Yes, it's possible. It's not likely, but possible.

 

Just an update. Almost 4 weeks later. I now got a new CAT because Mazda Canada finally said it was my first replacement CAT that was defected.(causing it to glow red) They say they tested very single thing with ignition and probably causes but they all passed. So I'll have to test it tonight to see if it glows.

 

if you got a brand new cat and it glows there is something seriously wrong.

If you got a brand new cat and it doesn't glow, don't assume that the problem just vanished. Mazda's test procedures for the ignition will allow coils to pass when they are in-fact failing. It's like jumping off a skyscraper. If you are falling, you are in a really bad way. But Mazda's test will be to check your pulse and breathing, and since you are still breathing, heart still pumping, you are assumed to be perfectly fine. When in fact you are falling uncontrollably and will shortly splat against the pavement.

 

Well it's still glowing. I'm looking forward to hear what they will say about this!

 

Don't want to hijack but I just put in a new 100CEL cat into my 8 and after a very hard drive the entire cat is glowing... we're still changing my tune but under load my AFR's range from 11.2-13.4... still got more work to do on the tune however just wondering if this is purely from a good 1 hour long hard drive staying in high rpm's...

 

Did you buy a oem mazda cat? If it was a generic cat it might have blown out already.

rotaries run hotter than piston engines and blow out generic cats in no time whatsoever.
If you have to replace the cat then you really only have 2 options. Either buy a oem mazda cat, or buy the bhr midpipe.

You can buy other midpipes for less $ but eventually the packing in them will blow out as well, specifically AP midpipes are known for blowing out and leaving a metallic engine pitch very quickly.

 

Its 3 weeks old... aftermarket HP 100CEL...

will be pulling it off next weekend when we change my rear muffler setup and will check it out... I don't think that its gone already as it was glowing on the first nite after a hills run!

 

sub'd for interest

I'm with RIWWP and Stealth ... under normal operating condition your catalytic shouldn't glow.
(but I've never really focused on this ... just accepted it, so I'm interested)

However after a HILLS RUN! LOL (aka hard driving)
Everything might glow!
Sounds like a blast, sssooooo jealous

 

Haha!

I am lucky to live in one of the smaller cities in Australia which is surrounding by hills from the north west all the way to the south west... I am on the other side of town but takes no more than 20mins to get to the hills and from there I can go from the north all the way to the south through twisty 25kph/35kph rds... thus mainly in 2nd gear most of the time

 

Well, even on track days I never had any glow.

 

My O2 ring glows (slightly I would say) as well. Driving conditions does not seem to matter. I checked the CAT after normal and hard driving and the glow looks the same. CAT has been replaced (30,000 miles ago) and O2 sensor (about 2.5 years ago). Maintenance is up to date. Never experienced any issue with the way the car performs. Further, based on my scangauge AFR seems normal and consistent. CAT temperature fluctuates from 600 to 900 (when I drive it hard goes around 900, when idling around 600).

I was planning in getting a BHR midpipe and upgrade my ignition. I guess I have to do it earlier than initially planned.

 

Well I just got off the phone with Mazda Canada and the engineering department said "you will get the occasional red glowing O2 sensor." especially on track days it is noticed.