Another Fallen Rotory
 

Rotory Nation....My rotory goddess has fallen and she needs a "new" engine! Dealer tells me that in both chambers she has low compression and she needs a "new" engine! WTF! I'll tell you real quick what happend and I wanted to get some opinions on the matter.

Spec: 04' GT B.B.- MT (Only 40,000 miles) (minor mods) pampered the 8 like she was my child! Always let it warmed up before taking her out, checked the oil like my life depended on it, I mean you name it I'd pretty much did it. I would even stay late after work so she wouldn't have to drive thru stop and go traffic. Treated her with love but I drove her with passion and what she was made for!

First problem, Rotor 2 misfire (while sitting at a red light). Had the dealer replace coils, spark, etc!
Second problem (about a week), Rotor 2misfire again, but this time the dealer comes back saying good and bad news. He said "she needs a new engine" and good news is Mazda will put in a "new" engine. I was like are you balls out serious!

Here's the deal, I truly love the RX8, the rotory, handling, body lines, high rev, interior, evrything about this car. A fine piece of work (overall concept) but man what should I do?

Should I beileve the dealer and their lies (cause sometimes when I ask questions they just look at me all crazy, i.e. recalls, clearing KAM, etc.) I mean I want to keep the 8 for as long as I live (also want RX7) but man will Mazda ever get it right? A bummed cause I speak so highly of her when I can, but behind close doors it can be tough (rust in gas cap, driver side visor craked, water in tail lamp, recalls, misfire, damn CEL light!, heated cup holders, cup holders in wrong location makes it weird to shift, squeaking brakes, list goes on.........) Makes it tough to compete with those Z350's, G35's, WRX, etc!

Looking for opinions and anything I should be looking for once this so called "new" engine comes in cause it's NOT new! Don't get me wrong I love the 8, but my strength for Mazda has truly disappeared! Need support and any advice to ensure my Rotory goodess lives on and keep the Rotory Nation alive and well! I'm not "bad" mouthing the 8, just want to make sure she lives and that I will have no major problems with the "new" engine.

P.S. I plan on getting that extended warranty! Thoughts?

I'm planning on getting the extended warranty too once my warranty is up. I always have a constant fear of my engine failing...

The 04's had a lot of problems and a lot of owners had their engine replaced. You're not the only one, it's a common issue. Also, the engines that they'll be putting in your car is a refurbished one.

wow wow wow, it seems like 04 are really ... going bad.

Hmm, I hope that my 05 will be ok since I've been using 5w30 for quite some time ... uh what? never mind me Im just talking to myself.

Anyway, you will get a Remanufacture engine, not new. when they say *you're getting new engine*, in fact you're going to get a Reman. well, unless you're like some of the few out there who has gone thru 3 *bad* reman, and finally the 4th one might be a *brand new* one.

if I were u, after the engine swap, give it a month or 2 to see if things are right. Then start using 5w30, and throw some premix into your tank (or use Sohn adapter, feed it premix directly)

But doesn't the 5W30 void your warranty? I know thats what Mazda recommends their international customers to use (and they don't have as many problems as us Yanks do!) I've heard the "thicker" oil will help lube the rotors, hence no damge to the Apex Seals which will lead to a longer "engine" life. The dealer tells me that the Re-Man engine will have a different program which will shoot more oil at higher RPM's. Is this true? Man I'm trying to enjoy and trick my 8 out, but the way it looks is I'm spending more money just to keep her going. I know the Rotories are tempermental but Mazda is really giving us the shaft if they will recommend 5W30 to international customers while US customers have to suffer in order to pass EPA! I want to keep the 8, but man I'm temped to look at another ride! I'm just so damn nervous, I mean replacing engines like they were socks!

5W-30 won't void the warranty- using synthetic also won't void the warranty. They won't even know what you're using. Just don't tell them so you can avoid the headache anyway.

So just start doing my own oil changes with the 5W30? Also should I go ahead and clear the KAM and ECC profiles myself even if the dealer said the would? Cause like I said sometimes they look at like I'm crazy! I just want my 8 to perform and perform very well, cause I'm trying to do whatever it takes to keep her running at her peak. But I'm slowly loosing faith with the whole engine isssue!

Mazda should just face it and re-develop the 13B or 20B for U.S.A. customers and do it right and provide us the power and performance they so promised! This is supposed to be their Flagship product! Maybe just swap ot that motor and put in the MazdaSpeed 6 motor and call it a day, just playing!

I change the oil myself even though the dealership will do them for free. I use synthetic 5w-30 because I feel it's best for the engine, there are a lot of different thought on this board, but that's where I landed. I'm not to concerned about my cars impact on the environment and I know it doesn't void my warranty- I keep maintenance records with receipts though in case something ever happens.

The 04's are notoriously unreliable. Sorry. Reliability has presumably gone up each subsequent year with fixes that have been implemented along the way.

5W-20= Good for Mazda to meet CAFE

5W-20= Dead renesis at about 60k if not sooner.

