delturcious

I've been looking for an RX-8 as a chassis for an engine swap, and one popped up with the color/interior options I'm looking for near where I'm traveling for work this week. The price is right, and of course it has hot start issues like any stereotypical high mileage S1. It runs and drives, but I'll need to stop multiple times for gas on the way home.

I could leave the engine running while filling, but I was always taught that was always a big no-no.

Option 2 is stopping for a bite to eat (30min? 45 min?), run for a few minutes so it doesn't flood (or kill it at 3-5k RPM?), fill up, and cross my fingers it'll start again.

Option 3 would be to fill up after a long jump, then push into a parking space to cool down... this sounds awful.

Any suggestions on how I can get her home safely?

Williard

iTrader: (18)

A trailer would be your best option...

IF you absolutely have to drive it back, i would plan on it failing to restart at the gas pump for at least 20 minutes... best bet ya got for that, is pop your hood while filling the tank, go into whatever store is there and buy something.. MAYBE, it will help get you back..

Maybe it'll blow half way and you'll be stranded...

This is a risky game you're about to play.

Good luck.

Travis

delturcious

...and would cost more than the car :-/

The 20 minute cool-off is helpful info--thank you. I assuming pulling off the plastic engine cover wouldn't hurt either?

I have a 200-mile AAA tow (to get it to a AAA location) and plenty of free rental car days if I were to get stuck. Worst case, I'd just drive a rental home and use U-ship to get it the rest of the way. Is there something I'm missing here?

BigCajun

iTrader: (1)

I drove mine for a long time with hot start issues.
From my experience, if it takes more than 20 minutes to cool off before it will restart, you are really taking a chance.
If you are determined to try it, buy a club for the steering wheel and leave it running for fill ups and bathroom breaks. I did that for a couple of months before it wouldn't start at all.
But like Travis said, your best bet is to trailer it or tow it, you might rent a tow bar.

CaymanRotary

Tow would be the safest option. Never fill up your car with the engine running. Sounds risky and potentially expensive if the car fails on the way home. Just use a trailer.

Williard

iTrader: (18)

Pulling the cover off will help allow the heat to escape, yes. I would likely pull that before even starting the trip.

What are you missing? Well, a worn engine that still starts and runs has a better chance for a rebuild or sale then one that has thrown a seal. I full understand you intend on swapping the motor out, this is still a concern if you have any desire to get a bit of money out of that motor. Not to mention you will likely be traveling on busy highways. Should that motor go, you may not be able to get it off to the side before you stop. Which leaves you exposed, on the highway, attempting to push your car...
If it were me, i would trailer it, but you do you boo boo.

I am unsure about the laws in the state you live in but, here in PA, it IS illegal to fill up your car while the engine is running.

Enjoy.

Travis

CaymanRotary

Have you ever compression tested the engine?

Make sure to copy your message and start a new thread.

GeorgeC

Mazda RX8

CaymanRotary

Not really a good attitude to have with this car because people are going to assume the engine is broken when it may be something else. A compression test alone would give you more information and possibly more options. As it sits now, it's worth money as a shell at only $1500. If you got it tested and found out the engine was fine and found the solution to your problem it could be worth more than double that.

It's your car to do with what you like but giving up on it without even a compression test seems like a really bad move to me.

nmoffatt

I’ve pumped gas multiple times with the car running on my current 8 and many years ago on my FC.

As you might not be comfortable with this I would suggest you pick up a new starter to give it some help. I used this one and it worked wonders. An extra 20-30 rpm.

https://www.dbelectrical.com

it can be easily installed just about anywhere and is a minimal cost and will give you some insurance. I would say as long as the car cold starts more or less ok this should help. I have pretty even compression in the mid 60’s all around and my car is driveable for now

Otherwise you will need to take a break on each stop.

nmoffatt

Should have mentioned the starter is the 14 tooth 09-11 version. Only $90 and works great! I’m pretty shocked I can hot start the car pretty easily with such low compression.

This can help you buy some extra time while you shop for a rebuild.

UnknownJinX

As others said, towing would be the best strategy. Doing a road trip in any car with engine issues is not a good idea.

delturcious

I appreciate the info from those who read my whole post and not just the title. The seller let me know right before I went to go see it that it had just developed a fuel leak somewhere around the tank--definitely not something I can fix this far from home, so I passed on that one. My intent is simply to be prepared when the right chassis pops up.

Buying a Corolla does not help me get a donor RX-8 chassis home, and it's more cost effective to ship than to rent a truck and a trailer from where I am. Anything I'm looking at assumes that the Renesis is scrap once it gets to my garage. If any of the drivetrain sells on eBay once I remove it, great. It won't be getting a rotary put back in it.

The starter guidance from nmoffatt certainly helps as does a ~20 minute cool down test. I can wait a half hour for a few gas stops; I can't wait hours on end. That's what I really needed. Definitely a no-go to fill while running too for multiple reasons.

UnknownJinX

Yeah I didn't read the post initially. Sorry about that.

Just saying I wouldn't want to drive it home unless you are fine with getting stranded on the road, which can be inconvenient at best and dangerous at worst.

Like I said, imagine you are buying any other car. The engine can't reliably start. Would you take it on a road trip?

delturcious

I think we're in agreement that this is a question about risk tolerance, and to figure out where one is on that spectrum you have to have all the information--and a plan. I have a 200-mile AAA tow and more free rental car days (that are good for one-way rentals) than I'll ever use. Would I choose to drive a questionable rotary over anything else in my (or National's) fleet on a work trip or vacation? No. Would I be comfortable driving it on a sole one-way trip as long as brakes/tires/suspension were fine? That's what I'm trying to figure out. Shipping from the nearest AAA facility after a breakdown would not cost me more than from wherever the journey might start. It would certainly be inconvenient though.

The one thing I hadn't thought much about is if the motor went ka-BOOM while driving down the highway. That would not be fun, but probably not as bad as a blowout--I got to experience that on a rental once in the middle of winter. I think the keys here would be just to keep my distance and take it easy. It's far from ideal, I wouldn't attempt it on difficult roads in the worst of winter or summer, I'd schedule when I went through major cities, and I wouldn't do it if I needed to be punctual, but a breakdown isn't the end of the world.

So... back to the original question: Any more wisdom on how to get a tired rotary to make one final journey home?

CaymanRotary

If you are gonna do it you should pick up a starter upgrade. It’s easy to change out yourself and makes such a huge difference. Best $100 you could spend to up your chances of making it. When driving, keep the car under 4K RPM, cruise around 2500 RPM and use a good 2 stroke premix (Lucas is really good). It should make it but it’s still risky.

strokercharged95gt

Back in my early 20s I could not afford a new battery for 6 months and literally filled up at a gas station dozens and dozens times without shutting my car off.... Never was an issue, but I guess it only has to be an issue once for things to go bad

delturcious

This is EXACTLY what I was looking for. Thank you!