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How long can i leave my RX8?

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Old 04-03-2011 | 12:13 PM
  #1  
MrChao's Avatar
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From: Kingston
How long can i leave my RX8?

I'm going to be out of the country for a while (UK). Probably for about 6 months period.
Was wondering if my RX8 would still start when I come back? I know I will probably have to take out the battery but engine wise, would it be fine?

Any opinions? Has anyone left their RX8 not running for such time? What was the result?

Thanks
Old 04-03-2011 | 01:26 PM
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Originally Posted by MrChao
but engine wise, would it be fine?
It won't hurt the engine but it would be better to leave the battery in it and put a trickle charger on it.
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Old 04-03-2011 | 01:43 PM
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tho in the manual Mazda says better start the engine at least once every 2 months to prevent internal rust.
Old 04-03-2011 | 02:36 PM
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unplug the EFI fuse, and crank it a few times before you store it, the OMP should oil up the housing for you. or you can put a few teaspoons of oil in the spark plug holes and do the same. but be prepared to buy new plugs when you get home if you put too much
Old 04-03-2011 | 02:43 PM
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fuel stabilizer, pump up tire pressure to max, attach a battery tender

I store mine five months every winter
Old 04-03-2011 | 02:49 PM
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ding ding ding, dark brew nailed it.

Why do people think parking a car for 6 months is some kind of voodoo?
Old 04-03-2011 | 02:51 PM
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From: Kingston
Originally Posted by jasonrxeight
tho in the manual Mazda says better start the engine at least once every 2 months to prevent internal rust.
so starting the car once every 2 months and letting the engine warm up till the meter is in the middle should be fine? Without driving it anywhere?

might just ask my brother to do that for me when i am away then

but would the battery be drained? or just as EDZRIDE mentioned, just put a trickle charger to it?
Old 04-03-2011 | 02:53 PM
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Originally Posted by laythor
ding ding ding, dark brew nailed it.

Why do people think parking a car for 6 months is some kind of voodoo?
lol i dont think is that bad :P

but last time i left it for 2 months it drained out my battery
Old 04-03-2011 | 02:55 PM
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wasnt directed at you, just some of the replies.

and if your battery was dead after 2 months you had a weak/bad battery to begin with
or some type of drain that you should hunt down
Old 04-03-2011 | 03:02 PM
  #10  
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maybe the car is abit old, 2004... first car didnt know much about it and sat inside playing out loud music with those bose speakers without the engine running :S

lesson learnt
Old 04-03-2011 | 03:04 PM
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Originally Posted by DarkBrew
fuel stabilizer, pump up tire pressure to max, attach a battery tender

I store mine five months every winter
what do you mean by 'fuel stabilizer'? how would i use it?

sorry im new to all these, its my first car and im 19

any help would be appreciated, thanks :D
Old 04-03-2011 | 03:09 PM
  #12  
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Originally Posted by MrChao
what do you mean by 'fuel stabilizer'? how would i use it?

sorry im new to all these, its my first car and im 19

any help would be appreciated, thanks :D
http://www.goldeagle.com/brands/stab...ts.aspx#stabil

follow the directions
Old 04-04-2011 | 11:50 AM
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Originally Posted by MrChao
what do you mean by 'fuel stabilizer'? how would i use it?

sorry im new to all these, its my first car and im 19

any help would be appreciated, thanks :D
Fuel stabilizer will, as in the name, stabilize the fuel if it is not going to be used for some period of time. You can buy it almost anywhere, like Walmart, etc. Just add it into your gas tank, but read the directions to see how much you have to add in order to cover the amount of fuel in your tank.
Old 04-04-2011 | 01:37 PM
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dont forget, most stabilizers recommend that you fill your tank to 95 percent full before putting your car away for storage.
Old 04-05-2011 | 04:58 PM
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I need help too... I stored my 05 RX8 this winter and it won’t start now. Tried charger, tried jumping, installed new battery and still won’t start. All the lights come on and the engine tries to start but no ignition. Does anyone have any personal experience with maybe replacing the spark plugs? I was thinking maybe it’s not getting a spark. I dont know where to go next. I have been afraid to play with it too much for fear of flooding. I understand that a flood in a RX8 can be expensive. I have only had it for a little over a year, so I am pretty clueless. I never stored a car before, so I neglected to put fuel staiblizer in. The tank is full of premium gas tho. Could the gas have gone bad?

any help?????

