My 2004 RX-8 (50,000 mi.) is getting a new engine core. For the last month it's been hard to start when the engine was hot, then last week it refused to start while hot during a heat wave. My first engine was replaced for the same failure in 2007 at 26,000 mi.

I believe I came in just under the 8 year extended warrantee limit, since I bought my car on November 15th, 2003. Since this warrantee only covers the engine core, unlike the first complete engine swap, I think I'm liable for several hundred dollars. But I my RX-8 has been trouble free and cheap to service for eight years so I'm not worried about a few hundred dollars.

 

Your 1994 Rx-8?

 

Sorry. 2004!

 

You might want to fix that, 1994 would have been an FD Rx-7.
But 3 engines in 50,000 miles, that's a bit odd, I thought they last a bit longer than that.

 

Do you pre-mix? How was your oil consumption? What type of driving do you do?

 

3rd engine at 50,000 miles... ouch.
Sorry to hear you're having that much trouble with it.

 

3 engines within 50k miles is a record. Have you been changing the oil and doing a tune-up by the book? Anyway, you should be glad that you have all the documentations for having an engine replaced all the time. I've never had my engine replaced yet...i'm at 33k plus miles and its an 05 (6 years old).

 

No, I didn't premix. Oil consumption was about a quart every 2,000mi. I do a lot of short city trips - my commute is 15 minutes each way.

From what I've read, my original 2004 model had a problem with oil metering that caused the failure, which has subequently been fixed with a computer update. I've heard that the the replacement remanufactured engines were outsourced and had problems - that was my second engine. I hope my third engine, which is being installed now, will be my last.

 

Is this car an AT or an MT. I'm gonna guess AT.


Nope. I got #4 at 36000.

 

I thought that was "normal" for the 04-05's...
My 04, according to Mazda USA,
1st - @19k
2nd - @47k
3rd - Still going @99k

 

I think the short trips and 15 minute commute hurt you. You might pre-mix....

 

The quality of the remans varies so you can't expect 100k+ IMO. But short trips probably don't help. But it's all guesswork until you tear it apart.

Me:

1st at 22k, loss of compression, eventual stalling
(factory 5W-20,no premix, all highway, driven hard regularly,regular oil changes)

2nd at 96k, loss of compression, eventual stalling
(10W-30, premix the last 22k, all highway, driven hard reg + dozen autox, reg oil changes)

3rd at 124k, busted coolant seal, torn down by pineapple revealing below spec housings were reused during the Mazda Reman process.
(0W-40, catless, BHR Ign, premixed and SOHN from day one, city/highway, driven hard + few events, OCD like oil changes every 2k or so)

My 3rd engine is a Pineapple Racing 2008 motor that had 5k on it at rebuild time. We shall see how it handles boost

 

Got my car back with the new engine (#3). Smoother than my old engine. Mazda paid for everything in the engine change including car rental, so I'm satisfied, and will consider buying the next generation rotary whether it's called an RX-7 or RX-8.