Anyone else ever find it difficult to start their 8 after filling it up with gas?

I've mentioned in other threads that my 8 seems to have a little trouble starting when the engine is hot, but now that I think about it, the only time I start it hot is after filling up the tank. It may not be a hot engine issue after all.

I've been intentionally re-starting it hot the last few days to try and re-create the problem for myself and friends, and it generally starts OK. Maybe not as smoothly as when cold, but nothing noticable really.

But EVERY time I try to start it after pumping gas, it's an "OMG, is it going to start... is it going to sta... whew, finally" experience.

So why the heck would filling it with gas make it hard to start?

78,000 miles, no CELs, due for coils/plugs next week (diagnosed as "arcing")...

 

I would guess adding gas has no effect on your issue. I have the same hot start issue and the severity of it generally varies. Sometimes it starts ok when hot, other times it takes about 5-10 cranks to come to life. I think your problem is just a hot starting problem and has nothing to do with adding gasoline, just my .02 though.

 

Your observation is interesting, I also live in NJ where self serve gas is illegal. I also have warm starting issues which seems to be at its worst right after filling up. One thing I now do is not shut off my car during a fill up. If you ask nicely they usually don't care.
Filling up the tank removes the vapor that's in it and if there was any sediment in the tank would mix it up. I do not think those two events would cause hard warm starts. I did get a compression test done and my motor did fail so I know I have issues.
I guess a way to test this is time how long it takes to fill up your car. Then in your drive way shut it off for that amount of time and try to restart it. I will do the same.

 

Hey neighbor Jamison is just down the road

It's consistent though. My Mazda dealer couldn't re-create the hot start problem, and I thought they were nuts... until I tried it, and I couldn't either.

Then in thinking about it, I realized pretty much every incident was after filling it up with gas, then starting it again at the gas station.

So lately I've tried starting it hot other times, and it's been OK. I've even re-started it a few times at home AFTER driving home from the gas station (where it didn't want to start), and it started fine at home.

Odd.

 

It is possible that you have some crud in your gas tank that is clogging up the fuel pump sock I guess

 

Interesting thought!

Is that something a dealer could clean out somehow? I could get the fuel filter replaced of course, but would that service also remove anything floating around in the tank?

If I wanted a dealer to address the problem, what should I ask them to do or replace?

I don't think my fuel filter has ever been replaced (78,000 miles now)...

 

I use to have this same issue. But after 2 tanks of techron cleaner and a upgraded starter the longest it ever took to hot start was about 2.5secs.

I always suspected a leaky fuel injector....

 

Here is the DIY for cleaning the sock...

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...ight=fuel+sock

...be VERY careful removing the fuel pump as those plastic clips break easily.

 

So after a new engine, coils/plugs/wires, front O2 sensor, SSV, battery and terminals, it still takes a longer to start after putting gas in it.

I intentionally started it hot a number of times since the new engine, and it started perfectly (about 1 second) every time. But that was with 1/4 - 1/2 tank of gas.

Then I stopped to get gas (first fillup with new engine), and starting it at the station took 3 seconds. Drove home, turned off, started it immediately again to test it... 3 seconds.

Am I being paranoid? I know 3 seconds isn't all that long, but it's a huge difference in experience from ordinary 1 second starts (which feels instant) to waaaaiting 3 seconds for something to happen.

I will have the fuel filter replaced (it's almost due anyway) when I do the new engine oil change in a week or two. But is there also some sort of vapor control system or some such thing that might be malfunctioning?

I replaced my gas cap a few years ago too (I was getting a CEL whenever I put gas in it - new cap fixed it), so I'm wondering if that might be bad again too?

No CELs now or anything, new engine runs great, it's just this oddity when starting after getting gas...

 

Have you considered your starter might just be going bad?

 

Also, even though I dont think its a fuel thing, do you always fuel at the same place?

If so, I would try a new place for a few tanks, see if there is a difference, different brand as well.

 

Have your dealer test your vapor recovery/purge system, including the purge solenoid.

 

FWIW, I replaced my gas cap, just in case, and it started fine after getting gas this time.

Could be coincidence, as it was only one startup test since the new gas cap, but I'm hopeful as it nearly always (9 times out of 10) started slowly at the gas station.

If it acts up again, I'll try the suggestions mentioned