9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

yeah but mike people like us are pretty rare. Most people bail after the first engine and definitely after the second. I can't tell you how many 8's I see for sale advertising they have a new motor.

Flashwing

If you're interested in the Mobile 1 stuff and going for a 30w oil you might do some research and find some UOA's on the 0w-40 oil that Mobile 1 sells. I ran into a couple UOA's on BITOG.com and they seem to indicate that the Mobile 1 0w-40 viscosity tends to thin to a thicker 30w oil. I haven't done any testing in my own car with that oil so take it for what it's worth.

Anything that is 0w is going to be a group IV PAO or a Group V Ester base stock. As nycgps pointed out there is a lot of stuff that's advertised as synthetic but is just hydrocracked Group III.

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

I'm actually running GC 0W30 now. I got in on the sale at autozone and bought 10 quarts and two K&N filters.

amberlayne

As soon as mine RX8 comes out the shop with a new motor hopefully, Its going for sale! Way to much trouble!!

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

I totally understand. I am way comfortable with a wrench in my hand and this car has been a handful for me. I got my car really cheap and its paid off so there is no point in selling it but if I was in the same boat as a lot of people I would get out as fast as I could. I just saw a showroom condition 04' GT with nav yesterday for $11,500.00.

nycgps

iTrader: (1)

but if Mazda do as you said (give everybody a 09+ engine)

that means ALL RX-8's cost will go up by at least 15K, 1/2 of them will be labor cost.

Mazda can go bankrupt with it.

I still think Mazda shot themselves at the foot by recommending the 5w20. OMP injection hole pointing at the 2 corners is another cause.

FazdaRX_8

iTrader: (1)

how many miles?

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

Like 32k.

amberlayne

I would like to give you guys a update. Car has been at the dealer 3 weeks today. Had to replace fuel pump , fuel relay switch, alternator before they could approve a new motor. Got a phone call this morning to get together oil change receipts so my new motor can get approved !! Im finally getting a new motor about dam time!! Not sure if I should sell it now every part in it will be brand new!!
Just wondering how many replaced motor, fuel pumps, o2 sensor, colis, motor mounts, plugs, wires, tires, I could problay go on and on . And still has trouble??? Shou;d I sell or keep? The car is not ran hard its for my 17 daughter who is afraid of speed n cops.

nycgps

iTrader: (1)

you got ripped. there is no reason to pay for fuel pump, fuel relay switch, and alternator before you get an "warranty item" from Mazda. your dealership just skinned you like a sheep

Hmm, as for reliability. lets put it this way.

Mazda underestimate a lot of stuff on early Rx-8, especially the 04 to early 06 model. Things got better starting mid-late 06 model. When I said "underestimate" I was talking about ECU tunning, Lube requirements, cooling requirements, etc.

As most of the ppl on this forum know Im a maintenance freak. I can go as crazy as 1000 miles oil change. but due to Mazda's early ECU fault, my engine still got its premature wear and eventually died *see my signature*. Now I got my replacement, its nice and strong.

To be honest with you this car is not as bad as it seems, just change your coils every 20-30 K miles, same thing for plugs, wires can go maybe 50-60, fuel pump hmm, your daughter not going to race it right? assume that your daughter will not let the tank go empty before re-filling it,60K miles(heat is what kills the pump, fuel is cooling, empty tank = overheating the pump) Alternator should last at least 80K miles.

FazdaRX_8

iTrader: (1)

if she babyes it all the time, carbon build up will be your next problem,

a redline a day keeps the carbon away

DeadOriginal

I'm about to buy my 8 soon. It's going to be my first car and I really really want this car, but seeing all this engine failure stuff is really giving me a chill down the spine...

DRFTGTO

Just get one with a warranty

amberlayne

Thank god I have extended warranty so the fuel pump and alternator was no cost to me.
Make sure you have a good extended warranty if you do decide to buy one

amberlayne

My husband says the same thing!! He red lines it for sure! He said thats why we have so mush trouble cause we baby it!lol

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

The red line crap is a bunch of bullshit. I drove both of my previous engines hard everyday and with excellent maintenance and they both failed. Unfortunately I never got to tear apart my previous engines so we will nevver know what the failure was.

Vlaze

iTrader: (14)

I don't think the redline is a bunch of bullshit. It's preventive maintenance to help keep the cat from getting clogged up with carbon. While it wasn't what caused or didn't help your situation with the engine failures it doesn't mean it's BS

I still have to believe that if someone like yourself had so many different engines to fail that something was up in the system of the car to give it improper feeding, possibly the ECU or such was bad? They only replaced the engine itself while everything else stayed the same such as the throttle body, intake, fuel lines, fuel pump, all electronics, etc?

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

Yeah there are a ton of people that have had multiple replacements though. I still believe carbon build up was an issue, I just don't think redlining it all the time helps. Plenty of tear downs have shown carbon build up even on engines that were tracked hard and red lined a ton. Personally I think it a combination of poor design factors. All of these issues will be addressed over time as the 09's get up there in mileage. If there are 09's with issues then we know what the main issue is.

pdxhak

iTrader: (2)

FWIW I have added decarb to my yearly maintenance routine.

FazdaRX_8

iTrader: (1)

I think its your location, the heat, and I said a redline a day. not every shift from every stop

nycgps

iTrader: (1)

It has something to do with your location (hot hot hot), the oil weight (cough) and ... Synthetic

There are tear downs with Synthetic showing little to no carbon build up.

Red line the engine is a typical thing for the whole Rotary community, it known to work. so ... just keep doing it. it doesnt hurt

amberlayne

what oil do you use?

nycgps

iTrader: (1)

my "last, failed" engine first use 5w20, then it use 5w30, 5w40 and finally failed.

Now its using 20w50, and I premix too.

FazdaRX_8

iTrader: (1)

ah.......hum....... wiener dog?

does one synthetic burn better then another?

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

Heat is definitely an issue I think which is why I chose to monitor my oil temps and pressure more closely as well as choosing a quality synthetic oil. I also modded the vents behind the oil coolers.

I also just bought a Richard Sohn adapter today and I will be running clean Idemitsu through it to the rotors. I am still debating on premixing with the Sohn adapter but I'm not sure. Idemitsu is a pain to get so I may premix Lucas UCL and run Idemitsu through the SOHN.