Please don't flame me. I've done my due diligence and searched this site for the whole of last weekend. So I think I'm pretty versed in all things Rotary now..) Im looking to buy an '04 with 15K on it, 6 speed...............but............

.....could I get a few definitive answers to a few questions???

1) The flooding issue: I read I think over 500 replies out of over 1100 offered on this subject. My basic question is, if I get the new starter, battery and hotter plugs can I safely lay this issue to rest? I fully understand the challenges of driving a rotary, but I have this nitemare scenerio of my gf taking my car and stranding herself at the mall (or worse). This is the one issue thats holding me back from buying. If I do get the 8, I'll still follow all the advice given about starting, stopping, etc, but I wonder if Mazda's "fix" is really a fix at all.............

2) Do I HAVE to put high octane gas in it?

3) If I buy, should I immediately take it down to Mazda to get a new "Flash" (and demand the flooding fix)?

4) Is the legend true that all of these problems (including the abysmal gas milege) are due to Mazda having to reset the computer to meet the "10 year shelf life" cataletic converter issue? And if yes, do you guys think or know if a private party fix has been created to set things the way they were supposed to be.....


.........I've owned Mazda's forever but never a rotary. In fact, I'll be getting rid of my beloved Miata for the 8. I've pretty much already talked myself into buying but would like some piece of mind before I do so........))

Many thanx for any help you can give me (and I feel a wee bit guilty abandoning www.Miata.net for this forum.......)

Joe

 

1, 54,000 miles on the original starter and never flooded. I do have the 640 CCA battery. Your 8 should have that size batt standard. If you don’t shut off a cold engine you should be fine.

2, NO, put in whatever gas makes your car run fine. 91 Octane is recommended NOT required.

3, Any 8 sold NEW will be up to date on flashes.

4, Was true until Spring 2004 ( M-Flash ) MPG depends on your driving and car. I can get 21 MPG many get under 17. There is no cost effective way to go back to the ‘250 HP’ engine that was advertised back in 2003.

 

many thanx Expo1..but to clarify...........

This flooding issue reminds me of the same "I swear not to ever leave my top down in a driving rainstorm" arguement for my Miata. You swear you'll never do it but eventually you will. I'm gonna be pissed if Sis/Mom/Gf/Me moves my car out of the driveway and kills the thing.

From what I understand, the bigger/hotter battery, hotter plugs and the new starter is supposed to put this issue to rest. Have you ever cold started/shutdown your 8? Otherwise, Im ready to buy.

As far as questions 2, 3, and 4 many many thanx..........................

PS: You must have your on Karma, 21mpg is great............!!

 

1. It seems hopeful but it is not a proven fix. I have yet to find a post where an RX-8 with all 4 changes (PCM update, battery, starter, leading plugs) has flooded. All RX-8s made since 3/22/05 have the changes and no owner has reported a flood on this forum ... yet. That is the problem with trying to prove the negative hypothesis. Best bet is to get the 4 changes and still avoid cutting the engine off cold.

2. No.

3. You Should have Mazda check your VIN in their maintenance database and apply all outstanding recalls ASAP. They latest recall includes an update to the latest PCM flash. You can ask for the 4 fixes listed in the 12/1/05 "Engine cranks no start" Service Bulletin. Some dealerships will do it without a flood, some won't.

4. Canzoomer (www.canzoomer.com) has a piggyback unit designed to restore the PCM to the Jspec (Japanese spec PCM) performance levels. However, the unit may require car/flash specific tweeking to achieve the improvements.

 

1. Flooding for this car could always happen if you shut off cold. Flashes do not fix the flooding issue,... though they do help.

2. You can use down to 87 as it states in the manual. 91 is the recommended octane but you should be fine running 87.

3. It would be wise to get the latest flashes and recalls done.

4. Mazda did have to change the cat for longer lasting. piggyback ecu or standalone ecu's could help set things up, but it would need to be specially tuned.

 

1) Rev the engine to 5K then shut down at 5K. This should help the stop the flooding. Also warm up the car. These are the best ways to prevent flooding. I hear if you have flooded Mazda will put in the better battery, plugs and started but I have heard this 2nd hand. You may have to fight for it.

2) Mixed here, I have heard many who have but you'll have to try it and see if you ping. If not you will be fine with 87.

3) Get the newest flash.

4) I believe this contributes to bad gas mileage but the fact of the matter is the RX-8 is not a gas efficient engine. Despite some who would say other wise the rotary will never be as gas efficient as a piston engine. Bad mileage is just part of the package.

 

Good answers.

Go buy it.

 

I'm thinking about getting an rx8 in the near future. I'm really only worried about the relatively low gas mileage comapred to other cars like the 350Z

 

Consumer reports actual road tests (city/highway):

350Z - 14/27
RX-8 - 14/22

I wouldn't worry much unless you are a high mileage driver.

 

it's just kinda odd that a car with 40 more horsepower gets 5 more mpg. The RX8 is far more practical as a car though!

 

If gas mileage is your deciding factor, you might want to consider something else. With the 8, it all comes down to your dirivng habits man.

Just fill up and go...

518!

 

[QUOTE=Raptor75]1) Rev the engine to 5K then shut down at 5K. This should help the stop the flooding. Also warm up the car. These are the best ways to prevent flooding. I hear if you have flooded Mazda will put in the better battery, plugs and started but I have heard this 2nd hand. You may have to fight for it.

QUOTE]

I've read a bit about this technique of shutting down. Supposedly, the second set of injectors kick in at 3750rpm. I've read to rev to 3000 and shut down.

Anybody have a definitive answer on this one??

 

The Mazda recommended procedure for short trips is (and has always been) as follows:

- Start the car
- Move the car (like backing out of the garage)
- Let the engine reach operating temperature or run for at least 5 minutes
- Rev to 3K RPM and hold for 10 seconds
- Let return to idle
- Shut off engine

You are correct in that you want to keep around 3K for several reasons: 3K is one of the engine's leanest points, to avoid opening the secondary ports. There is a debate on this forum whether once at 3K to release the gas and immediately turn the engine off (ie not let it return to idle). Your preference.

Note, the above is only for the case where the car is started briefly and then shut down. If you start and then drive a distance, with the engine warming up normally, you can just shut the car off.

 

Everybody else already summed it up. Mine's almost a year old, 12K, no problems. I treat it like a regular car and you should too. The kinks appear to have been worked out. I'd be more worried about it being a used car and going over it with fine-tooth comb.