Just wondering if anyone else has experienced multiple fuel pump failures?

last July of 2019, with the help of members on these forums I was able to diagnose & resolve my 04 mt issues by having a new fuel pump installed.

This July I let my daughter borrow my Rx-8 while she was down here visiting in Pensacola. On the day she was returning the car to me the fuel level dropped low enough that the low fuel warning light illuminated. She was nearly back to the house when the car died. Long story short, after the car sat for a few minutes it started. I retrieved the car and drove it back to the house it wouldn’t accelerate above 4K without hesitation and halting. Next day took the car filled it with 93 non-ethanol. Ran perfectly strong to red line until car got good and hot (it’s Florida in August) then, ran strong to a 7.5k - 8k then hesitated. I suspect fuel pump failing again. I’m going to run the fuel level down to below the 1/4 level again to see if I get the severe loss of power I got when the low fuel warning light was on.

ive been premixing approximately 5 oz Lucas 2cycle into each 12 gallons of fuel. Is that a possible explanation for premature pump failure or did I just get a lemon?

thanks

update: fuel pump replaced with new Delphi unit by 87 Garage here in Navarre. Entire cost covered by TechNet warranty company. I’m going to try and never let fuel level go below 1/4 again.

 

I replaced mine twice within a short time, I'm not sure what the time frame was.
I did hear some speculation that heavy pre mixing could lead to pump failure, but it's anecdotal.

 

in Spain it’s reported a lot of failures premixing. We have owners that say that 100% of fuel pump died because of premixing. No matter how many kms running with 2 stroke in the gas tank: from 500km to 10000kms running, all killed.

I put 250ml per full tank of 98oct. And at the moment, with 4000kms I don’t have any issue or typical cutoff like when you turn hard to left with low level of gas (I never did that again).

I don’t know if you talk about these relation:

premix/ fuel pump/ damage.

kind regards.

 

All Spanish owners used these web page like owners manual.

Combustible

 

If it takes between 500 and 10000km for premix to kill the fuel pump, it's probably not the premix. Plenty of dead fuel pumps among people who don't premix.

cstrat: Florida (or Spain) heat and low fuel can cause the pump to run hot, which could exacerbate some underlying condition. Was the 2nd pump Mazda OE? Keeping the fuel level up helps avoid the problem, but 2 failures in a row is a bit unusual.

[edit] I can see some premix options + some gas options with ethanol creating problems if the tank is repeatedly rum dry. You might also have a bunch of water in the tank.

 

Kind regards Loki, nice to talk again with you.

The Spanish forum and the community is for all Spain. From Galicia to Andalucía we have really different weathers, and all the pumps were before the recall.

tue first generation of owners reported these as a shame becasuse premixing is a good idea but a compromise.

What is normal is that issue forcing the car with low tank. Could be that goes more in that direction and it was bad understood.

I’m premixing from 0km with the new oem pump changed by Mazda (recall) and as I said, with 250ml of Jaso Fd (exceeds) doesn’t do any strange things.

So, is anecdotal in this forum what I’m writing?

kind regards.