Notices
RX-8 Discussion General discussion about the RX-8 that doesn't fit in one of the specialty forums.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by: CARiD

Those who've got the 'replacement' engine from mazda...

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Rate Thread
 
Old 12-07-2006 | 11:30 PM
  #1  
dmp's Avatar
dmp
Thread Starter
RX8 and a Truk....
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,658
Likes: 7
From: OKC
Those who've got the 'replacement' engine from mazda...

I picked up my car tonite from having the engine replaced - feels...tight? that make sense? Feels unwilling to rev like the previous engine - which was quite strong when it wasn't held back by a bad cat.
Old 12-07-2006 | 11:33 PM
  #2  
Grizzly8's Avatar
Banned
 
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 371
Likes: 0
Once you put over 2000 km on the clock she should loosen up

Michael
Old 12-07-2006 | 11:35 PM
  #3  
Raptor2k's Avatar
Club Marbles Member
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,252
Likes: 0
From: DFW, TX
Gotta break it in, no?
Old 12-08-2006 | 12:26 AM
  #4  
MazdaManiac's Avatar
Banned
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 16,386
Likes: 26
From: Under my car
"Breaking it in" is a bit of a misnomer. The rotary shouldn't see any drop in friction on the sealing surfaces as it ages. The idea is simply to give the seals a chance to wear to the shape of the housings.
If it feels "tight" it is probably running lean.
Old 12-08-2006 | 12:32 AM
  #5  
Raptor2k's Avatar
Club Marbles Member
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,252
Likes: 0
From: DFW, TX
o rly
Old 12-08-2006 | 12:39 AM
  #6  
MazdaManiac's Avatar
Banned
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 16,386
Likes: 26
From: Under my car
Ya, rly.

For the most part, a brand new Renesis will actually run harder (and produce more power) than a broken-in motor.

Think about it - if a motor could produce enough friction internally to cause a perceptible reduction in performance, it would burst into flames.
Old 12-08-2006 | 12:55 AM
  #7  
Raptor2k's Avatar
Club Marbles Member
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,252
Likes: 0
From: DFW, TX
Not questioning that, just trying to learn....

If friction weren't an issue though, then what would be the point of wearing the seals?
Old 12-08-2006 | 09:03 AM
  #8  
Cattywampus's Avatar
Turbos blow!!
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,584
Likes: 0
From: my engine bay
And the fact some say the rotary gets stronger with age unlike pistons engines who loose power with age.
Old 12-08-2006 | 09:19 AM
  #9  
Rhythmic's Avatar
Laid back in the pocket
 
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 522
Likes: 0
From: Blacksburg, VA
Check the long term test by Car & Driver. After 40k mi the 8 dropped 0.7 sec. off its 0-60mph. This corresponds with what I've always heard: rotary is faster with age.
Old 12-08-2006 | 10:17 AM
  #10  
dmp's Avatar
dmp
Thread Starter
RX8 and a Truk....
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,658
Likes: 7
From: OKC
Right - I understand all that, but when I bought my car new, the engine didn't feel like this. I know rotaries can gain power over time. Right now it just feels weird. Course, I'm not driving much over 4K or so, but I don't feel much power surge as rpm's increase. One or twice while merging I got the rpms to 7k or so - and the engine just felt like a piston engine getting close to redline...as if the power was dropping off.

If it doesn't get better, I'll dyno after a few thousand miles, and see what I see. Right now I'm thinking the car would put down about 150whp.

If it's not close to the 197 I did w/ the previous engine I'll try to raise a stink to the service dept. If they won't fix it, I'll trade the car.
Old 12-08-2006 | 10:45 AM
  #11  
RedLineShinka's Avatar
Registered
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 157
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta, GA
<senses another HorsePower thread and runs away>
Old 12-08-2006 | 12:15 PM
  #12  
dmp's Avatar
dmp
Thread Starter
RX8 and a Truk....
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,658
Likes: 7
From: OKC
Originally Posted by RedLineShinka
<senses another HorsePower thread and runs away>

No - if things don't improve with the engine in the next couple months, I'll sovle the HP isSue once and 4 all.
Old 12-08-2006 | 01:07 PM
  #13  
swoope's Avatar
Zoom-Freakin'-Zoom
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 14,602
Likes: 36
From: orlando, fl
the new flash takes several drive cycles to settle down...

but my new motor felt fine.. i waited all of 200 miles till the redline..

