Hello everyone! I have been lurking here for years, posting here and there as I researched setups and the right modifications. Im finally parting out my MS6 to sell and get into a rx8 and I couldn’t be any more excited/ready.

I use to own a s2000 and really miss the high revs and smaller body style/less weight. Immediately after having the s2000 totaled (not my ideal situation but someone else decided that for me) I knew I wanted an rx8 but knew little about them and had heard too many horror stories to make the rotary leap of faith. Then one day I came across a great deal on the MS6 and went that route and abandoned my rotary dreams…… but not completely. Since getting the ms6 I knew that the passion for the rx8 would not die and only grew stronger so the research became more in depth and I started to feel comfortable with owning a rotary.

Well like I said the time is almost here so I decided to finally take things to the next level and post up my planned modifications/maintenance/DIY list for others to look at and offer advice/opinions on where im trying to go and how I plan on getting there. To put it simply I love the rx8 for everything it is and the fact can still seat 4 couldn’t make it any more perfect seeing how we are a 1 car family and my wife does not drive(more seat time for me) and we expect to have little ones in the future. I want to enhance the performance characteristics of the car while improving reliability and longevity of the engine. Obviously as with most I have a tight budget and had to choose my preferences carefully but I think the list of initial performance mods take care of many of the rx8’s possible issues. The maintenance list should give me a fresh start and make sure that the renesis is happy and healthy from the moment I touch her, and through lots of research and advice from the forum I hope to buy a well maintained / healthy car to begin with. So any way…. Hi my name is Aaron and Im a rotary-a-holic and uI don’t even own one yet but hopefully Ill join the ranks soon enough and with everyone’s help make sure to get the proper mods taken care of so that I have lots of high revs in my future for a long time.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/...1E&usp=sharing

Breakdown of my reasoning behind my list…..
-The cobb Ap can adjust many things on the rx8 including the omp rates, fan speeds, plus TUNE!

-I have read tons and tons of articles about the BHR ignition…. Enough said!

-The sohn omp adapter is a big selling point for me, and after reading lots of posts regarding it I must have.

-The coilovers will provide stiffness as well as adjustability when I go from DD to track star

After seeing just one picture with a rx8 using stock rims, lowered stance and 25mm spacers I was hooked. Never thought I would appreciate the stock rims but due to the cost of new ones I think it can wait and until then at least ill be looking clean.

The midpipe takes care of cat issues and blockages plus adds a nice sound and possibly net some hp and same goes for the custom turn down exhaust. It will just open the exhaust side up a bit and help flow + sound and reduce a bit of weight.

Basically everything before the future modifications I will be purchasing/doing to the car upon purchasing. The future mods will be WELLLLLL in the future.

LINK TO MY MOD LIST:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/...1E&usp=sharing

THANKS FOR THE HELP!

 

I would look into the royal purple thing... I cant remember if it was the tranny fluid, 2 stroke, or engine oil that was corrosive, but I remember a big post about it in the past.

I also don't know that the air filter is going to help you with anything. If it's a paper based filter, or anything like the K&N filter, you'll get like a 1HP gain and allow sand and fine grit into the engine. I don't know anything about the brand in particular, just a ire of caution...

I also don't recommend removing the screens in the intake. They smooth out the air for better MAF readings etc. The factory intake is very well designed.

 

far better choices for 2 stroke than RP

far better choices for motor oil than RP

Purple Ice is no bueno for our water jacket seals

Don't remove screens from intake

garageline header, waste

better choices than RB flywheel

Stick with OEM air filter

the list could go on...

 

You might want to check out my beginner's guide to modding the 8.

reddozen, it's the transmission. You DO NOT want Royal Purple in your transmission unless you feel like replacing the transmission every 10,000 miles or less. Stick with MT-90, Mazda's OE fluid, or Eunos. Not much reason to pick something else, and plenty of reason not to.

He has MT-90 listed for the transmission, so no real problem with his fluid choices, just some better options available.

 

Got ya, I knew it was one of them. I use MT-90 in mine.

 

You dont really want royal purple in your engine either unless you like to pay for overpriced crap

 

Agreed. Though I am unaware of RP engine oil actively causing harm like their transmission oil does for us.

 

just your usual first n00bs post

 

Yeah actually it really pretty much is the stereotypical first post.

If you want to tune it up throw in some FI questions and an engine swap.

 

Thanks to the helpful responses! I was aware of the RP trans fluid issues through the forum, and thats why i decided to go with redline.

So no one likes RP motor oil here? In the past with my s2000 although not a rotary,it did rev high and I used RP motor oil without issues, but does anyone have any syn oil suggestions? Also 2 stroke suggestions... i saw some people liking idemitsu and aimsoil?

