Hi, I'm considering buying a 2006 RX8 next weekend.

After reading several reviews I have found out that 8's are prone to hot start problems.

So I have a few questions.

How frequent are these problems?

How long do you have to allow the car to cool down before it will start again? ( I will be City driving, not aggressive/racing)

How much driving has to be done at once, to cause the car to be so hot that it needs a cool down time?

Are all RX8's likely to have this problem or is it just ones made during a specific couple of years?

To clarify, I will be using this car occasionally, and it will be for city driving.

Thanks for any help, please don't be too harsh

 

Of coarse not all Rx-8s have hot start problems, if this occurs i would definitely get a compression test done. Most 8's don't have this it's mostly the abused, neglected ones that have this problem.

 

The hot start problem, as mentioned, tends to be a clear sign of a neglected car or just an uninformed previous owner. I would avoid completely or look for an engine rebuild right away.

If you're going to use it for city driving, remember to give it a good thrashing every time you start it up. That is, rev it up to the redline.

Oh, and never shut a cold wankel off.

Personally I'd rather not use an RX-8 in the city. I wouldn't do that to any decent car.

 

There are 2 main sources of hot start problems:
- Low engine compression
- Fuel pump failure

They are very distinct in other symptoms, and low compression can be detected easily with a pre-purchase compression check.

A healthy 8 with healthy components will have no problem starting just as easily when hot as when cold.

 

I'm buying it from a privTe owner not a garage, so is there any way for me to tell that it suffers from either of the two things you've listed above such as engine noise etc.?

 

Never and i repeat NEVER rev the engine up when its cold, by doing so often could warp the rotor housing in the engine. Wait until its fully warmed up then you can start reving it up too keep the carbon deposits on the low side. You know what they say and redline a day keeps the rebuild away.

 

I gather you haven't read the new owner's thread that is stickied at the top of this subforum, linked in my signature, linked in the big red announcement at the top of the subforum, etc...?

The answer is clearly spelled out in there, and I'd rather not type it again pointlessly.