I did a few searches, but haven't found anything so far... but I test drove a 04 today (6sp, high 80s with AC on at 2)... the test drive went well, but one thing I noticed was that the engine temp gauge was past the half way point.. i know the car runs hotter than other cars, but is that normal for an rx8???

Also, if the car has been on the lot for a few months, should I ask for a free oil change or anything else related to fluids if I decide to purchase?

 

Normally runs just a few notches past the halfway point, doesn't sit perfectly in the middle. Plus can't really compare gauges positions from one car to another as the range maybe different. (what one engines feels is its peak tolerance vs another)

It wouldn't hurt to ask about the oil change before going off the lot, if they don't least get it done just for peace of mind. I would be more concerned with the battery if it has just been sitting there for months with no one driving it, the batterys can be weak at times.

Check out the recalls link

Make sure some of the important ones like the thermal and control arm where either done or verified.

 

Mine works its way up to one click short of half way.
It starts to move when the coolant hits 100° F and hits the normal spot at 160°.
It will stay there until 233°, at which point it will start to swing up again. I've never seen coolant temps above 240°F (and that was after a hard boosted run in the Arizona sun on a hot highway after 30 miles of high speed driving on a 118°F day).

 

Are you sure you are not confusing the engine temperature gauge with the oil pressure gauge? The engine tempt on mine has never gone above halfway even after VERY hard driving in hot weather but always sits right below halfway. The oil pressure always immediatly goes up past halfway at a little less than 3/4 from H right when I start the even if it's cold.

This was in response to the thread starter's quesiton.

 

It does go past the midway mark normally. One time after half an hour of bumper to bumper traffic it unmistakably ran all the way to hot when I had the AC on. Took it to the dealer and they claimed to have changed the thermostat. Just goes past the halfway point now like before, but just slightly.

 

Did they change the thermostat because it was sticking and not letting the fluid flow properly? If you overheated the car I would be concerned about other possible damage. That would really freak me out.

Or did you mean that they changed the thermometer? If the thermometer was not operating properly and went outta wack or whatever... well no, that doesn't make much sense. I just haven't heard of anyones thermostat sticking yet. Usually doesn't happen until they have 70-80k miles on them or they have been sitting for long periods of time with out being started. As the temperature rises the thermostat has a heat activated spring that will compress and allow the coolant to move past the thermostat. Otherwise it blocks the coolant from passing and moving through the radiator to cool down. That's why I say I would be extremely concerned if the car overheated. I just don't see a good reason for any of our thermostats to be failing.

 

Mine never gets to the halfway point and I live in the freaking desert!

 

^mine either. It's always two clicks from halfway.

 

^^ Yeah, that is the normal range for all the RX-8s I've been in..

 

If I recall correctly the temp gauge is designed on the RX to run a tick below the half way mark for a wide range of temperatures. That is why you never see it move once warmed up. If it is moving then you have a problem which needs to be addressed ASAP. The one thing which will kill a rotary is an over heat situation, avoid it at all costs.

 

no, it was the temp gauge as it was the one on the right side... but throughout the test drive, it did hold steady just a click or two past the midway point... but thanks for the replies as I feel more comfortable about it with the temp gauge not moving after the warm up...

 

It's an old picture, but that's where mine always is.

 

Are you sure? The temp gauge is on the left. Oil gauge is on the right, and yes it's always a couple marks past halfway.

 

In regards to the oil guage being mention. The gauge does not measure any pressure in terms of amount. Instead it only indicates oil pressure or no pressure. Which is why it always just jumps straight up and stays there. If it ever goes to 0, you have big problem; aka jump out of the car quickly

 

But turn it off first.

 

It's normal.

 

Yeah, you're looking at the oil pressure, not the temp.

 

Thats optional

 

my temp gauge never gets to the halfway point, let alone above. it never makes it past two clicks to the left of the halfway point.

 

Install a turbo, move to the dessert and drive it hard on 114°F afternoons.
Then, report back here...

 

Again don't think the car is that well cooled. Mazda just dumbed down the gauge to show a steady reading over a wide range of temperatures. For it to move up it must be running pretty hot. Mazda doesn't want to answer a lot of questions on the coolant system so what better way to prevent that then keeping the driver in an ignorant blissful state. Same logic as the idiot light fake oil pressure gauge.

Give me a real gauge!

 

I can see why they'd do it tho, rotaries run pretty hot since they're pretty inefficient thermodynamically, it's one of the reasons the 8 needs a radiator to cool the oil when most piston engined cars don't.

 

True, additionally there is no way to get coolant to the rotors so the oil is sprayed internally on the rotors to cool them. Oil cooling is key to a Rotary's survival. This is also a good argument for stay with 5w20 instead of going to a heaver oil like 5w30. I have read that a lighter oil dose a better job as a coolant then a heavier oil.

 

ill get right on that