RX8 & flooding

[smartie]

I know this has been done to death but I wonder if an RX8 owner could just put my mind at ease!

Really fancy one of these but I'm a little uneasy due to the flooding issue. I drop my daughter off at school every morning and it's about 1.5 miles - is this enough to warm the car up not to flood? I know you can do the 4000rpm trick thing but, to be honest, I don't really want to have to rev the nuts off the car every morning outside the school gates!

All comments greatly appreciated!

[AnotherClarkey]

Does 4000rpm really count as "revving the nuts off" an RX8? I had a go in one once and it it seemed like barely off tickover!

[marcosgt]

1.5 miles is plenty.

It's really only a problem if you reverse 20 feet off your drive onto the road or back off your drive to let another car out and then back on.

I often drive half a mile from cold to my local petrol station and fill up - Starts fine everytime afterwards and mines an '05, so not a brand spanking new car by any means.

I'd agree about the 4K rev point though - If you're sensitive about giving the car a 4K blip, the RX8's not for you...

If it is (and why wouldn't it be ), make sure you get any car you consider good and hot and then stop and try restarting it - If there's more than a fraction's hesitation, walk away.

M.

Edited by marcosgt on Saturday 24th April 10:29

[Jonny671]

AnotherClarkey said:

Does 4000rpm really count as "revving the nuts off" an RX8? I had a go in one once and it it seemed like barely off tickover!

Yep.. 4k blip doesn't sound like your revving the nuts off of it. Especially as your only to blip it and turn off, not rev up, hold it there, then turn off to all the parents shaking their heads at you

The flooding thing isn't such a problem, just made out to be a big one.

[heebeegeetee]

We've got one of these cars in our workshop at the mo - it's giving it's owner one hell of a load of grief. It does far more miles under tow or on the back of a flat-bed than it does under its own steam, and I'm serious! Coupled with the fuel and oil consumption, i'm really struggling to see the point in these cars, which is a shame 'cos I like Mazdas.

So what's the score on these cars guys - what needs to be done to minimise the hassles?

[Silent1]

They never make the power claims though.

[Jonny671]

heebeegeetee said:

We've got one of these cars in our workshop at the mo - it's giving it's owner one hell of a load of grief. It does far more miles under tow or on the back of a flat-bed than it does under its own steam, and I'm serious! Coupled with the fuel and oil consumption, i'm really struggling to see the point in these cars, which is a shame 'cos I like Mazdas.

So what's the score on these cars guys - what needs to be done to minimise the hassles?

Whats up with it? Symptoms?

[Emeye]

Few years ago my old boss sold his RX8 as he got fed up with it flooding - it seems that it's easy to forget about reving it to 4k when you move the car a short distance.

[heebeegeetee]

Jonny671 said:

heebeegeetee said:

We've got one of these cars in our workshop at the mo - it's giving it's owner one hell of a load of grief. It does far more miles under tow or on the back of a flat-bed than it does under its own steam, and I'm serious! Coupled with the fuel and oil consumption, i'm really struggling to see the point in these cars, which is a shame 'cos I like Mazdas.

So what's the score on these cars guys - what needs to be done to minimise the hassles?

Whats up with it? Symptoms?

Apparently it's constantly flooded and never runs. AA man spent about 2 hours with it outside our premises t'other day, gave the starter motor one hell of a work out but not a peep out of the motor. It was taken to Mazda dealer but is now with us (don't know why or what happened at mazda) and is not running.

We're going to change the plugs (not my job though, i'm just an interested onlooker) and go from there.

i do know though that the owner lives near his work, and that this car practically never runs or does what a motor car is supposed to do, if you see what i mean.

[Jonny671]

heebeegeetee said:

Jonny671 said:

heebeegeetee said:

We've got one of these cars in our workshop at the mo - it's giving it's owner one hell of a load of grief. It does far more miles under tow or on the back of a flat-bed than it does under its own steam, and I'm serious! Coupled with the fuel and oil consumption, i'm really struggling to see the point in these cars, which is a shame 'cos I like Mazdas.