beers
Old 12-08-2006 | 01:40 PM
  #14  
Jedi54's Avatar
Administrator
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 22,444
Likes: 2,799
From: The Dark Side
(susbscribing) Interested to see how this goes...
Old 12-08-2006 | 04:15 PM
  #15  
dmp's Avatar
dmp
Thread Starter
RX8 and a Truk....
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,658
Likes: 7
From: OKC
Welp - today driving it at lunch, to the coin-op wash rack, I was able to get it sideways a bit (wet roads) AND stay under 4,000 rpms. That's a GOOD sign. I REALLY hope the S4 I'm test-driving this weekend isn't THAT good...lol Walking around my car, all clean - man, it'd be weird having a 'sedan'.
Old 12-09-2006 | 02:31 AM
  #16  
kristopher_d's Avatar
Drive Master
 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,670
Likes: 0
From: Redmond
I'm telling you, that taking it easy break in procedure is crap. If she aint screamin' you aint tryin' hard 'nough. Seriously though. After getting this new crap flash during the recall, there are occasions when Ruby just doesn't seem right. I rev the hell out of her a few times, run her up to redline under load, and she's all better though. Kinda like she needs a little motivation to wake 'er up.
Old 12-09-2006 | 03:33 AM
  #17  
dtorre's Avatar
Ultimate ****** Goderator
 
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 757
Likes: 0
I like to rev my engine when its cold every morning for a good 2 minutes to 9K rpm....hmmm nothing like that rich smell to wake you up in the morn
Old 12-09-2006 | 03:36 AM
  #18  
swoope's Avatar
Zoom-Freakin'-Zoom
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 14,602
Likes: 36
From: orlando, fl
Originally Posted by dtorre
I like to rev my engine when its cold every morning for a good 2 minutes to 9K rpm....hmmm nothing like that rich smell to wake you up in the morn
how much money would you like to bet that you dont, or cant!!!!


beers
Old 12-09-2006 | 09:50 AM
  #19  
khoney's Avatar
FX8TED on my RX-8
 
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 815
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio
If I can remember back that far... mine seemed just fine - I didn't really detect a difference in performance, other than I haven't had the marbles in a can sound since...
Old 12-09-2006 | 10:13 AM
  #20  
NotAPreppie's Avatar
What am I doing here?
 
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,606
Likes: 649
From: 2017 Miata RF Launch Edition
Originally Posted by dmp
No - if things don't improve with the engine in the next couple months, I'll sovle the HP isSue once and 4 all.
If you're going to that extreme a measure, should you do it right and Really solve the HP iSsue once and 4 all?
Old 12-09-2006 | 06:33 PM
  #21  
dmp's Avatar
dmp
Thread Starter
RX8 and a Truk....
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,658
Likes: 7
From: OKC
Originally Posted by NotAPreppie
If you're going to that extreme a measure, should you do it right and Really solve the HP iSsue once and 4 all?
Will YOU fund the price difference??
Old 12-10-2006 | 01:54 AM
  #22  
DOMINION's Avatar
I don't buy Kool-Aid
 
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 8,823
Likes: 2
From: Vegas Baby!
Originally Posted by dmp
I picked up my car tonite from having the engine replaced - feels...tight? that make sense? Feels unwilling to rev like the previous engine - which was quite strong when it wasn't held back by a bad cat.

Originally Posted by MazdaManiac
"Breaking it in" is a bit of a misnomer. The rotary shouldn't see any drop in friction on the sealing surfaces as it ages. The idea is simply to give the seals a chance to wear to the shape of the housings.
If it feels "tight" it is probably running lean.
Yeah what he said...
Old 01-27-2007 | 05:12 PM
  #23  
dmp's Avatar
dmp
Thread Starter
RX8 and a Truk....
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,658
Likes: 7
From: OKC
I have data now...data which lends to my Butt-Dyno being VERY well calibrated.


Note the dyno plot w/ the OLD engine - vs. today's dyno plot w/ the new engine.

Old 01-27-2007 | 05:36 PM
  #24  
9krpmrx8's Avatar
SARX Legend
iTrader: (46)
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 33,786
Likes: 455
From: San Antonio, Texas
I road my hard from the replacement time. I gave her five days of under 6k revs and after that it was on. I hit redline probably ten times a day and my new engine seems fine but I have yet to take her to the strip on the new engine and I tested my nitrous once but after this oil change, new tires I will get my *** out there to see if I can hit high 14's.
Old 01-27-2007 | 06:11 PM
  #25  
dtorre's Avatar
Ultimate ****** Goderator
 
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 757
Likes: 0
Thats so weird your new engine makes considerabally less HP....but more before 85 mph


You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:03 PM.