Top Mods for Reliability? Post Up!!
07-23-2009 | 01:06 PM
#29
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Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 463
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From: los angeles, ca
Any love for the hood ventilation mod? I haven't done it but I've been thinking about it.
https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...highlight=hood
https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...highlight=hood
07-23-2009 | 01:17 PM
#31
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Posts: 5,027
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From: Northern Virginia
A lot of the stuff is things you'd upgrade, in general, for racing or for heavy trailer towing.
Ken
07-23-2009 | 01:22 PM
#32
#50
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 7,521
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From: Caput Mundi
Mazmart water pump, slits in the oil coolers, little spacers in the hood, bhr coils, no catalyzer and an access port.
Oh, don't forget to switch to real front grilles, and premix!
That's it, i don't think that a bigger radiator or an oil cooler fan could help with a street car. There's a point where cooler doesn't mean better, there's a range to respect with oil and fluid temperatures and some cooling capability might turn out to be excessive. I do track my car often though so i love the mods that actively help cooling like radiators and added fans
Oh, don't forget to switch to real front grilles, and premix!
That's it, i don't think that a bigger radiator or an oil cooler fan could help with a street car. There's a point where cooler doesn't mean better, there's a range to respect with oil and fluid temperatures and some cooling capability might turn out to be excessive. I do track my car often though so i love the mods that actively help cooling like radiators and added fans
07-23-2009 | 01:26 PM
#33
Okay, what are the top mods for reliability (with proper routine maintenance).
Okay I'm tired, and I missing anything?
- SOHN Adapter
- Premix
- Access Port
- Mazmart Water Pump and Thermostat
- BHR Ignition Kit
- BHR, Mishi, Koyo, etc Radiator
- Fluid Fan Control Kit
- Fluid Oil Cooler fans
- Aftermarket Coolant Hoses
- Removing battery tray, etc. to increase flow through the radiator
- Slits in fender liners to improve flow across oil coolers
- Oil Filter Relocation
Okay I'm tired, and I missing anything?
1. Yes, but shouldn't be your #1
2. This should be your #1
3. Not #1, but the ability to change the Fan on temp will put this into the top 5 spot
4. Top 5
5. Top 5
6. If you have AP, u dont need this
7. It does help somewhat, its not expensive, but I wouldn't concern oil temp that much
8. It doesnt help with temperature at all, but u can always go for a set.
9. when I had MS Intake, I tried it with and without the airbox tray, same ****.
10. this might help
11. The oil filter location has nothing to do with temperature, it will make oil change a bit easier.
Fixed.
Some of those are questionable, I can't see you gaining any reliability by changing the radiator, especially since the suppliers themselves note that unless you're in a racing environment there isn't anything to be gained from it. Perhaps if you're in the heat in the southwest all the while I suppose or if you track your car, that's it. While I disagree with another post on how they think an aftermarket radiator decreases reliability (it doesn't) it does makes the fins more prone for getting smashed up if something makes it through into them if this ever occurred.
How does relocating the oil filter help? That wouldn't have anything to do with reliability if the original location works fine.
Aftermarket coolant lines? Trivial effects, if any (doubtful)
Some of those are questionable, I can't see you gaining any reliability by changing the radiator, especially since the suppliers themselves note that unless you're in a racing environment there isn't anything to be gained from it. Perhaps if you're in the heat in the southwest all the while I suppose or if you track your car, that's it. While I disagree with another post on how they think an aftermarket radiator decreases reliability (it doesn't) it does makes the fins more prone for getting smashed up if something makes it through into them if this ever occurred.
How does relocating the oil filter help? That wouldn't have anything to do with reliability if the original location works fine.
Aftermarket coolant lines? Trivial effects, if any (doubtful)
Rx-8 was road tested on Nurburing' for quite some time, but Mazda didnt do enough road test @ actual extreme hot/cold/dry/humid climates.
I just noticed something, AFter RX-8's "overheating" incident, Mazda start testing cars at more areas, now they're testing cars at Mexico, Alaska,etc. Just to make sure that they will be able to handle extreme cold and hot. Mazda6 and Mazda3 is good example.
07-23-2009 | 02:20 PM
#34
The Angry Wheelchair
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From: In da woodz, lurking after you
Which is exactly why I said except in southwest regions where exposed to prolonged and extensive heat.
And Ken, as for the battery I mentioned it because other than a typical battery dying, people have had the life of these batteries going quicker than usual especially with all the electronics this car requires (not including aftermarket audio). The post was about reliability, with from what I've grasped as a majority of people giving it 2, maybe 3 years with multiple issues from the battery (although I'm sure some people's cars are an exception) I brought up the battery.
For reliability improvement, it would be either a Diehard Platinum, or the Optima Yellow Top (perhaps additional brands I don't have experience with) since both have deep cycle ability. I went the Diehard route with a claim of the life having a theoretical 12 year lasting ability. While I question that, I'm certain I can get at least 4-5 years out of this and value it more than the OEM performance wise, and over the Optima preference wise.
