Starting Problems after a flooded engine
 

I recently flooded my rx8 (2004), unfortunately the dealer did not tell me that I have to rev up to at least 5000rpm before cutting the car off. So it flooded.

I took it to a local mechanic that claimed to have had at least 20 years experience with the rotary engines. They told me that the followed the flood protocol and I still had little to no compression in the engine. They said that the only other option was to either replace the engine itself or to add some form of oil (I was so pissed at the time I forgot what it was called) either way, this oil was going to bond with the worn metal inside the engine and up the compression.

It didn't work and I was forced to tow to the Mazda dealership for more diagnosis. They called me the next day and said that it was, indeed flooded and that so much smoke poured out of it when it finally cranked that they had to evacuate the service department, and customers thought that the building was on fire. (this all from the oil procedure)

It's starting again, but not before cranking for at least 15 seconds (all while making horrible struggling sounds)

I would think that until the engine burns off the excess oil, that it's going to smoke, but I didn't think that it would have problems starting.

Does anybody know anything about this issue or what may have caused it? If it is due to the compression procedure the mechanic did, that's fine. Just curious as to how long it might last (it's been two weeks)

It's never done this before it flooded (and I allowed idiots to work on it)
Thanks in advance.

Probably sea foamed the engine. The smoke is normal after that, starting issue could be due to fouled plugs, oil in the intake mani.. Ehh, they should have cleaned the MAF and intake tubes and given you new plugs after deflooding, make sure they did that.

I'm not too sure, though, as I have never shut my car down cold and flooded it. Avoid this in the future.

If all else fails, get your compression numbers from the dealership and see if you need a new motor or not.

An engine that struggles to fire up could be caused by many factors. I had a bad battery that would cause my car to hesitate to start.

However, the troubling part is, you said it sounded like it was struggling and making odd noises at startup.

That really sounds as if your seal went and your car is on its last leg before it doesn't even start up anymore. Check the obvious like coils, plugs, and battery.

If all else fails, it's time that you take your car in for a look at the dealer. They need to get a compression check on that motor pronto.