I always wondered if the car would start in -28C weather and it did. Probably helped I had an oil pan heater too.

 

I'm about to try a -38 C start without one tonight when I go home from a friends house.

*crosses his fingers*

 

mine sat out in the cold all day today. It started no problem. I have the new starter and it makes such a difference. It started right away on the fist crank like it was summer. I knew it was cold because it then went into that rev cycle it does when it is really cold.

 

Heh ... mine started also after sitting outside all day. You know it's cold when the clutch feels squishy!

 

aww so that rev cycle is normal. Other than that car started normal. Last night though it was hard to keep the cabin warm

 

ahh the luxury of living on the west coast...

 

Oil pan heater??? I enquired at the dealer if i could get one and they told me that they were unavailable for the rx-8

 

haha, sorry to invade ... but damn, I thought it was cold here! Chicago ain't got nuttin on you guys. w00t for the troopers that test our cars in the super cold!!

 

I'll warm everyone up

 

I asked my dealer (Park Mazda) to put one in when I got my car.

I also think there is a dealer in Winnipeg that makes a block heater for the 8 also.

 

Hey Vader is that Park Mazda in sherwood park? Did they do it? Would a block heater void your warranty?

 

I couldn't even release my hand brake today at like 6am, had to try like 10 times, then I heard a CRACK (probably ice) when it finally released...thought I broke something -.-

 

LOL, that crack isn't ice. If you look at your hand brake while it is up, look under the lever where it joins to the console you will see a hole, because you just cracked that plastic that slides under the console as you lower the hand brake. Happened to me and quite a few of others from what I have read. Go to the dealer and have them replace it. From what i've noticed, the new one is basically like some thick rubber piece instead of the plastic so it won't break.

I've started it once around -30C weather last year january, with windchill into the -40s. Started no problem. But the throttle assembly was frozen and broke/didn't work (forgot what they told me) and had to be replaced.

 

I didnt have a trouble starting mine this morning, caked underneath all that ice. Glad to hear that the rev cycle is normal. Kinda off topic here, but I noticed that since I hadnt driven my 8 sinse the last sunny day (before the storm) and this morning when I opened the door I saw water on my driver side floor mat. I looked closer and I saw that on the lower quadrant where the trunk release is, there was a drip...not a steady drip but a drip none the less. I also noticed this the last time it rained, but wrote it off to my paranoia. Anyone else seen or experienced this? Should I bring it back to the dealer?

Once again, thanks for all your help!

 

Yeah, the block heaters are available from Gerry Gordon's Mazda here in the 'Peg. I have one on my 8, but it doesn't get used 'cause my babies in storage.

Chris...

 

oh man really? haha, no wonder when I looked at it, I could see through...I actually thought, "cool, it's even painted winning blue under there"...guess I'll go get it fixed when I have time....

 

Yup, thats the one and they did put it in.

 

It's probably not worth getting a block heater in this winter, especially when I'm saving up for an alarm/carstarter.
btw that's where i got my car!!!

 

doors on the civic froze shut .. :\

 

Those of you that have the block heater from Gerry Gordon's Mazda,
Can you describe it?
Where is it located?
Is it an inline or tank-type heater that is spliced in the heater hose?
Or an oil pan heater?
Is it made out of sillicon?
Or is it something different?
Thanks!
Diana

 

I can't see mine very clearly but it looks like a standard frost-plug mount type of block heater. It's mounted on the drivers side of the engine.

Chris...

 

Thanks Chrissss,
I've emailed Gerry Gordon's mazda but no response.
My local dealer says they have installed a circulating heater (percolating heater) in the radiator hose of an rx-8, and he could do the same with mine. He didn't say how well it worked, but
did say they use a similar device in mercedes vehicles

 

That's what I would go with.

Circulating heaters create convection circulation that heats not only the block but all the coolant, making for quicker heating of the whole system. Plus frost plug replacement is a pain compared to splicing a heater hose. But since GGM puts them in as a standard upgrade I won't complain...


Chris...