So what's the score on these cars guys - what needs to be done to minimise the hassles?

Whats up with it? Symptoms?

Apparently it's constantly flooded and never runs. AA man spent about 2 hours with it outside our premises t'other day, gave the starter motor one hell of a work out but not a peep out of the motor. It was taken to Mazda dealer but is now with us (don't know why or what happened at mazda) and is not running.

We're going to change the plugs (not my job though, i'm just an interested onlooker) and go from there.

i do know though that the owner lives near his work, and that this car practically never runs or does what a motor car is supposed to do, if you see what i mean.

Yep, we have a few of them.. School run in the RX8 with the school a mile away, good idea! :roll:

I don't know if they will, but if you have a passing chat mention checking the coils as their common to go on them, and the CATs are quite common to be damaged from that too, so worth checking!

[heebeegeetee]

Ta, I believe that all the cranking done by AA man was with fuel pump fuse out, but not plugs.

[daz4m]

marcosgt said:

1.5 miles is plenty.

It's really only a problem if you reverse 20 feet off your drive onto the road or back off your drive to let another car out and then back on.

I often drive half a mile from cold to my local petrol station and fill up - Starts fine everytime afterwards and mines an '05, so not a brand spanking new car by any means.

I'd agree about the 4K rev point though - If you're sensitive about giving the car a 4K blip, the RX8's not for you...

If it is (and why wouldn't it be ), make sure you get any car you consider good and hot and then stop and try restarting it - If there's more than a fraction's hesitation, walk away.

M.

Edited by marcosgt on Saturday 24th April 10:29

This man speaks sense the rest are quoting unreliable info.

I owned mine for about 15months and it never flooded once, if I moved it short distances I would try to rev it but sometimes I forgot and still no flooding.

The flooding issue is also linked more commonly to earlier cars without the updated ECU software which all cars should be upgraded with if they are serviced at a Mazda dealership. However, it can still happen, best thing to do if unsure is the rev to 4000 procedure (No big deal, just another of the cars interesting quirks).

They do make the power claims, however, using the rev range on these cars is critical. If you simply drive in town all the time the engine can become clogged with carbon deposits. My mantra was a 'rev a day keeps the mechanic away' (another interesting quirk). After a good run the car always ran better.

Not everyone knows how to treat a rotary and as such I would only buy a newer car or an enthusiasts or at the very least one with a warranty because issues can occur. Not many people know how to repair them so engine replacements have become common.

Most common issues are

Broken CATS
Broken Coils
Compression loss on hot engines (symptom is trouble starting when hot but this could also be linked to a bad starter motor)

This car handles brilliantly and is well liked judging by the amount of people asking about mine.

Edited by daz4m on Saturday 24th April 12:00

[FraserLFA]

Forgive the ignorance but what is the flooding issue?

Are these cars reliable overall?

[Jonny671]

daz4m said:

marcosgt said:

1.5 miles is plenty.

It's really only a problem if you reverse 20 feet off your drive onto the road or back off your drive to let another car out and then back on.

I often drive half a mile from cold to my local petrol station and fill up - Starts fine everytime afterwards and mines an '05, so not a brand spanking new car by any means.

I'd agree about the 4K rev point though - If you're sensitive about giving the car a 4K blip, the RX8's not for you...

If it is (and why wouldn't it be ), make sure you get any car you consider good and hot and then stop and try restarting it - If there's more than a fraction's hesitation, walk away.

M.

Edited by marcosgt on Saturday 24th April 10:29

This man speaks sense the rest are quoting unreliable info.

I owned mine for about 15months and it never flooded once, if I moved it short distances I would try to rev it but sometimes I forgot and still no flooding.

The flooding issue is also linked more commonly to earlier cars without the updated ECU software which all cars should be upgraded with if they are serviced at a Mazda dealership. However, it can still happen, best thing to do if unsure is the rev to 4000 procedure (No big deal, just another of the cars interesting quirks).