And Ken, as for the battery I mentioned it because other than a typical battery dying, people have had the life of these batteries going quicker than usual especially with all the electronics this car requires (not including aftermarket audio). The post was about reliability, with from what I've grasped as a majority of people giving it 2, maybe 3 years with multiple issues from the battery (although I'm sure some people's cars are an exception) I brought up the battery.
For reliability improvement, it would be either a Diehard Platinum, or the Optima Yellow Top (perhaps additional brands I don't have experience with) since both have deep cycle ability. I went the Diehard route with a claim of the life having a theoretical 12 year lasting ability. While I question that, I'm certain I can get at least 4-5 years out of this and value it more than the OEM performance wise, and over the Optima preference wise.
07-23-2009 | 02:50 PM
#35
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 5,027
Likes: 5
From: Northern Virginia
The collective enormity of that list kind of floored me. Each item has some merit, depending on circumstances, but the collective list is frightening.
Mazda did increase the size of the battery, so that's one item a little further down on the list for newer models.
The whole battery deal gets a little random. Down here in Virginia it's not as critical as when I lived in upstate New York and Massachusetts. But I've failed to notice much of a difference in reliability between cheap batteries and the good brands. I've had name brands go belly-up halfway through their lives, and cheap ones last beyond six years. The biggest thing for me these days is regular vs maintenance free. Maintenance free is a plus for the RX-8 because the battery is hidden and easy to forget about.
Ken
Mazda did increase the size of the battery, so that's one item a little further down on the list for newer models.
The whole battery deal gets a little random. Down here in Virginia it's not as critical as when I lived in upstate New York and Massachusetts. But I've failed to notice much of a difference in reliability between cheap batteries and the good brands. I've had name brands go belly-up halfway through their lives, and cheap ones last beyond six years. The biggest thing for me these days is regular vs maintenance free. Maintenance free is a plus for the RX-8 because the battery is hidden and easy to forget about.
Ken
07-23-2009 | 03:17 PM
#36
Which is exactly why I said except in southwest regions where exposed to prolonged and extensive heat.
And Ken, as for the battery I mentioned it because other than a typical battery dying, people have had the life of these batteries going quicker than usual especially with all the electronics this car requires (not including aftermarket audio). The post was about reliability, with from what I've grasped as a majority of people giving it 2, maybe 3 years with multiple issues from the battery (although I'm sure some people's cars are an exception) I brought up the battery.
For reliability improvement, it would be either a Diehard Platinum, or the Optima Yellow Top (perhaps additional brands I don't have experience with) since both have deep cycle ability. I went the Diehard route with a claim of the life having a theoretical 12 year lasting ability. While I question that, I'm certain I can get at least 4-5 years out of this and value it more than the OEM performance wise, and over the Optima preference wise.
And Ken, as for the battery I mentioned it because other than a typical battery dying, people have had the life of these batteries going quicker than usual especially with all the electronics this car requires (not including aftermarket audio). The post was about reliability, with from what I've grasped as a majority of people giving it 2, maybe 3 years with multiple issues from the battery (although I'm sure some people's cars are an exception) I brought up the battery.
For reliability improvement, it would be either a Diehard Platinum, or the Optima Yellow Top (perhaps additional brands I don't have experience with) since both have deep cycle ability. I went the Diehard route with a claim of the life having a theoretical 12 year lasting ability. While I question that, I'm certain I can get at least 4-5 years out of this and value it more than the OEM performance wise, and over the Optima preference wise.
but its warranty is only 1 yr ... that makes me worry sometimes.if I have a choice again I rather get Die Hard Platinum, its the same if not better than Optima plus it has 4 yr free replacment then 100 months prorate warranty. Optima simply cant beat that.
The collective enormity of that list kind of floored me. Each item has some merit, depending on circumstances, but the collective list is frightening.
Mazda did increase the size of the battery, so that's one item a little further down on the list for newer models.
The whole battery deal gets a little random. Down here in Virginia it's not as critical as when I lived in upstate New York and Massachusetts. But I've failed to notice much of a difference in reliability between cheap batteries and the good brands. I've had name brands go belly-up halfway through their lives, and cheap ones last beyond six years. The biggest thing for me these days is regular vs maintenance free. Maintenance free is a plus for the RX-8 because the battery is hidden and easy to forget about.
Ken
Mazda did increase the size of the battery, so that's one item a little further down on the list for newer models.
The whole battery deal gets a little random. Down here in Virginia it's not as critical as when I lived in upstate New York and Massachusetts. But I've failed to notice much of a difference in reliability between cheap batteries and the good brands. I've had name brands go belly-up halfway through their lives, and cheap ones last beyond six years. The biggest thing for me these days is regular vs maintenance free. Maintenance free is a plus for the RX-8 because the battery is hidden and easy to forget about.
Ken
me ), get something better, cuz it sucks to find out that ur car battery is dead when its 20 degrees out. if its just nice weather like maybe FL or VA. Just get whatever.
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