Should I be weary to buy rx-8?

[SpooledupRacing]

Of course, *************** and I tend to disagree on things. He likes to race and spool up, as his ID suggests. I like to daily drive the car and run it up to maybe 7K, from time to time. Most shifts are upwards of 6K rpms, in the lower gears. With that, the car gets to highway speeds in a couple of gears.

I wont get into a pissing match with you.. my screen name has NOTHING to do with the way I drive my cars.. 7K is pretty good RPM band for helping bust out carbon I am refering to those who shift at 5K and under (being good for gas mileage).

 

[SpooledupRacing]

2. Pre-mix..

I'm NOT a fan of premixing (adding 2cycle into the gas tank) on 8s. Some say they have ran without an issue, but I 'think' my fuel pump/filter failure was caused by pre mix. But who knows... it could be coincidental that when I started having starting issue about 2 weeks after I started premix... Also, if you see the Renesis design, mazda put 2 oil injectors per housing vs. 13B's 2 oil injectors.. I think its bit too much to do both... and bit of a hassle to put in 2 cycle every time you fill up..

3. Synthetic...

Problem with Synthetic oil is not that its bad for the engine (moving parts). But when synthetic oil is injected into the combustion chamber. The burning property is not that well known.. I used to use mobile 1 in my RX7 and when the engine was broken down, there were some visible carb build up. Only way I would use Synthetic would be to use external 2 cycle injection (Sohn Oil Metering Adaptor).

The standard 13B (which is a Renesis btw aka 13B renesis) DOES have 4 oil injectors.. 2 (1 in each housing) and 2 (1 in each primary intake port). Gotta know your facts. BTW the fact that your fuel pump failed would have NO tie into the premix UNLESS you were not useing TCW3 (which is rated for fuel injection). If you are using the stock omp AND premix I would use like .5oz per gallon.. any more is to much. without the omp its 1oz per gallon.

As for Synthetic. You can run Synthetic with no problems... Mobil 1 however is not a low ash oil. You need to use a PREMIUM oil in this case for something that burns in the combustion chamber... Not only that but unless the car used Mobil 1 from day one.. there is no way to tie the carbon back to it... and again ALL oil synthetic or conventional will leave carbon on the rotors.. it just happens.. but the synthetic oil is a better way to go as it will protect MUCH BETTER!!!

 

[Herblenny]

go look at how oil jets are placed on Renesis.. There is a reason for that..
Also regardinh premix, yes, I used the ones that are injector friendly.. otherwise, my injectors would of clogged not my fuel pump. Again, some had success, I didn't and I'm not 100% if it was the true cause... but not going to suggest to people to do so without sharing plus and minus about pre mix..

And regarding synthetic, I have my share of use of synthetics.. And not just mobile one synthetics but various others.. I believe I have far more experience with various different cars than most and to be honest, its better to change your oil often than waste it on synthetic oil... especially if you are not planning to track.. but even those who track thousands of miles, don't use synthetic and have had great success with dino.

Regarding maintenance issue..

The coils on the 8s do go bad. Some have no issues at all after 50-60K.. Some change them often (20K or once a year). Coils are pretty cheap and I'm planning to change it once a year as I do daily and track my car. Its about 200-300 for the coils, wires, and sparks..

Besides that, I haven't done much but changing the oil, brake pads, brake fluids, trans and diff fluid, and tires. Pretty much normal stuff.

 

[flaps720]

well again guys, I appreciate everything, but all my plans were shattered today, as something came up (it always does) and I will have to halt my pursuit for an RX-8...I did throw a 15k cash offer at a guy who was asking 17.5 OBO and was denied, but i guess it was a blessing in disguise, as something came up a few hours later. So, I actually managed to solve the problem with the MSP and get her running strong again, so I intend to put her up for sale privately and keep my eyes open for something to come along.

Good news is that in about 2 weeks I have learned a s*** ton about the rx-8 and rotary engines, and have driven a brand new and slightly broken in one, and I can easily say that behind the wheel of one is where I want to be.

My luck is that sometime next week, the guy will call and say he'll give it to me for 15, and I will only have 10 (that something that came up). Haha....ohh grandmaaaa!???

 

[Olestra]

Thanks for starting this type of thread, lurkers like me have learned alot as well. I've always wanted an RX8 and this thread makes me want one even more.

