From my instructor "From what I've seen of RX8's, I'm not very impressed."

I concur. Sort of.

Anyone ELSE suffer from fuel starvation on a FULL tank? HORRIBLE - ruined my track day. The car felt balanced, had plenty of grip and brakes, a little loose in the back end, but otherwise went fine.

But that fuel starvation issue. JUST as I'd apex a hard left-hander and roll onto the throttle...chug-chug and I'd have NO power. The car would unsettle and things would be horrible. I'll be getting ahold of a dealer service facility to see if they'll replace my car's fuel pump. If not, I'll try getting a better pump aftermarket. No - There's no way I'd blow $600 on the new fuel-thing from Mazmart, was it? If I cant find a solution which'll get me at LEAST down to 1/4 tank, I'll have to keep the car off the track - which would defeat my purpose for having a car.

Blah -

Otherwise, I had a good time. :D I'll post pics when I get them from my photographers.


- darin

 

Bummer about the fuel starvation issue. I've heard of people getting it at half tank, but this is the first time I've heard of it with a full tank. I had my car at Pacific Raceways in August and I didn't experience it at all, even when I got down around a quarter tank. I can definitely see how that could ruin your day. The only issue I had was the CEL kept flashing and came on solid once. I had to run up to Schucks and have them reset it at lunch. It was just a misfire code, which I now know is pretty common for the RX-8 at the track.

I wish I could have made this track day. I think I'll be out until next spring. How was the track? In the pictures it looks like it might have been partially wet. Was it like that all day?

 

If you track the Rx8 regularly, particularly if you're going to be using stickier tires, IMO you've got to address the fuel starvation problem. There are a number of old threads on the issue ~ try searching "fuel starvation"

That said, once fixed .... the Rx8 is, lets say, when it shows up at WMB, iduA and even ehcsroP club events first looked on with some pity or disdane (pre run groups), then with some asstonishment if not frustrated admiration :-)

Don't compound the embarsement by continually running out of gas in the corners. It's not only frustrating, but IMO it can be rather dangerous as well. It continues to astound me Mazda has still apparently not addressed the issue.

Oh yeah, and PS IMO I think your instructor was not particularly well informed. I ask for a refund https://www.rx8club.com/editpost.php...ost&p=1572009#
Smilie

 

I didnt - when the problem started on a FULL tank, I shut it down, came in, and was done for the day. Just not safe.

 

Hum ... my guess would be that if it's doing this on a full tank, it's something other than the fuel sloshing from one side to the other at the fuel pick up points. I'd look to something else affecting fuel delivery under high engine loads/rpm ~ plugged fuel filter, loose fuel pump connection or loose/ben/pinched fuel line etc. Loose fuel injector connections, something along those lines. Starvation with a full tank in long hard sweepng corners, or at lower speeds in quick, back & forth sections doesn't sound right. Good luck.

 

Thanks much - I'll look into those things, too.

 

A friend on mine had a similiar issue and he found water (moisture) in his tank. A little dry gas and problem solved. He thinks it was a bad batch of fuel because after going to a second event the car ran 4.0

 

one of our local guys, and a forum regular, olddragger has really bad fuel starvation issues too. i believe dannobre had them, but he got a new pump, and put in a secondary. OD is going to be replacing his stock pump, to see if that eliminates his problem.

do you have a nice on ramp somewhere near you, that you can claim was the scene of fuel starvation, to report it to your dealer. the tests the dealer do for fuel pickup, are not intense, and it would pass under their tests, but we know that at high G levels, it gets starved.

sorry to hear about your troubles man, that really sucks. keep us posted.

 

Muy triste senor