yosssarian

Hate to start with a negative, but it took over ten minutes to figure out how to post a new thread, and where that was permitted.

I have a 2004 RX-8 with about 114k. It's been very well maintained. She almost let me sit several times on a warm restart over the past few months. I took it to the dealer two days ago, and got the following compression readings:
Rotor1 4.5 5.0 5.4 @274 RPM's
Rotor2 4.9 5.0 5.0 @276 RPM's

They had no idea how long it would last, and said that they don't do rebuilds any more. He added that there was a guy in Reading, but he probably doesn't do them any more. That's a crappy answer to me. Is it a common experience?

Yesterday, as I was headed to dinner, she died on me. I tried the flooded engine restart trick a bunch of times, with no luck. Had to push it off the road, and towed back to apartment. It started this morning, and runs fine. Turned it off, and restarted again.

Is there anything I can do to prolong its life before I have to replace the engine? Any additives for the seals? Should I drive it in a particular way if I decide to take my chances?

I work at a BMW dealership, and was thinking of getting the engine from the dealer, and having a tech. drop it in. I'm hoping that a simple engine drop is just that. Please let me know if I'm wrong. Any and all well-informed advice is greatly appreciated. A new BMW is not an option at this time.

Many thanks.

TheWyvern

Wow, with those numbers I'm actually surprised it still starts when warm at all.

Ignoring your initial comments, there are a couple things here you can do, but as you probably already know you are going to need a new motor very soon no matter what you do.

1.) As a last ditch effort you can get your hands on some Mazda Zoom Power Engine Cleaner and attempt to get some compression back from cleaning the carbon out of your motor. A good write up for how to do that and where you can find the cleaner can be found here:

https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-do-...eaform-142852/

2.) If you haven't already been doing so, after you clean your motor make sure you premix heavily using 2-stroke oil in your gas tank (Idemitsu is extremely popular around here, but there are alternatives). For normal conditions, people recommend between 4-6oz per full tank, but after the cleaner I'd say go as high as 8oz. Note that if you haven't been doing this up until now, the gains won't be anything to write home about, but will definitely help after you've stripped your motor down with the cleaner.

3.) If you have a series I RX-8 the biggest thing you can do to ensure starting and reduce flooding is to upgrade to the R3 starter (2009 and above). These starters can be found on Amazon and are very easy to put on the car, if you haven't already made this upgrade.

4.) Not sure if a BMW tech will be able to just "drop it in" but Rotary Resurrection on this knowledge base has a very good DIY on the topic of engine removal here:

https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-tec...w-pics-178937/

Kevin at RR also does rebuilds and can place a new motor in your car for a reasonable price if your motor isn't salvageable.

If you need more specifics, a good way to tap into the wealth of info found on this site is to do a google search but preface it with "site:rx8club.com <your questions here>".

All the best
-Wyvern

Loki

iTrader: (1)

I'm surprised they said they don't do rebuilds any more. There are still RX8 under factory warranty out there until 2020.

I'd call around. Best bet is a a professionally rebuilt engine from Pettit, Pineapple Racing or others. They definitely still do rebuilds, and good ones.

The install is not that complicated, if you can do it on a BMW, you can do it here. A lot less crap to disconnect and untangle.

Also surprised the car still runs with those numbers. How confident are you in the techs and equipment that performed it?

yosssarian

The Wyvern,

Thank you very much for your thorough, and informative reply.

I forgot to mention that it started this morning. I shut if off, and it started again. I just ran it for 20 minutes to recharge the battery. It kept running the whole time. Turned it off, and started it twice.

It kind of sucks to experience that kind of encouragement, then to read you're surprised it starts warm with those compression numbers. I'm sure it's true, but a bummer. Oh well.

Is the cleaner, and oil in the tank, useful only when the engine is later torn down? Or is it of value while trying to keep a low compression engine going?

Thank you very much for the links. Who is Kevin at RR?

Thanks,
Dave

yosssarian

Loki,

I'm guessing that a factory warranty entails replacing the engine, not rebuilding.

I'll check out Pettit, and Pineapple. Good to hear that dropping a new one is not that difficult.

It's the dealership I've always used. The work has always seemed competent. I don't think they got higher readings, and wrote lower numbers, but who knows.

UnknownJinX

Yeah, surprised that the car actually runs at all.

You can use the cleaner and premix as a last ditch effort, but I would probably look into a new engine soon if I am you.

Once you get the new engine, start premixing.

TheWyvern

Dave,

I know the feeling all too well. The engine cleaner itself mentioned in the write up I linked is usually used as an attempt to get a low compression engine back into fighting shape as a last chance effort before just giving up and doing a rebuild.

The premix oil in the gas tank is used as a longevity precaution and is important for lubricating the apex seals in our motors. It's important to premix heavily after using the cleaner, as the cleaner will attack carbon and as a result the oil lubricating your engine as well. Many people also max the OMP after using the cleaner. In the case that your motor is one of the lucky ones that gets back a half point of compression from the cleaner, in theory it would be wise to premix in order to hold on to those compression gains longer.

Lastly, by RR I meant Rotary Ressurection which is a shop that specializes in budget rebuilds of rotary cars, RX-8's specifically.

