Vyndictive

iTrader: (28)

Canada?

DeViLbOi

iTrader: (1)

If you are going to track your car shouldn't you do more water than anti-freeze and just change it back to 50/50 when you get back?

Edit: w00t w00t...3K posts!

DeViLbOi

iTrader: (1)

That would be a country up north...not a state.

tiresmoker

iTrader: (1)

Well, antifreeze has a higher boiling point then water. The max dillution I have ever run was 50/50, and I've never had a problem with overheating, especially after back to back 30 minute sessions at WOT in both the ST and the 8

DeViLbOi

iTrader: (1)

ok...you asked for it...

https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-tech-garage-22/coolant-boiling-question-124981/

RK

iTrader: (1)

Haha. You couldn't read in 2007. Mysql p0wnage. vb

I'm not using distilled + wetter because I'm not doing the change in Florida. Means that the car will be in a garage at or near freezing temps for at least a few days in addition to having to deal with the cold air as it's towed through West Virginia.

I have a jug of 50/50 premix and a jug of antifreeze that I can mix 40/60 or 30/70 but unless it's looking like a major heatwave is going to hit Sebring the car should be fine at 50/50 with wetter in ~60 degree temps for 20-30 minute sessions. I will probably have my AP set to monitor my water temp to make sure I get some early warning but I don't expect to see any big issues.

If this was the Summer I'd replace it with just water. Actually I'd probably invest in a new radiator. Sebring has 5 straights and 3 of them I'll hit 115+mph. But as long as I am careful about avoiding redlining (or at least sustained redlines) I should be fine.

If not I'll at least have a ride home.

Vyndictive

iTrader: (28)

I haven't read about overheating being that big of a problem, but I could be wrong.

I know racing beat makes a radiator screen that probably helps keep the engine cool by looking so cool. . . . .

RK

iTrader: (1)

It's a huge problem for parts of the country in daily driving (primarily in Zona where it's way too dry) and it tends to be amplified on the race track. The car generates heat disproportionally based on RPMs. While it's negligible below 7k RPMs once you breach 8k the heat generated by the car can reach levels that are associated with big block piston engines. That's why the radiator on our cars is seems significantly larger than necessary and why so few actual aftermarket radiators are used. Quite simply they can't keep the car cool as well as the OEM one. Mazda also recognized that the water temps can get alarmingly high which is why they made the water temp gauge so that it has a 'happy' zone where the needle won't move. If they made it an accurate gauge people would freak out at how hot the car gets anytime they rev it. The cooling system brings it down pretty quick though.

If you want to see how fast it gets heated just gas it with your heater on. You'll feel the heat almost immediately.

But the heat is manageable on the track. Just have to be aware of it and watch for it getting up too high. I realized on my last two runs at MidOhio and Nelsons that I was approaching the point where I couldn't ignore it anymore. I actually changed my shifting at Nelsons because I was hanging on over 8.5k on oak tree (very long right hand turn) for entirely too much so I started taking it in a different gear. I wasn't doing sustained redlines at MidOhio but I was redlining enough per lap that I wasn't shedding enough heat. When I'd part the car and leave the engine running there was a good amount of smoke coming off my engine.

I read somewhere that RB stickers alone actually reduce the temp by 20 degrees.

Vyndictive

iTrader: (28)

So you're saying that a smoking engine is bad. . . got it, wrote it down. In all seriousness, did the smoke have an odor?

Hm, I wasn't aware that this could pose a problem. I've never really noticed a heat surge through my vents under power other than moving from idle. i just assumed that was because the alternator was charging more at higher rpm.

Anything else that could be done as a cooling mod before hitting a track? More air flow into the radiator? Radical hood scoops?

RK

iTrader: (1)

Yes but I couldn't tell you what it was. My money was on oil since it's supposed to burn and I went through over a quart in 2 days.

But just in case I'm changing my coolant. Oh and I was not doing enough good practice things to ensure my engine was properly cooled down. I was rolling to a stop and leaving the car on but wasn't spending enough time giving it a gentle drive to let it cool. I also wasn't keeping the engine on long enough. About the only thing I was doing right was not using my parking brake (warps the rotors when they're that hot) and popping my hood asap.

Heh. Go with the Doc methodology here. First learn to drive your car fast enough that it needs cooling and then worry about cooling it...

Air flow does help and that's one of the reasons the MS front bumper is considered a performance upgrade. I don't believe that hood scoops are proven to help at all with our engine. Superchargers and Turbos generally don't get installed with meth cooled systems and MazdaManiac, who was running a high powered turbo in a hot environment, actually installed a second rad.

We're lucky in Ohio though as even when the weather is hot it's usually pretty humid. The higher humidity helps keep the car a little cooler.

Vyndictive

iTrader: (28)

Remember who you're talking to. I bet I could find a way to to overheat it my first time out.


Poll: Price of a used Jeep goes up or down in the summer time? I'm looking at the YJ's because the TJ models are too fancy with their carpet and air bags.
But its sort of a summer car because of the removable top, but a winter car cause of the 4x4...

