2011 R3, 74365 miles. No obvious issues; I thought I was feeling some power loss but that's just butt dyno, so who knows. Took it in for a compression check for separate reasons that don't matter here.

Results were solidly below spec, so the engine is getting replaced under warranty. From the threads I've seen here, I'm making a list of other things to replace, consider replacing, otherwise service, or try to make sure the dealership inspects.

Here's my list as of now. Would love some feedback and critiques!


Definitely Replace:
- Clutch disc
- Pressure plate
- Throwout bearing


Replace/Service if Possible:
- Oil coolers (straighten fins)


Inspect:
- Catalytic converter
- SSV
- OMP lines
- TB
- Oil circuit
- Clutch hydraulics


Consider Replacing/Adding (depends on budget):
- Flywheel (lightweight)
- Clutch line (SS)
- Clutch hydraulics bleeding


Also saw some recommendations to do ignition, but my coils, wires, and plugs are all <15k miles old, so I'll probably leave those.

This all came from S1 threads (credit: 1 2 3), so I'm assuming some of this stuff is less urgent on a much newer S2, but I figure most of it can't hurt.

Thoughts?

 

On a normally driven car, the clutch should last well over 100k miles, but so it's not mandatory to change it out now. But it's a good opportunity to save on labor.

Inspecting and cleaning the valves in the LIM is not something the dealership will do automatically, but it's a good idea to have that done. My SSV had a lot of carbon buildup by 137k miles.

I would recommend sending the oil coolers for ultrasonic cleaning to get crud and particles out from the inside. But that is going to be extra labor to remove & reinstall them.

Think about sending the injectors for flow testing and cleaning. After 100k miles, mine did not have very good spray patterns.

 

Say anything you want, but the number of S2 owners reporting new pre-100k mile warranty engine installs makes me think that maybe the root issue/solution still hasn’t been realized yet

 

Wonder if 10% Ethanol in the fuel has had any effect on engine longevity .............. positive or negative ?

 

^ Can't wait until they force 15% on us!

 

It's just not a great engine. Once people realize that all the care in the world won't change that, the better off the platform will be. I will say they S2 seems more reliable overall though, but that could also be skewed by the fact that so little were sold so you don't have as many people complaining about issues.

I do know the cat issue for sure has not been dealt with, my buddy is a tech as Mazda and the two R3's that he has done engine replacements on recently both had cat failures.

 

What u talkin' bout !

Mazda's RENESIS wins 2nd International Engine of the Year - RotaryNews.com

 

It's a flawed engine, but it's still unique.
Like having an ugly kid, you know he's ugly, but you love him anyway.

 

IMO, the point of a rotary engine is the car around it. Low(-ish) mass/CoG/PMI. All else is compromised to that end.

 

^ That, and the cool whirring sound.

 

Im 87k miles in and at this point considering that the rx8 platform is a deadend without like 10k laying around, im totally fine blowing up when the time comes, i love every moment with my r3 and cherish everyday that my engine doesn’t go bang without warning, but as a first car i really can’t complain it has matured me a lot as a driver without getting me killed and does exactly what i want in the bendies at ridiculous speeds that put other sports cars with more power to shame. With that being said though the time for me to move on to different platform is coming very soon. I just don’t have the means both money and tools wise to pull this motor and purchase an rew or 20b. If these cars had actual decent modding support iin the states then I wouldn’t even be writing this right now but who knows this could change in the future, so for now my current goal is attaining a mazdaspeed 3 or 6, its a platform that fits all my needs and the modding support has been gaining a lot of ground in recent years and hopefully this can bridge the time gap before i can own an fd and suit it to my taste.