I had e-mailed Mazda USA a few weeks ago, and aside from the expected synthetic oil response, they did say that "the use of a higher viscosity rating for use in high temperature weather conditions is allowed". Quite open to interpretation.

@OP: Sorry to hear, and hope the "new" engine fares well. I know the feeling, not knowing if it will happen again, etc.

Source of this info, please. I see it a lot on this forum, but as it stands now, it's just an interesting internet rumor. I'm not saying it's wrong, I'm just asking, specifically, how you know this. (The "all RX-8s except ours use 5W-30, therefore the only reason we have 5W-20 is to meet CAFE" argument is certainly compelling, but unfortunately that, by itself, does not prove that's the reason our cars come with 5W-20. It's circumstantial evidence. If I'm not mistaken, other cars also use 5W-20.

So what is your source, exactly? (Or maybe facts on the internet don't require sources. Maybe, on the internet, if something is repeated over and over and over and over again, it becomes fact.)

Sadly, I , too am an original 04 owner.
I feel your pain. I loveDDDDDD this car.
I just took it in today for the second time complainging about loss of power. Maybe since I am footing the labor costs they will find something.
So sad, I don't think I could beat a Kia Rio in race right now. If they cant find anything wrong or I have to pay more to fix it then I WILL get rid of my baby and take advantage of year end sales.

One way or another I want this pain to end.

I dont see your point with 5w20.

I run 5w20 in the winter and 5w30 in the summer.

Does that ultimately mean my car is gonna blow up?

Verdict is in. I am getting a new engine. However, they need to replace 4 igintion coils which costs me $369 out of pocket since my warranty is up. I guess I will suck this up and shop for a new car next year.
OR can i tell them just to replace the engine, not the coils, save money and trade in the car?

Sorry for your engine failure.
You can buy coils on line for just over $100 for all 4 and install yourself.
Could you give me a brief description of your typical driving habits, conditions etc.
I'm trying to determine if there might be a common condition or behaviour causing the early engine failures.
Thanks.

Buy 4 coils @ OnlineMazdaParts.com, Jason is our forum vendor. drop him a PM and he will take care of you.

369 to replace all ? wow, what a *fxuking *rip off. it takes them no more than 15 minutes to replace all 4. wowowowowowow. Dealership these days ...

Sorry to hear, I would feel the same way. I have only been on this forum for a year and 04's just had it the worst unless it was premixed, somehow from what I recall the premixed 04's been getting better lifespan. Maybe I just want to believe that. :eyetwitch

Yeah my 06 has the minor visor cracks and headlamp issues all covered by warranty which is fine by me but if the engine started to go it would be a hard pill to swallow. Knock on wood.

[QUOTE=New Yorker;2180345]... we have 5W-20 is to meet CAFE" argument is certainly compelling, but unfortunately that, by itself, does not prove that's the reason our cars come with 5W-20. It's circumstantial evidence. QUOTE]

The owner's manual says "Use SAE 5W-20 engine oil," and a few lines later has the statement

"A chief contribution this type of oil makes to fuel economy is reducing the amount of fuel necessary to overcome engine friction."

My wife's '94 Camry uses 5w30, which was kind of thin for its day, and the oil cap says "Energy Saving" right under that spec.

So these days - and going back to the early 90s - I think most cars specify lighter oil than they did through the 80s. The reason is CAFE.

A statement I see here pretty often is that Ford forces this on Mazda. IMHO, that's pure bunk. It ain't Ford - it's the rules.

Ken

Uh Oh
 

I been running the 5w20 in my car since I bought with 2000 miles. I now have 31,000 miles on it and worry I should change to a 10W30 or something. I would like to keep my car, but what oil to run. Help!:scared:

My father's CX-7 recommend 5w30. maybe cuz it has a turbo.

5w30 is fine. and your car won't just blow if you use 5w20. its just not what we prefer... and what a lot on here don't see fit for every condition usage.

so if you live in a area thats really really really cold, you may benefit from staying 5w20. otherwise, i live in cali and use straight 30 valvoline SM grade.

take this reply however you want to see it.

oh, and vise versa. so if you live in a really hot climate area. using a thin oil will just "thin" out easier. it'll be like cooking oil...

so just considere that.

again, take it how you like to see it.

Do a search and you will find GM and other American car companies use 5-20w for EPA.

Other car manufacturers join in. You may not find specific info on the RX8.

I have researched this and yes, you guys are right; 5W-20 does indeed improve fuel economy.

Personally I think that's a good thing. And I don't believe Mazda, Ford or any other automaker would go ahead and recommend 5W-20 over 5W-30 without first testing to see if it afforded enough protection in hot climates. That would certainly be the first thing any engineer would test before making that recommendation. Particularly for a new "should-we-build-it" or "should-we-not" rotary-powered car coming on the heels of a rotary-powered car whose engine reliability was widely suspect. Frankly, I wouldn't be surprised if more and more cars run 5W-20; if you can improve fuel economy and fully protect the engine, why not?

never say never

thats why a lot of Rx-8 got cooked in Vega's hot and dry weather.

I bet if it was 5w30 it would be a lot better tho.