I'm budgeting for the winter car next year and will either purchase some P.O.S. in the spring and work on it on the summer while enjoying the 8. Or buy something slightly better in the fall.

DeViLbOi

iTrader: (1)

Talked to a guy here at the office that used to sell Jeeps. He says that they are popular year round and prices don't change at the dealership to try and move them at any particular point of the year.

VezRX

I would be inclined to think this is the case for most AWD or 4x4 SUVs up here. Are you budgeting to buy the YJ in cash? If I am not mistaken I think that they may be too old to finance. When I was looking for an SUV for my wife ( she ended up with a 6 WOOT!) last year there were some good deals on craigslist for them.

Vyndictive

iTrader: (28)

Yeah, I would pay cash for sure... I assume jeeps are pretty easy to work on... even for me.
John: that is sort of what I figured when it comes to Jeeps. It seems they are overpriced all of the time.


Oh... and I just happened to remember to check my mail today... and what do I find addressed to me... I like it when Karma drops a little gem like this into my lap.
(See Photo)

DeViLbOi

iTrader: (1)

Just be professional about your reply

Vyndictive

iTrader: (28)

You know me. . .

DeViLbOi

iTrader: (1)

So like I said...Just be professional about your reply

Vyndictive

iTrader: (28)

"Dear Mazda,

My experience with Park Mazda of Wooster was very poopy. They were mean to me, called me names, and then they made me cry."

XOXO
Steve "


No, I would post the real letter I wrote to them on here, but its long and boring, and John would get upset because it wasn't professional at all... (I wrote it in crayon)


Speaking of crayon - Did we ever finish those RX8 club flier things we were going to put on other RX8s? I've been seeing more of them in the Canton area... I figure if I can recruit some owners down here I can finally ditch you northerners for some of my own peeps. . . .

Tuning Unlimited can come too.

DeViLbOi

iTrader: (1)

Everyone decided that they were going to go with their own designs and we weren't going to have one unified flier. So you are on your own dawg. :P

tiresmoker

iTrader: (1)

Steve, I'm not surprised that Park Mazda down in Wooster left you with a sour taste in your mouth...

Even though I bought my car there, they can suck my left nut. While in there for an oil change My girlfriend was threatened to have her warranty voided on her MS3 because of an aftermarket BOV.... Why you ask, because the manager Nick stated it was a CAI and they suck up water and blow the engine....

This was after a long heated discussion though, because when she took delivery of her car the radio was malfunctioning, so during her oil change she had the radio replaced. Well, they didn't have one so they had to keep it overnight. When she got the car back it had 70, yes 70 more miles on it then when she took it in...

I can understand a test drive for the radio (because the problem happend at speed and was related to the speed adjusting volume thingy) but not 70 miles worth of driving.

When she confronted Nick about this he got uber shitty with her and told her he was gonna void her warranty for the BOV, because it was a CAI.

Shitty business practices indeed.

Oh yeah, and the finance guy down there was discussing my deal with her when they were going over their paperwork...

I avoid them like the plague.

docgatorx8er

iTrader: (10)

Don't feel bad Steve. We've been known to leave notes on other people's cars written in crayon.

If you need a copy of what we were passing around, let me know and I'll send it to you. Like DB said, we just decided to all personalize it to our own liking. You can put Racing Beat stickers all over yours!

Vyndictive

iTrader: (28)

Yeah, I think I'll go out there and test drive a few more cars before I make a trip up to cascade to BUY the car...

There are some old posts on here about good experiences with the Park Wooster... so I posted in the bad dealer sticky (I'm tough!)

I think its partially building a relationship with a dealer and getting them not to screw you... which is hard to do because they have to not screw you initially, which may be the problem.

I doubt anything will come of this survey or the letter attached, but I felt good writing it.

tiresmoker

iTrader: (1)

I have always had great relations with Montrose (Westside) down over on Brookpark. Sandy the service manager down there is great to deal with.

Now that being said, I've never had an issue with anyone in service at Park Wooster, just the manager Nick and finance guy (I think his name is Ray?) So for the manager of a store to straight up be a dick, then the rest of the place can pound salt in my eyes.

Vyndictive

iTrader: (28)

I liked the sales guy that took me for a spin in the speed3 - he sent me a letter after the test drive so I sent him an email... which he replied to and then forwarded my story on to Nick (which I guess is the Manager now). Which doesn't give me a fuzzy feeling inside since you're saying he is a wiener.

We'll see if they do anything - I'm betting that they won't... anyone else want to take that bet?

tiresmoker

iTrader: (1)

Oh no, don't get me wrong. Nick will kiss your butt and treat you like gold to get your money. But once the money is in his hand, forget it.

He's just damn lucky I wasn't there when he started **** with my girlfirend over the 70 some odd miles put on her car in one day. He said some pretty nasty **** and got up in her face, then threatened to void her warranty. If I was there I would have knocked him right in the mouth.