Big_Mike_4488

Hello forum. I am 19 years old, and a sophomore in college. I just got a slightly used 2004 6spd rx8. I have been driving an SUV since I got my liscense so I never got into the sports car lingo. I've read posts on this forum before and some of the talks baffle me. What can I do to build up my vocabulary and increase my knowledge a bit? I've thought about maybe adding some mods (in a few years when I get some money) but I want to really know what I'm doing like you guys do. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

Blue87Sport

Start here https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-faq-9/

mikeb

welcome

just start reading in the tech garage

expo1

Big Mike, why don't you reply with a punch list of some of the "lingo" and I think you might get most of it answered without being flamed too bad.

Krankor

And if you do, I'll be reading the answers real carefully, because I don't know half the lingo either!

Krankor
05 Shinka 6MT

Big_Mike_4488

Ok,well, here are just some of the things I have no idea about:

ECU- hehe, dont know much at all about this

Exhausts- Always thought this was very basic, then I came here and saw talks about mid pipes, catback, and what ever else I have no idea about.

Flywheels, piggybacks

Turbos(know what they do but not really how they work)

Flash? (hadnt seen this till recently)


I'm sure there are tons of other things i cant think of, but here are just a few.

expo1

ECU- hehe, dont know much at all about this

Engine Control Unit: The Brains of the car, controls / watches almost everything that has current running through it.

Flash? (hadnt seen this till recently)

Is the updating of the ECU similar to “Flashing” the BIOS on your MainBoard. For now only the dealership can flash your car.

Exhausts- Always thought this was very basic, then I came here and saw talks about mid pipes, catback, and what ever else I have no idea about.

To remove the exhaust gases from the motor and reduce pollution & noise you have the Exhaust manifold (header), Catalytic Converter which is attached to a pipe in the “middle” of this system and then the muffler & tail pipes. In our lingo the “mid-pipe” is a section of exhaust tubing that replaces the Catalytic Converter. A “Cat Back” exhaust would be the parts of the system in BACK of the Catalytic Converter. Our Cars have a very good exhaust system power wise so HP gains from aftermarket exhaust are minimal.

Flywheels, piggybacks

This will explain the Flywheel, http://auto.howstuffworks.com/clutch2.htm

the aftermarket flywheels are lighter and allow the car to get in to the higher RPM ranges faster. It doesn’t give you more power but gives you access to the power you have a bit quicker. PiggyBacks refer to aftermarket “ECU’s” the work in conjunction with the stock ECU to let you tune the car for better performance. It in effect is “piggybacking” the OEM computer. These require some knowledge of modern engine tuning and are not for the novice owner.

Turbos(know what they do but not really how they work)

For this one go here http://auto.howstuffworks.com/turbo.htm

Tigster

Welcome to the board, and to being an 8 owner. It always amazes me how helpful Expo1 is!

expo1

The guy that started the Premium vs regular thread tonight might not think so :D

The way Big Mike asked the question was nice so I gave him a nice answer.

spork

Here's two terms that baffled me for a while

FI: Forced Induction. That's like Turbocharging or Supercharging. It took me a long time to figure that one out. I was like is that an F1 like a F1 race car?

NA: Naturally Aspirated. ie An engine that doesn't use forced induction.

Tigster

While we are asking questions, why are 3rd generation RX7's refered to as FD?

Gohan

Welcome to the forum

tiggerlee

This might help. :D Forum Lingo

And welcome to the club!

Big_Mike_4488

Thank you very much Expo. I'll try to build off of that so I can participate with you goes in those complicated conversations. Maybe eventually I'll have enough knowledge (and $) to throw on some mods. I love the Rx8 and its plenty of car for me right now.


