Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
Avon all seasons have a 380 tread wear rating. All seasons provide 90% of snow tire and 90% of performance tires.
The cause is the "sport suspension" combined with the plastic panels of the interior.
Alternate fix - turn up the stereo.
I drive in the hilly/curvy part of Arkansas--usually 75+ mph, long distance daily. But I never gave a thought to the rpms until my husband flooded my 8. I know now, thanks to the service manager, but I didn't think about carbon build up (yes, I read the manual--several times--just missed this).
Any other tips for not killing my RX8?
Thank you!
Deaun
the use of synthetic oils in a rotary engine causes problems for one main reason..the way the engine is meant to run.
rotary engines are meant to burn oil and as specified in the manual for the rx-8, it is suggested to check oil levels constantly for this specific reason. synthetic oil does not burn as well due to its 'ingredients' and thus will cause a build up in your engine and many problems to come along the way.i fthe oil that is being burned in your engine like it is done in the rx8 donesnt actually burn all the way, it means there is gonna be problems. if you happen to have one of the few rx8 with the low oil pressure that caused an engine failure... dont bring the engine in with synthetic in there... they can technically blame it on that and not replace the motor like originally promised, because they can blame it on that.
You have all the words but they are not strung to gether quite right. Try out the following and see if it makes more sense.
Synthetic oil does not cause the catalytic to go bad, but synthetic oil does cause seals in the motor to get hard and fracture which then causes leaks and "blow by" oil to go through the motor. This excessive oil in the exhaust then floods the catalytic converter, so that it can not stay hot enough to burn off excess hydrocarbons and the "blow by" oil in the eshaust, as is required by EPA.
The failure of the catalytic converters is the only reason Mazda cares about the motor seal failures and must rebuild the failed motors is because EPA requires the catalytic converter to function longer than Mazda warrants the motor. Now the rest of the facts, the motor seals would have failed anyway even if non-synthetic oil had been used. Masda USA requires USA owners to use a very light 5W-20 weight oil in the cars, that cannot protect the oil seals from failure due to the excessive temperature of the motor in hot climates, while in stop and start traffic and while on long non stop drives.
Otherwise the car's very hot running motor will not last very long anywhere in the USA that has stop and start driving or long drives to be taken on hot days. (See the Mazda Rx 8 index page of this site for the "Mazda RX 8 Motor Failure Problem" and go to that "string" for the whole story.) Of course Mazda throws up a smoke screen about synthetic oil causing the problem so the public thinks it is the owners fault when it is really Mazda's fault.
Quickly, Mazda requires the use of this light oil to help meet EPA's requirements for miles per gallon of the car to reduce the huge fines EPA charges for exceeding the MPG requirement.
The proof of all the above is that every else in the World Masda requires (except in the USA) that RX 8 owners to use a heaver 5W-30 weight non-synthetic oil for adequate protection of the hot running RX 8 rotary engine. Mazda does not care about how soon the engines fail for the consumer they just care about the EPA fines for catalytic failures and MPG repuirements.
To get a complete understanding of how large these fines are that Mazda is trying to reduce or avoid, Google for "CAFE-EPA Miles per gallon requirements" and do some very interesting reading. It will explaine why all of a sudden car manufactures are requiring the use of very light weight oil to be used in some USA cars because it reduces internal engine drag and increases MPG for their fleet of cars. Very light 5W-20 weight oil is a win, win for the manufacture who avoids large EPA fines and it also wears out cars faster so the consumer will have to by new cars sooner.
Good luck to all RX 8 owners in the USA, untill they band together and get Masdz to let them use 5W-30 oil in their cars to protect them in hot climates. Just look at an oil viscosity verses outside temperature chart published by independent oil experts and you will see that 5W-20 multi grade oil is usualy not even show or considered for use at any outside temperature.
Just wondering when you guys replaced your brake pads. I have 35000 miles on my RX-8. About 2 months ago when I brought my car to the Mazda dealership for something else, they told me that I would need new brake pads soon, though they didn't tell me how soon.
Also, how much did it cost to replace the pads?
Thanks.
Ray
5-30 is to thick and blows by into the CAT seemingly causing the CAT to fail sooner the EPA rules allow (80K miles), where as 5-20 burns up before hitting the CAT. That, at least is my simple minded understanding of the situations.
The other big voices (the ones who really do know) should chime in here soon.
Is the extended warranty offered through Mazda something that I should even consider? Or is it really a waste of money?
Is it true that I have to put more oil in every other time I fill put gas in my tank?
I also raised with him the issue of seal hardening through use of the synthetic oil and he indicated that in his experience synthetic was easier on seals than conventional oil. I'm no chemist, so what do I know?
I've noted discussions in this thread relating to weather conditions and the consequent effect on lubrication. While Toronto summers these days have too many days in the mid-30's (mid-90's F) we certainly don't have the consistent heat of the southern states. Perhaps this is a factor in Mazda Canada's endorsement of the synthetic option.
