RX8 oil pressure & starting
RX8 oil pressure & starting
Author
Discussion

Stuartvw540

Original Poster:

4 posts

162 months

Thursday 9th August 2012
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Just bought a 2005 ( 54 ) Mazda RX8 192 in blue, 49,500 miles and paid £2,250 ( mot till April 2013 / tax till December this year ) and it is immaculate, even the wheels, my wife is very happy, lots of browny points.
Just a couple of question's, oil pressure gauge shows half way when driving, probably a silly question, but is that normal, only been used to piston engine's up to this point.
Also when starting, hot or cold, it seems a little lazy, as in it doesn't fire immediately, I hope I am getting this across right, but is this normal.
As I said only been used to piston engines, first ever wankel, any idea's guys.

Lee_sec

354 posts

220 months

Thursday 9th August 2012
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Hi Stuart,

about half way on both gauges is normal, and the starting - they do sound lazier to start than a piston engine, as long as it does start, both hot and cold, then it sounds fine. It took me a while to get used to holding the key over for that second more than before...

Good luck with your purchase - I've had my 54 plate 231 for 6 years now and loved every moment of driving and owning it smile

liner33

10,861 posts

224 months

Thursday 9th August 2012
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There is a useful video on youtube describing the approved starting and swtiching off methods

Stuartvw540

Original Poster:

4 posts

162 months

Thursday 9th August 2012
quotequote all
Many thanks guy's, sounds like we might have bought a good one for a change, it's for my wife, although I will get to play, she loves it already and if she finds the fuel economy too much for every day, I'll get her another daily driver and keep the RX for play.

TinyCappo

2,106 posts

175 months

Thursday 9th August 2012
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Its either 2 blibs above half or nowhere else its a switch not a guage smile on the R3 RX8 its just a light that extinguishes smile

Onl thing i would reccomend is the proper mazda Oil filters as they have the anti drainback filters and this helps get the pressure up quicker than the ones that drain back into the sump smile

GT Kodiak

2,907 posts

201 months

Thursday 9th August 2012
quotequote all
Not sure if the RX8 has a accelerated warm up procedure like my Rx7 but the 7 does sound a bit rough on start up, I have to put it into gear (with the clutch down!) to bypass the 3k Rev startup.

Lovely once it's going though! cloud9

hygt2

419 posts

201 months

Friday 10th August 2012
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Oil pressure gauge is just a switch as said above so will not fluctuate.

Lazy starter sounds like it may still be on the original starter rather than the Mazda modified faster starter. It was a mod Mazda did when owners complained but I do not believe it was a recall. I pushed for a replacement and it would start within a second thereafter.

Also check coil packs as well as spark plugs - these are considered consumables on the RX8 and the coil packs are recommend to be replaced at 27k/3-year interval. These may also lead to a slow start. If not done, the fuel might not be combusted fully and lead to rotor tips wear and engine rebuilt. When I had mine, it was compression tested every 27k when the plugs comes out to check engine health and it was still very good at 81k.

Lastly, on shortly journeys, read the manual for the shut-down procedure. I remember there was something along the line of opening and keeping the throttle open at 4k while you switch off and pull the key. I think it is something to do with letting the fuel vapour from the cold-start over-fuelling procedure to flush out of the combustion chamber. This is to avoid the engine being flooded on the next start-up.

Hope you enjoy the car, it has one of the best suspension and brakes set up I have ever driven.

Dangermouse58

81 posts

162 months

Friday 10th August 2012
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Get it remapped and run it on vpower/bp ultimate only. Check the oil every fillup too. I'd consider a full set of poly bushes if you want it to really handle well.

Lee_sec

354 posts

220 months

Friday 10th August 2012
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Dangermouse58 said:
Get it remapped and run it on vpower/bp ultimate only. Check the oil every fillup too. I'd consider a full set of poly bushes if you want it to really handle well.
I didn't realise the ECU had been cracked to allow a re-map? The last time I looked it was only Petit racing offering anything close to a remap?

Stuartvw540

Original Poster:

4 posts

162 months

Friday 10th August 2012
quotequote all
Thanks for the advice guys