Hey Gang!! I have been reading a lot about tubro'd RX8's and shut off procedures. I maybe getting a turbo soon and want to find out as much as I can about them before I buy one.

Anyways, my question is this, Is there a special shut off procedure for a stock RX8 in order to help keep the engine in good condition? I know you shouldn't shut it of if the engine isn't fully warmed up or the car will flood. However should we let the engine idle for a couple of minutes or a few seconds before we shut it off?

I'm looking for input from you rotary experts, all suggestions are welcome.

 

The posts you're reading are old - flooding isn't a concern with the new ecu flashes. If you're adamant about worrying about it, rev the engine to 3000 rpm and take your foot off the gas. As the rpms drop, turn the car off. I've moved by 8 out of the garage and turned it off cold countless times without any problems.

 

Here is what i always do, take it as you will :

Everytime I start the car, I let it run for 1 min, then I drive easy untill its warmed up fully (about 10 mins of driving)

Everytime I stop the car (parking), I let it run for 1 min, then I shut it off (and pop the hood if im at home, otherwise just leave it closed)

I also take it easy the firt few miles and last few miles of every trip...so that the engine has enough time to warm up and cool down, durring the start and end of a trip.

Keep in mind I live in FL and got the car in may, so its only been as cold as about 70* and as hot as about 102*, it it was colder or hoter I would/will make those warmup/cool down times longer.

I would also extend the warmup/cool down times with a turbo, or get a turbo timer (although the install of TT can be tricky in this car).

 

I don't do any special start up or shutdown procedure with the car stationary... idling the car for any period of time just wastes fuel. Idling your car in the garage prior to shut down will cause the temperatures to go up not down.

What I do is take it easy for the first 10 minutes or so until the car is warm. On the way home or to where I'm going to stop I take it easy for the last couple of minutes... this gives any higher than usual temperatures a change to settle down while there is plenty of air moving through the radiators.

 

And even if you are trying to prevent flooding don't do it like this. This is not even the correct way. Make sure your foot remains on the gas, when ur rpm hits about 3k rpm... turn off the ignition and remove the key. Once the RPMs die all the way down... then remove your foot from the gas. You should feel the car shake a bit near the end. Asmoran is right though... you really don't need to do this with the new flashes.

If you do have a turbo. Let it idle before turning off your car. Most people buy turbo timers to do this for them. With mine, i just sit in the car for an extra 30 seconds to a minute and a half depending on how hard i was boosting.

-hS