Comments?
I love the 8 and the Zoom Zoom, and having owned an RX7 thougth the 8 was great until two days ago!!!
Be Warned trade it in before you warranty expires or purchase the extended warranty that covers the engine.
Good Luck to all you 8 owners.
signed, a soon to be EX 8 owner.....
They also recommend premixing, espeicially with the ATs. If you want to learn a ton about premixing pros and cons, etc, go to RX-8club.com and search on it.
Thanks!
I'd also say to check your differential fluid level. I've never done it on this particular car, but on my old truck you basically just stuck your finger in the fluid fill hole and it was supposed to be filled up to a little below the hole.
Anyway as 2004 was the first year they were produced (please correct me if I am wrong) they will both be collector cars in the future, both are fully loaded 6 speed manuals with everything but navigation, I just don't like the look of it personally.
But this past September my car really proved it's worth in gold, I was sitting at a stop light in Golden, CO (a great little town if you ever decide to visit, we were there on vacation) waiting for a green turn light, there were two lanes of traffic to my left that were stopping for their red light, the lane to my immediate left was full, the lane to the left of that was empty, they were on a small incline, there was a stop light 1/2 way down their hill for pedesterian walkway and then your regular stop light at the top of the hill. When my light turned green, the lane to my left stopped and I proceeded, I was the first car in a line of about 5 cars waiting to turn, as I made my turn and was 1/2 way through the intersection I saw headlights coming at me in the lane that had been empty, I realized we were going to get hit as I could not go backwards as there were cars behind me and if I went forward she was going to hit my rear quarter panel and I had a full tank of gas, so I crammed my foot on the brake as hard as I could and told my passenger to hang on, laid on the horn but it did no good.
She hit me and pushed me 3 ft into the intersection further, crushing my left front fender, breaking my A-Arm, bening my front suspension bar, crunching part of my front door, cracking my front bumper and that is all I could see at the time of the accident of course there was more damage that I could not see.
I could not get out on my side and that is probably a good thing as I was plenty mad and would probably have ended up in jail had I been able to get out, there were tons of witnesses that saw her run the red lights and hit me, she was going about 35 miles an hour when she hit me, she ran the red light half way up the hill and the one at the top of the hill, as she was driving a big SUV she received only a scratch on her bumper but we were lucky that she did not run right over us.
I was amazed at how well my car took that hit, of course we had our seatbelts on (she did not) but we both walked away with bruises (on me from my knees hitting steering column) and sore necks, but it could have been much worse, I am a nurse and I have seen accidents of 5-10 miles an hour and have patients in serious to critical condition.
I was more mad then anything else, I had only had this car for 6 weeks, I bought it from a military guy who was too tall to drive it and it had 5000 miles on it when I bought it and had never even seen the rain ! She sobbed to the female policewoman that she was not "concentrating on her driving as she was going through a rough divorce and the policewoman felt sorry for her as she had just gotten out of a bad marriage herself, so she ticketed her for only running one read light, not speeding (speed limit was 10 miles per hour), not for running the first light for a total of two, not for not wearing her seatbelt (which she admitted to) not for having an expired drivers license, not for not have a registration and finally not for not having proof of insurance.
I had everything the policewoman asked for and here I was out of state visiting. So I asked if I could charge her a ticket as a citizen, which I did, she ended up in court and ended up loosing her license as this was just one of a long string of problems with this gal and tickets. I am sorry but why do most of us do the right thing and carry the right documentation and then someone hit you like this and have nothing they are required by law to have?
But what I wanted to convey to this forum is how impressed I was and even the tow driver was with how well my car took this direct hit, so not only is the Mazda RX8 a great car to drive, fun to own, an unusual car on the road (you rarely see them in my area), a truly beutiful car, it is a well made and unbelievably safe car to own and drive.
I do have one question though, I have been using 5/20 oil, but have read about "Royal Blue" oil, have gotten several accounts that it is better for the car, makes it run cleaner, and lasts longer, does anyone have any other information abuot this oil? Any help advice would be greatly appreciated, I check all fluids every 300 miles and do not intend on inviting trouble by ignoring my cars needs, but am always interested in learning about something new.
Thank you very much and happy ZOOM ZOOM....
Pam :shades:
Happy Reving!
Thanks again,
Pam
Are the 07/08's trouble free?
Should I wait for a new model replacement (is one even planned by Mazda) or just completely cross it off my list and move on to a Miata or another marque?
Thanks in advance for any advice.
I do not feel the car it be inherently flawed, to be honest with you the first problem I encountered was the cold start problem, but that problem is easily solved with just remembering to treat the car right, to me it is no different then having a physical problem with your own body, you just have to be conscious of it and remember not to do it. The only other problem I have had and this was a recall was the CD going out, which was replaced under warrenty.
