When testing an RX8 I am purchasing tomorrow I turned the engine on and off a few times within 1 minute of each other. I now know that you need to let the engine warm up before shutting down. But, if I have made the engine close to flooding, if it does turn on when i buy it, and I drive, will the level stay close to flooding, or is it that once the engine is running the level will drop to a normal level.

Also, people have said if shutting down cold you should rev to around 3000/4000rpm. Is that just before you turn off engine, or are u turning the engine off with your foot on the accelerator.

Thanks

 

The rev-when-not-warm process is described in the owner's manual. If you search here, you should find it quoted.

The flooding deal doesn't have anything to do with "level." It's not like flooding a basement. I have not experienced flooding with my RX-8, but I don't think it happens from a quick on-off-on. My understanding is that it happens when you turn the car off when cold, leave it, then come back a while later. (If I'm wrong about that, someone will correct me.)

Flooding isn't a car-specific issue: you can't try it once or twice on a particular RX-8 and decide that you have a "good" one that won't flood.

If you're being cautious about this car (or any used car), you should take it to a good mechanic for a check-over.

Ken

 

just get the latest recall flash. I've flooded mine 3 times prior to the flash, and since then even under my own will it will not flood.

 

haha. deedubb turns his car on and off just like that.

i still always let it warm up. hahaha

 

The owners manual that was in the '05 I almost bought had instructions to prevent flooding and instructions for how to get it started if you do flood it, but I've been wondering if the latest recall/flashes had fixed the problem entirely. What's the official word on that (if there is one)? I guess one thing I can do is to look at the owners manual of the '07 I'll be picking up in a day or two and see if they removed the special instructions with new RX-8's.

 

No problem with the '07's (I've had mine for 5 months). Never flooded yet. And you'll get a DVD that illustrates many of the fussier points of the car in addition to the printed owner's manual. So-far, no recalls on the '07's.

To respond to an earlier post, the rev before shutting-off procedure isn't for cold shutdowns. The engine should never be shut-off cold. You let it idle for five minutes to warm up to operating temperature, then rev to 3000 for a few seconds before shutting down in order to minimize the chance of flooding upon restart and assure proper lubrication.

If I have to move the car, instead of the 5-minute idle procedure, I just drive it around the block once or twice. Much more fun than just sitting there looking at the dash. This engine warms up quickly under load.

 

Mine is an 04, had it for 2 years, never flooded.

 

"just get the latest recall flash" Whats that?

 

it's when u take your car to the mazda dealer and their tech comes out and turns your headlights on and off three times and then moons u when he's done.

 

exactly, thanks for clarifying that for me..

don't forget about the part where you paypal deedubb $10...

 

Over the years Mazda has revised the ECU programming several times. The program is stored in flash memory in the ECU - hence the term "flash" for the programming.

There's a sticky in the tech forum describing the flashes. The most recent one was performed as part of a recall in the US. I don't know if the same flashes are used in GB, or if you have a recall system like ours.

Since the previous owner regularly took that car to the dealer for service, I would suspect it's up to date.

Just buy the car and start enjoying it.

Ken

 

Normally, the engine does NOT need to be revved to 3000 RPM before turning it off.

For the record, the "revving" procedure you're describing is what Mazda calls the "Short trip driving procedure". It's in the "Quick Tips®" Reference Guide (that came on my US '05, at least):

For any trip that is too short for the engine to reach normal operating temperature, (needle in middle of temperature gauge indicates normal temperature), the following procedure should be followed**:
1. Start engine
2. Move vehicle
3. Warm engine for 5-minutes at idle
4. Raise engine speed to 3000 RPM for 10-seconds
5. Return to idle
6. Turn off engine

**Moving vehicle at a car wash or moving vehicle to access another vehicle would be considered a short distance

 

I still let mine warm up but since the last recall I've noticed a LOT fewer threads about flooded cars.

 

^thank goodness

 

I can't believe Deedubb still does that.

ON off On off On off.

I suppose that's what happens when you never drive it.

Got to get your thrills somehow..........

 

yeah, now n00bies don't panic about flooded engines anymore. Now they just think that ALL of us have had our engines replaced.