Thanks
Marcia
Old 04-05-2011 | 05:15 PM
  #16  
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could be flooded already mate

had mine stored for 2 months not running it and drained the battery because i was just sitting inside playing with all the weird and wonderful buttons
tried to start if after it wouldnt, drained battery so had it replaced, still didnt start....all the lights works and when you crank the ignition it still wouldnt start

got a guy from my local MOT garage to have a look and straight away he said i've flooded it....no idea how i've managed to do that :S he just wiped his finger on the exhaust and sniffed it and said was flooded lol
told me to buy a power pack and how to deflood it
Old 11-08-2013 | 10:45 AM
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Couple Questions. I am storing mine in an un heated Garage for the long / Cold Canadian Winter (6Months). I have very concentrated coolant in it, fuel stabilizer (Is it ok to drive it one last time with the fresh stabilizer in it if i top the fuel back up?) Also should I be concerned with the washer fluid? Not sure if its winter or not. Maybe an easy way to drain the reservoir? Any tips to avoid any issues in the spring would be appreciated, thanks guys.
Old 11-25-2018 | 02:43 PM
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how long can I leave my rx8

Originally Posted by MrChao
I'm going to be out of the country for a while (UK). Probably for about 6 months period.
Was wondering if my RX8 would still start when I come back? I know I will probably have to take out the battery but engine wise, would it be fine?

Any opinions? Has anyone left their RX8 not running for such time? What was the result?

Thanks
to add to this...
im currently deployed and have about 5-6months left untill i get back.. should I let it sit with a trickle. Or should I use the treickle and have my wife keep idling it every weekend..? Would that build up too much carbon??
Old 11-25-2018 | 02:45 PM
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Just leave it on a trickle charger and add fuel stabilizer in the tank. Fill the tank for good measure. Don't start it up to warm up, cold starts are the hardest regime for an engine, there is no win in putting it through those repeatedly.
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Old 11-26-2018 | 10:06 PM
  #20  
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Originally Posted by Nehemias20

to add to this...
im currently deployed and have about 5-6months left untill i get back.. should I let it sit with a trickle. Or should I use the treickle and have my wife keep idling it every weekend..? Would that build up too much carbon??
Battery charged up can last 6 months without hurting it.

So, charge it uo, and disconnect the negative cable.

I leave my car all the time, but before I did that I would leave for 2 weeks battery connected, and battery would seem low.

I buy at Walmart next door and hope battery fails in 35 months since 36+ months cost 2/3rd of a battery, and 35- months costs zero.
Old 12-03-2018 | 12:05 AM
  #21  
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Amazon Amazon

Battery Tender 022-0185G-dl-wh Black 12 Volt 1.25 Amp Plus Battery Charger/Maintainer



This trickle charger works great for my 2008 40 Anniversary edition RX8 when I have to be away for extended periods of time. Cheers
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Old 12-03-2018 | 12:16 AM
  #22  
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my car lives for track weekends. and they often dont happen less than every three months.

so my car lives on a battery tender jr. and has been for the last 7 years.

beers
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Old 12-21-2018 | 07:05 PM
  #23  
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Just got a rx8 04 AT was sitting for 3yrs!! Having issue tho

Originally Posted by REDRX3RX8
Battery charged up can last 6 months without hurting it.

So, charge it uo, and disconnect the negative cable.

I leave my car all the time, but before I did that I would leave for 2 weeks battery connected, and battery would seem low.

I buy at Walmart next door and hope battery fails in 35 months since 36+ months cost 2/3rd of a battery, and 35- months costs zero.


So I got this rx8 for working on another vehicle as payment but car didn't have a battery so I popped 1 in and it started rite up looking good so I checked all fluids and components still had new oil filter air filter spark plugs wires as if they just changed them even had 91 oct. Gas about 1/4 tank so I drove it to gas station and put another $10 of gas same 91 and then it would not start gave it about 15 min then slowly it cranked over so I drove it back to the house a few blocks away and it died as soon as I pulled in the drive way over looked everything again everything looks fine so a month goes by I do it again but when I brought it back I noticed a spark plug wire was not connected so I connected it back and drove it again and still it dies on me coming to a stop ????? Anyone know why???


Sat for three years giving it life again need some help on issue thanks
Old 12-21-2018 | 07:13 PM
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Just got a rx8 04 AT was sitting for 3yrs!! Having issue tho

So I got this rx8 for working on another vehicle as payment but car didn't have a battery so I popped 1 in and it started rite up looking good so I checked all fluids and components still had new oil filter air filter spark plugs wires as if they just changed them even had 91 oct. Gas about 1/4 tank so I drove it to gas station and put another $10 of gas same 91 and then it would not start gave it about 15 min then slowly it cranked over so I drove it back to the house a few blocks away and it died as soon as I pulled in the drive way over looked everything again everything looks fine so a month goes by I do it again but when I brought it back I noticed a spark plug wire was not connected so I connected it back and drove it again and still it dies on me coming to a stop ????? Anyone know why???

Sat for three years giving it life again need some help on issue thanks
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