 

[flaps720]

Thanks for starting this type of thread, lurkers like me have learned alot as well. I've always wanted an RX8 and this thread makes me want one even more.

If you haven't already, read through the stickies on rx8club.com, there's a slew of knowledge there as well.

 

[Herblenny]

If you haven't already, read through the stickies on rx8club.com, there's a slew of knowledge there as well.

There are ton of info on RX8club...

Another suggestion I have is make sure you listen to everyone and make your own decision from information gathered... What makes sense to you will be the correct decision. There are also ton of BS info from ill informed people out there.. I've seen a lot of rotary guys who listened to so called, 'vendors' / experts only to find out they gave wrong info..

And if you do pick up a rotary, come to my event! www.DealsGapRotaryRally.com

 

[flaps720]

well i just couldnt let the idea of that 06 winning blue rx-8 GT slip on by, so after moving money around, taking care of this and that, I'll be talking with the bank and hopefully be posting up some pics of a new ride sooon!!!

 

[Wagonbacker9]

haha the rotary bug bites hard. my bank account is the only thing insulating me from it... lol

I look forward to congratulating you. haha

 

[flaps720]

FINALLY!!! All weariness has been put aside thanks to everyones posts and links in this thread and today I become the official owner of a 2006 Winning Blue Mazda Rx-8 GT!!!

Heres a pic, independent thread with more to follow!!!

 

[Wagonbacker9]

Congrats Dude~~~~!

 

[Herblenny]

Congrats!

 

[mazdadude]

FINALLY!!! All weariness has been put aside thanks to everyones posts and links in this thread and today I become the official owner of a 2006 Winning Blue Mazda Rx-8 GT!!!

Heres a pic, independent thread with more to follow!!!

YEEEHAH!

Congrats, and enjoy, I love that color on the RX8.

 

[flaps720]

thanks everyone! Other pics, and a small farewell to the msp, haha...
http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123745395

 

[firebirdude]

Over 30k miles on my 8 and not a single issue. I use full synthetic oil that gets changed every 3k miles without fail. I can usually go without adding oil at all. Oil level is probably a little high when changed, then a little low when it's time to change again.... but just to give you an idea of oil consumption. It's really not much.

MPG does suck. On the highway doing 70-80 the entire tank, I can barely make it to 20mpg. In the city with a little lead foot gives me 15mpg. I've clocked it many many times. You should expect similar results.

 

[Herblenny]

I believe if you go under 74MPH, you'll get slightly better gas mileage. I think I get about 23-24 when I go below 74MPH on 6th gear.

Also, if you change your oil that often, I say stick with just regular oil.. I used to use Mobile 1 and changed all the time.. But now, I just use the cheap oil and change it no more than 3K... Its all the same and especially for a daily car.

 

[flaps720]

Agreed, I feel if your changing that religiously, why waste the extra $ on full syn, and risk voiding your warranty. I just bumped up to 5w30. But no need for oil debates here.

My rx8 now has 24500 miles and runs greattt. I am so glad I purchased it, and literally get cravings to drive it. And it's my daily driver!

 

[firebirdude]

I've owned my 8 for a year and a half now and I honestly STILL get cravings to drive it. The suspension on it is unbelievable. Add in stiff ass anti-sway bars and some stiffer springs..... SOOO much fun. If you've got the cash for coil overs..... <drool>

And PS.... how anyone pulls 25 mpg, I don't know. I'm going to have to call shens on that. Atleast with the manual tranny. I've tried and can't come even close to that.

 

[StealthWyvern]

Agreed, I feel if your changing that religiously, why waste the extra $ on full syn, and risk voiding your warranty. I just bumped up to 5w30. But no need for oil debates here.

My rx8 now has 24500 miles and runs greattt. I am so glad I purchased it, and literally get cravings to drive it. And it's my daily driver!

How would chaning your oil often void your warranty???

 

[flaps720]

How would chaning your oil often void your warranty???

misinterpretation. I meant if you are going to be changing your oil each and every 3000 miles (which I am sure we ALL do!) theres no need (at least in the case of the rx8, i used full-syn every 3000 with the MSP) to spend an extra $3-4 per quart on synthetic oils, especially because if something goes wrong and mazda found out you were putting synthetic oil in the rx-8, they'd void the warranty. Mazda hasnt approved synthetics for the use in the rx8.