissan Sentra had that. Only on the sentra I could feel the load difference immediately.

 

I have been a member since March 02 and at that time was deciding on which car to buy. Mazda had a deal on a Mazdaspeed Protege that I could not turn down and from the problems most 8 owners have had with early model 8's, I am glad I got the Protege.

I have posted in here from time to time since I bought my speed, knowing all along that one day I would by a rotary powered car owner. Since Mazda won't make an RX-7, I bought the only option out there.

I take delivery of my 2008 Anniversary edition RX-8 tomorrow and in an attempt to stay ahead of the learning curve I read over the manual.

In there I noticed the a/c always on feature, did a few searches on this site and came up with nothing.

With my Speed, there was an a/c delete cut the wire fix and was hoping someone on here would have found a solution.

You are the first to indicate that everything is controlled by the computer, so if that is true, the solution would be change the programming on the computer.

Got anyone in your phone list with those smarts?

 

I know I've seen this exact same topic before.

 

what i did during winter season was simply remove the AC belts and pulley. i did this when i installed light weight pulley and just recently put the belts and pulley/bracket assembly back on.

this will DEFINITELY disengage AC functions...

on the otherhand...anyone got some R12 that they like to get rid of in socal?

 

Ever tried Freeze-12, instead?

 

I've still got a can of Freeze 12 in my toolbox. Freeze-12 runs at higher pressure in the a/c system than R-12 does. It's nothing more than half R-12 and half Propane.

 

There were some older R-12 replacements that had propane in them, but I'm pretty sure Freeze-12 is just enough R-12 to carry the oil and the rest is R-134a.

 

Drove down with the fuse out and got my best mileage ever recorded 22.3 (I've been keeping track since I got the car, 20k miles). I'll post details after I do the return trip with the fuse in..

 

Somewhere in the future try it with the a/c fuse out and DSC OFF... I think the DSC could also be robbing fuel...

My car is too new and any attempts to get better gas mileage would be an exercise in nothing.

I look forward to the get-home results.

 

Thankfully, I have a base MT with no DSC...

 

Again, the DSC thing is another nice comforting myth.

First discussed here in 2003, thousands of owners have tried it, and none have achieved measurable savings........

https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-discussion-3/does-driving-dsc-off-conserve-gas-8299/

S

 

I certainly wouldn't expect large savings with DSC OFF, but I would expect something.

The link you provided took me to a very short thread, with no conclusive measuring or analysis.

I still think its worth exploring. My theory is, everytime you turn the wheel with DSC ACTIVATED, there is an application of breaks, power and or acceleration assisting the turn. Each one of these actions would rob enertia. I also don't believe that you have to drive like Helio Castroneves to activate the DSC. I believe it is a system that continually monitors and adjusts.

BMW's new M3-coupe gas mileage rating, as posted by BMW was calibrated with their traction control system deactivated. If the system didn't rob enertia and reduce gas mileage, they would have calibrated the gas mileage with traction control ON.

 

what I wish there was, was a way for the defroster options to be on during winter without needing to draw outside fresh air...having a catless midpipe + non recirc air = the smelly

Makes me want to buy a highflow cat.

 

eeek... nice to have that smell... NOT

R U registered at www.manitobamazdaclub.com ?? If not, come on over.. My user id there is the same as it is on here.

 

Looking for an update on the trip back home....

 

Give me a second lol... Driving back either friday night or saturday..

 

lol... i thought this was a weekend trip... doh

safe travels

 

Yep already a member there, don't post too much there though haha

 

Any results??