They do make the power claims, however, using the rev range on these cars is critical. If you simply drive in town all the time the engine can become clogged with carbon deposits. My mantra was a 'rev a day keeps the mechanic away' (another interesting quirk). After a good run the car always ran better.

Not everyone knows how to treat a rotary and as such I would only buy a newer car or an enthusiasts or at the very least one with a warranty because issues can occur. Not many people know how to repair them so engine replacements have become common.

Most common issues are

Broken CATS
Broken Coils
Compression loss on hot engines (symptom is trouble starting when hot but this could also be linked to a bad starter motor)

This car handles brilliantly and is well liked judging by the amount of people asking about mine.

Edited by daz4m on Saturday 24th April 12:00

I apologise chap! Will let Mazda Technical know they've taught me wrong

[Jonny671]

FraserLFA said:

Forgive the ignorance but what is the flooding issue?

Are these cars reliable overall?

They are reliable cars.. Thirsy on fuel but reliable, and very nice to drive.

They can flood due to the engine type, they use alot of fuel and if started and stopped too soon they haven't had time to burn said fuel and this can flood them.

Simple way to overcome this is to rev engine to 4k and turn off ignition, this way fuel is cut from engine and fuel that is sat in engine is exhausted.

Easy

[FraserLFA]

Jonny671 said:

FraserLFA said:

Forgive the ignorance but what is the flooding issue?

Are these cars reliable overall?

They are reliable cars.. Thirsy on fuel but reliable, and very nice to drive.

They can flood due to the engine type, they use alot of fuel and if started and stopped too soon they haven't had time to burn said fuel and this can flood them.

Simple way to overcome this is to rev engine to 4k and turn off ignition, this way fuel is cut from engine and fuel that is sat in engine is exhausted.

Easy

If i was to get an older one, sort of 2003, would you recommend it then?

[Jonny671]

FraserLFA said:

Jonny671 said:

FraserLFA said:

Forgive the ignorance but what is the flooding issue?

Are these cars reliable overall?

They are reliable cars.. Thirsy on fuel but reliable, and very nice to drive.

They can flood due to the engine type, they use alot of fuel and if started and stopped too soon they haven't had time to burn said fuel and this can flood them.

Simple way to overcome this is to rev engine to 4k and turn off ignition, this way fuel is cut from engine and fuel that is sat in engine is exhausted.

Easy

If i was to get an older one, sort of 2003, would you recommend it then?

Its getting on abit, but with FSH etc their fine.

Things like if the CAT/Coils have been changed by then is worth checking, and plugs need changing each 37,500 miles but if the owner isn't bothered and takes the car to a normal garage I'd imagine they wouldn't be too bothered by changing them as their not easiest to get to, and cost £150 roughly.

But service history is important on them

If you find one, drop me a message, I can check warranty/recalls etc for you.

[FraserLFA]

Jonny671 said:

FraserLFA said:

Jonny671 said:

FraserLFA said:

Forgive the ignorance but what is the flooding issue?

Are these cars reliable overall?

They are reliable cars.. Thirsy on fuel but reliable, and very nice to drive.

They can flood due to the engine type, they use alot of fuel and if started and stopped too soon they haven't had time to burn said fuel and this can flood them.

Simple way to overcome this is to rev engine to 4k and turn off ignition, this way fuel is cut from engine and fuel that is sat in engine is exhausted.

Easy

If i was to get an older one, sort of 2003, would you recommend it then?

Its getting on abit, but with FSH etc their fine.

Things like if the CAT/Coils have been changed by then is worth checking, and plugs need changing each 37,500 miles but if the owner isn't bothered and takes the car to a normal garage I'd imagine they wouldn't be too bothered by changing them as their not easiest to get to, and cost £150 roughly.

But service history is important on them

If you find one, drop me a message, I can check warranty/recalls etc for you.

Excellent cheers!