No purple ice....okay so im guessing redline water wetter is better then for the rx8? or are all of those trash for the seals? thanks!

Also im not worried about gaining tons of power im perfectly content to stay NA for a while. But thanks for the suggestion.

Noted on the flywheel choice, and garage headers.

I had read in numerous posts that removing 1 intake screen was okay, is this not correct?

As far as the oem filter goes I thought that was mainly due to filters like KN using oil and the AFE is a dry filter so i figured it would perform the same as stock. but thank you for the tip.

"You might want to check out my beginner's guide to modding the 8." thanks that is were I pulled a lot of my information from.

Ill be making some changes to my list today! The feedback is priceless. Its pretty impossible to be new to a forum and not be the noob lol so Ill take the criticism to gain the knowledge I just want to learn and make the best most educated decisions i can.

 

It isn't that no one here likes Royal Purple, it is just that almost everyone doesn't think it is necessary. The general concensus of opinions is that it is far more important changing oil every 3000 miles (or sooner based on environment) than the actual oil used. I personally use Rotella 15w-40 in the summer and Rotella 10w-30 in the winter. I use Rotella because I have friends that swear by it, and it is pretty damn cheap (I also have not had any issues with it in my past experience). There are hundreds of different oils that will work for the RX-8, you just need to find one that you will be happy with. There is a 100+ page thread about syn vs. non-syn oil on here too, so feel free to read up on other's opinions in there. Just be aware that all you will find are opinions.

As for premix, I use Idemitsu.

 

Read the UOA thread and you will see why RP is junk. It barely holds up its viscosity. Price to performance is largely skewed. Expect their 10w40 to look like a 5w20 by the end of its OCI.

Amsoil is better imo, but both are good.

All are trash. Get yourself some OEM FL22 coolant, that is all you need. Mix accordingly to your environment

Dont bother touching the screens. Absolutely no benefit that is worth tampering with MAF readings

good luck

 

I use Rotella T6. It's 5w40 Synthetic and burns great. Engine felt way smoother after switching to it. I remember reading a UOA somewhere here on the forums, and it tested great, better than Castrol full synthetic and definitely better than RP. I have no UOA's on this oil but overall I'm pretty happy with it and my engine seems to burn it cleanly so I'd recommend trying it out.

 

I have used Rotella before as well as amsoil and liked them both. Maybe Ill go that route instead. And yeah I have read the syn non syn threads and decided if i was going to use the sohn omp that i would run synthetic. Thank you for the clarification.

paimon.soror - thank you for the tips! Looks like signs are pointing towards amsoil which since i still have an account with them i dont mind at all Coolant and maf screens are noted and will be updated on my list. thanks!


well thats great info as well. Rotella is even better priced and easier to get then amsoil. So its down to amsoil and rotella for motor oil.

 

I've been running Rotella syn for the last couple of years. Oil made for diesel engines contain more detergents that allow contaminants to remain in suspension and removed by the oil filter.

 

Just to clarify, I run the non synthetic Rotella 15w-40 (summer) and non synthetic 10w-30 (winter), not the T6 synthetic that others are stating. If you made the decision to run synthetic with the sohn omp, then you want to use the T6 Rotella.

 

They often however contain ZDDP which is not good for cats.

 

But it is good for every wear surface.

 

Good to hear a noob can fallow advise.

As far as the coil overs go. I would just pick up a nice set of lowering springs from Tein or Progressive and save for a good set of coilovers. I have personally seen way to many problems with in-expensive sets.

Also everyone has a favorite oil but SARX has done a bunch of testing and M1 0w-40 has come out on top.

 

I second this.

 

Great info here! again thank you! I have been reading the UOA posts now thanks to the recommendations here and have seen the M1 0w-40 oil doing well. Better then well lol, so since i have used amsoil, mobil 1 and rotella before im kinda torn, but looks like the mobil one is testing the best and is syn which is what i was looking for.

Any input on mobil1 2 stroke vs the top dogs like amsoil saber pro and idemitsu?

 

Don't get Megan Racing coilovers. If you must have coilovers the cheapest quality ones you can get are probably Stance, Powertrix, or BC.

 

Idemitsu was made for this application.

 

This is the most informative "So, I'm a newb" thread in history

Two quick points:
I can't see a point in relocating your battery to the trunk, if you're planning to stay NA. Otherwise you're making room for while throwing off your weight distribution. Leave that stuff for the FI guys.

Also, "stiffer" is not necessarily better... outside of a bedroom. Read up about suspensions before you jump into coilovers. Cool points? Sure, but they won't necessarily make you faster.

Someone suggested springs instead (+1)

 

Good save with the "outside the bedroom" disclaimer. Kudos.