I saw that you said aftermarket exhaust arent much better than stock. If in the future I decided to throw in some mods such as an intake a flywheel, would these mods be as effective with the stock exhaust. What about the Greddy exhaust in the first thread in the aftermarket forum which claims 22 HP?

expo1

I have the Greddy SP2, I like the sound & the looks. I can’t say it made much of a difference in power I never saw that 22 HP claim by the way. The basis for the claim of low power increases from aftermarket exhaust can be found here http://www.racingbeat.com/resultset....rtNumber=16397
Racing Beat is a respected name in the rotary community and it would have helped them sell more exhausts to claim bigger increases from their system. So when they say a RX-8 with no muffler at all gained only 5 HP it is believed. How can another system gain more HP than one with no muffler at all?
To save your brain from an overload I would search this board and the web for RX-8 and other rotary related info on a subject-by-subject basis. If you start reading threads on Turbo’s, exhausts, tires, brakes, ECU’s. Suspension, maintenance, appearance you will get RX-8 Info overload. Pick one or two areas of interest and just look into learning more about them. Also if you can afford it track time in this car does wonders, improving the driver is a great first MOD.

Big_Mike_4488

Where can I find out where a track is if I wanted to start? Is it expensive?

expo1

what city / state you live in? http://www.trackschedule.com/sched.html

Next month I will be at Watkins Glen for three days / $630 I should get about 6-7 hours of track time.

dazygirl415

Because the VIN numbers for those models has FD in the sequence. 2nd gens should have FC and 1st gens have FB. The RX8 has FE.

Krankor

Wow. That's a REALLY obscure way to refer to a car model. I solemnly vow NEVER to refer to my 8 as an "FE".

Thanks for the info, dazygirl415, that's one I had been wondering about!

Krankor
05 Shinka 6MT

Big_Mike_4488

So expo, what exactly does this "flash" do? Do I have to ask them to do it for me? Does it cost anything?

expo1

The computer is the RX-8 is a very complex and very intrusive device that controls a wide range of functions. Like Microsoft service packs flashes can make major or minor updates to your car. They also are cumulative so even though the current flash being done with the fuel tank recall only makes minor changes to the RPM’s during idle if your 8 was way behind on flashes this would bring you up to date. If your car is performing well I would not be too concerned which flash you have. During your next routine visit to the dealership inquire as to if your car is up to date on “flashes”, flashes do not cost you anything by the way.

https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-trouble-shooting-95/j-k-l-m-flash-explanations-50119/ also contains basic info on flashes,

djgiron

Tigster

The Rx7's model designator from mazda were FB3S for the later 1st Gen, FC3S for 2nd Gen, and FD3S for 3rd Gen. If you poke around other autoforums, they all have the same type of lingo, for example Toyota Celicas are 5sfe for last gen and 2zzge for current ones. And the Rx8 is actually SE3P designator. I think it was easier for people to type FD or FC then things like 94 Rx7, or 2nd Gen and everyone knew what they meant. Some are designated by the motor, like older nissans with the SR20DET motor (AMAZING ENGINE) or even the color of the motors, I think the JDM SR20DET had a red top so it is called the redtop. Basically the little things that differentiate you model from someone elses in the shortest term possible. For us it is GT, Shinka, MS-8 (if it ever happens), Base . . .

Brettly2005

iTrader: (3)

Ive been a member now for a few months now, and i dont get the "forum" lingo. I understand most of the tech related stuff but if anyone wants to help with the stuff like "bump" that would be greatly appreciated.

Big Mike welcome to the forum, and welcome to the beginning of the end of your bank account. Im 19 as well and have made a few heafty purchases. I have the ExoticSpeed R2 Titan exhaust, MazdaSpeed springs with Koni shocks, and an entire new sounds system with lights. intake and rims come this summer. youll have a blast with this car man.

RobGraz

^ You'are about 5.5 years too late.

"Bump," is moving a thread towards the top of the Active Threads.

zoom44

brett big mike joined in 2005 Mike is now 25

bump is just what you did- raising an older thread by posting in it. that give the thread a "bump" to the top of the threads list