Again, all the best and good luck!
-Wyvern

gwilliams6

Some reputable rebuilders (not a complete list by any means, but tried and true)

http://black-halo-racing.myshopify.com/
RX-7 & RX-8 Performance (Pettit Racing)
Pineapple Racing
Racing Beat - Mazda Performance Specialists
http://rotaryperformance.com/
Rotary Resurrection

Loki

iTrader: (1)

There are no new engines, everything you get from Mazda or otherwise is a rebuild. There is a Mazda facility in Virginia dedicated to supplying rebuilt rotaries to dealers. But you may find better quality, price and support from the list of rebuilders posted above.

NotAPreppie

Engine rebuilder to avoid: OJ Imports

IIRC, the dealers never did rebuilds. They always just replaced bad engines with Mazda remans. You can still buy Mazda remans and I think Jim Ellis Mazda sells S1 6MT engines for ~$3000 (+$250 freight and $1000 core). Depending on how worn things are, you may end up replacing so many parts that there isn't much of the original engine left.

Loki

iTrader: (1)

Interesting. The way I've heard it was Caterpillar was the original contractor, before Mazda set up its own shop. Are they back to Cat? :/

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

Cat was the original contractor, Mazda has had their own reman plant since 2008. What goes into the mazda remans depends, some parts are always new, sometimes stuff is reused and certain things are re used always.

Look up old posts from sleepyz, he worked at the reman plant and outlined the whole process until Mazda asked him to stop.

yosssarian

Thanks! Forgive me if I seem lazy, but I don't have a lot of time to investigate these companies. If you could narrow it down to one or two that would be excellent.

yosssarian

G Williams - Forgive me if I seem lazy, but I don't have much time to investigate these companies. If you could narrow it down to one or two that would be excellent.

Chrishoky

iTrader: (9)

Honestly, please do the research yourself. Your going to be potentially spending thousands of dollars on a rebuild, you better make sure you know what your getting into. There are many great people on this site, but ultimately its up to you and your individual situation to decide what to do and where to go. If you don't have the time to call a couple places and get some info your going to have bigger problems - just read all the horror stories all over this site of people getting ripped off. The list provided to you are all reputable places, do the homework and decide which works best for you.

gwilliams6

Ditto, Chrishoky !

yosssarian

Yes, good points all around.

However, as you mentioned, it is the horror stories that get posted far more frequently than the successes, and they draw the most attention. On top of that, it's extremely difficult to evaluate the accuracy of someone's claim of an experience (without prior knowledge of their level of expertise). Ever been on a travel site? The first post says it was was Nirvana, and the second says that their children were molested.

It's almost a contradiction, I know, but I chose this site to take advantage of the expertise, and experience of its members, and avoid the time consuming research, in part because I am in borrowed transportation until this gets fixed. I don't have the luxury.

Standing amongst a group of cardiologists, I would be dismayed if they told me to do my own research on my palpitations. I come to experts seeking expert advice.

All I can do at this point is repeat my request, and ask that anyone knowledgeable of the available vendors from whom to buy a rebuilt engine give me a recommendation. All due respect, but I don't want to change this thread to a debate on how to evaluate claims.

Loki

iTrader: (1)

*shrug* OK, call Black Halo Racing, the first link in the list. Charles (above) has served the community diligently since forever, and will be your point of contact. Be nice

CelestialGryphon

iTrader: (1)

We don't have the like button anymore, so I can't like this post.

NotAPreppie

q. F. T.

gwilliams6

Yosssarian, you will not get far on this forum and in this club, if you are not willing to do your own searches and research.

We all are just as busy as you, so don't ask to be spoon-fed. Every rebuilder on that short list (again, not complete by any stretch) are experienced and reliable rebuilders. Now it is up to your own research to check them out and decide which rebuilder you prefer and which one has the prices and services you wish.

Do not expect knowledgeable folks here to do all your work for you ! You will just get ignored if you are not ready to take the lead for your own car.

Chrishoky

iTrader: (9)

OP you could also try the "Good Guy, Bad Guy" section of this website if you are looking for people opinions on different vendors:

https://www.rx8club.com/good-guy-bad-guy-74/

yosssarian

Loki, Thanks for accepting, and respecting my question by providing a direct answer, without lecturing me as if I didn't know the consequences of not doing my own research.

I appreciate, and am thankful for the advice offered by others. I got what I needed, and think this thread has run its course, and might be about to go off topic.

Best wishes to everyone.

gwilliams6

Yosssarian, you are missing the point. Loki pointed out BHR. BHR is one good choice. I am also a great fan of Charles of BHR and all his products and sage advice ,and have BHR parts in my own RX8, but that is not the only good choice.

You still needed to take the short time to check out the other ones on this short list of reliable rebuilders to find which one fits you best. And because it matters to your final total costs, which recommended rebuilder has your affordable price, and is closest to where you live . For the sake of your RX8, being this lazy is not the way to go in the future. You will have lots of choices and options suggested by knowledgeable and sincere members here. Like in the old Smokey Robinson song " you better shop around" and then weigh the costs and advantages of the advice you get here. .

You are getting sympathy from all of us helpful folks ,since you are a new member, but you won't get any long term respect if you are not willing to at least put some effort in on your own behalf. This is a forum of mostly dedicated RX8 owners who know that to properly care for these cars ,and to get the most out of this forum, requires some thoughtful expenditure of their own individual effort .

You remind me of my university students I teach, facing final exams this week, who still want the biggest rewards with the least amount of effort. Sorry for the lecture ! Best to you. !

yosssarian

I came here for advice, not to be lectured to. Your analogy is inapplicable, and since you don't know me, inappropriate.

Thanks for the assistance you offered. I'm not going to spend any more time on this, and will close the post. Good day.