I keep saying we should only have the "New thread" button on the search results page.

 

very helpful thanks!

 

Bump....what the hell. We keep reading because its like a romance novel for our 8.

So I call my Mazda Dealer and ask him if they have any FL 22 antifreeze for an RX8. He says they just use regular antifreeze. I told him it specifically says on the radiator cap and in the manual to use FL 22. He goes and talks to his boss and comes back and says well the antifreeze we use is FL 22 compatible and just to mix it with regular tap water. I'm thinking Im better off just going to Canadian Tire and buying some antifreeze premix that meets the spec noted in the manual. Any thoughts??

 

I'M GWTTING A NEW ENGINE WITH OVERLAP, HEADER, NEW CLUTCH WITH BRONZE FILAMENTS.....I JUST WANT TO KNOW IF I CAN REFRESH Factory computer to obtain better HP

 

 

'08 RX won't start after sitting for 2+ weeks. Weather has become frigid (0 to 8 degrees, unusually cold for our area). Cranks, but won't fire. Have read this thread and seems it is flooding. I am a female with limited mechanical knowledge so forgive me if I appear ignorant - I AM! I love this little car, and have had no issues until this frigid weather hit (purchased new in '08). Thinking I should try the "flooded" starting instructions but am worried of doing further damage. What's your advice? Also wondering if Seafoam in gas tank is appropriate (tank was only half full when parked prior to vacation - something I don't normally allow to happen). Sorry for long post - sure would appreciate any advice.

 

battery could be drained way down sitting for two weeks while cold. Car uses some battery power for standby systems and alarm. This has happened to me. If this is original battery it is already beyond normal life. And the cold weather can cause you to lose a large percentage of its voltage.

Yes it may be flooded also and a weak battery won't start a flooded RX8. If you try the deflood be sure to have this battery hooked up to another healthy car's battery with jumper cables (with the other car's engine running) so you don't further drain your battery while cranking.

Also very important, how many miles do you have on the car? I ask because if you have 30,000 miles or more and your car has the original coils, wires, and spark plugs that can contribute to it being hard to start. RX8 spark plugs can be gone in 15,000 miles and OEM coils and wires need replacing certainly by 30,000 miles. Try the deflood first with your battery connected by cables with another good battery. If that works and car runs fine, replace your old weak battery.

If you have over 15,000 miles on the plugs replace them. If you have 30,000miles or more it is time to replace the coils AND wires. In any case always replace coils wires and plugs at same time to maintain healthy ignition which is critical to life of your engine.

Go to the stickies here and look up cold starting problems for further info. Dont worry about seaform for a flooded engine or weak ignition system.

 

Thanks - battery is only 18-mos old; mileage just turned 17,000. Will take advice on deflood procedure.

 

Battery might be salvageable with a good recharging. Even though you say battery is only 18 months old, sometimes they sit on store shelf for a long time before being sold as new. Check and make sure all battery connections and terminals are secure and tight and clean ,with no corrosion. If you have access to a simple voltage tester, check and see if you are getting a full 12 volts from your battery.

It is time to replace your spark plugs though. That could be one of the problems here. Plugs are old and flooded most likely. Best option is new oem NGKs.

 

Thanks gwilliams6 ... By-the-way, looks like we bought the same car with the same trim. '08 40th Anniversary, Metropolitan Grey? Chromed-out the exhaust pipes added the fender strakes and the "chrome" rotary emblems. Had some minor pinstripe work done down sides to give it a little flair. I like my 8 with the exception of this current problem! Thanks again.

 

I had battery terminal corrosion that I had to clean. My dealer added a Mazda battery kit that keeps corrosion off the terminals and secures all connections better than stock.

I also bought my 40th Anniversary Edition new in 2008. I have added the BHR coils and wires which perform better than stock and will last the lifetime of the car vs changing coils and wires every 30,000 miles. I have also added Nippon Denso spark plugs (a recommendation from ASH8- a longtime moderator here). The OEM NGKs are fine and you need to replace your plugs at your mileage. The Nippon Denso plugs are racing spark plugs that give a little better performance at high end of revs and are a little less prone to fouling. I added a Mazdaspeed/AEM cold air intake that gives a few extra HP.

I also added the fender strakes and Mazda front mud flaps to match the rear ones that came with my factory aero package of front airdam, side skirts and rear spoiler.

Love the car and by keeping ahead of scheduled maintenance items I have had great reliability. Car has 50,000 miles on it now. I also had a 2008 Mazdaspeed3 GT for a few years and that kept the RX8 mileage down. The RX8 is my daily driver now since 2011. This is my seventh rotary Mazda.

Best to you on your RX8. This is the right forum to be on for experienced advice, though there are a myriad of opinions on each subject as you will find out. It is all good lol.

 

when it's winter, staying below 50F for example, has anyone blocked one of the oil coolers to attempt to allow the oil to warm up a little more?

 

Do you have a means of monitoring oil temps?
If so, have at it...

 

I heard that you had to start the 8 every 3 to 4 weeks to keep the apex seals lubricated when it is parked for the winter. I wouldn't dare drive my 8 during the Canadian winter.

 

Its not a bad idea to start any car from time to time that is going to be sitting. I would start the car at least once a month to keep everything flowing.

 

Thanks Chrishoky. I agree with what you said but it was more of a stern warning from another 8 owner in my area. I have been starting it on warm days letting it idle up to temperature and revving it a bit to prevent carbon build. Cheers.