I love my cars and would not drive anything else, I have chosen to keep my 04's instead of upgrading to a newer model simply because 04 was the first year they came out and to me that makes them very special. What you have to mainly understand about the RX 8 is that it has to be driven as it was made to be driven, as a sports car and yes that means getting out there and really driving it, not treating it as you would a touring car or a traditional family car as this is not what it was built to do, it was built to go and go it will.
No I would never use a synthetic oil, not only because it will void the warrenty, but also because if you understand how the engine works you will see that it is not an appropriate product to use with this car, that said, I guess you will just have to make your own mind up, no car is perfect, just as no person is perfect, you have to take the good with the bad as with any vehicle on the market.
I have always loved cars and took shop and auto when other girls took home ec class, my car also fits me, I am only 5 ft. 5 inches tall, and my hubby is 6 ft 5 inches, it is NOT a car made for tall people, the pedals are also not made for someone with big feet, what this does for me, is that it makes my car ALL MINE !! LOL
Don't know if any of this info will help you in your decision, I would say that if you have this many doubts now, that if you were to choose to buy one you might spend more time finding faults with it then you will enjoying it (sorry if I am wrong about that, as I do understand your concerns especially after reading about the problems some people have had) but if you consider the problems most have had they can be explained to what the owner has or has not done to and for the car.
I will say one thing, it is not a car for winter driving in the snow and ice, it simply is not, but on good days in the winter time there is no better way to take out the winter blues then to get out there and enjoy a drive in your RX 8 !!. I wish you the best of luck, make a list of pros and cons, and then let your conscious be your deciding factor.
Also, if you are a family man, although the car comfortably seats 4, in my humble opinion it is not a car to haul kids around in, but that is just my opinion, there are many owners who do so, I just preferred to wait for my dream car (s) until my kids were grown and on their own. My cars are black with red/black leather and black on black(leather interior also) I will say I get allot of envious looks, and some odd ones as a woman behind a wheel of such a great car, my car is a 6 speed also, would not have it any other way as I find automatics boring and to me an automatic RX 8 defeats the purpose of the car (again just my opinion). It will be interesting to see what other responses you get, again good luck and if you do decide to get one, ZOOM ZOOM and have fun.
The 50/50 weight balance, limited slip differential, fantastic traction control and electronic stability control all keep this car amazingly confident and planted in even deeper snows (nothing crazy given the ground clearance - up to 6" ON THE ROAD), as long as you pick a snow tire with a relatively aggressive tread - Blizzak, iPike, Nokian WR, Michelin X-Ice, Dunlop Wintersport 3D, Goodyear Eagle Ultra Grip GW3 - or something similar.
Also, you should go from the 18" wheels, with the 225/45/18 tires to the 17" wheels, with a 215/55/17 snow tire for winter driving - a narrower tire increases the PSI of the car displacement over snow, and increases traction.
The RX-8 is a blast to drive in the snow. Completely controllable, confident and very good stopping distances with the very effective Mazda anti-lock braking system.
Dedicated snow tires make a NIGHT & DAY DIFFERENCE!!!
im actually in the market for an RX-8 myself (2004 with 40 000K) and my biggest concern is that of the oil. Now down here in Canada, where the weather can be very cold and harsh, you don't see a whole lot of RX-8 especially in the winter. But for the most part, im concerned about the oil consumption. A mazda mechanic told me you must verify the oil at least once a week which is fine by me. However, he couldn't specify if that meant that i was likely to add oil every week of if the verification is only for precaution. What im asking here is at what frequency in a months time of daily driving will you need to actually put oil in the engine??
Thank you in advance!
XD2
On gas I city drive mostly and get 17MPG on full auto non-aggressive style. When I paddle shift aggressively MPG goes to 12.
In the winter, here in Massachusetts, I don't worry so much about that first line as much.
One good thing, on the pure highway trips I take down south, there is very little oil usage.
And I do not baby the car. Driving the rotary hard is literally preventative maintenance. The harder you drive it, the longer it will last and the stronger it will get.
Do some research and you'll see that this is demonstrably proven.
LOL. Thanks for the great forums everyone.
My Check Engine light went two nights ago in downtown Boston. I had been tweaking my parking spot right in front of the Boston Ballet building, trying to make sure none of the Bostonians, with their "bumper banging" parking technique, banged into my RX-8.
After several starts and stops, with the engine warm, where I revved to 3000 before shut down, my "Check Engine" light lit up. I instantly grabbed the manual, and it seemed that the most likely issue was a sensor problem, caused by my starts and stops. I drove home slowly and thought the issue would disappear by morning. It didn't. So I drove to the dealer.
The dealer charge me $95 to plug the system up and have the computer tell me that an Error #22, which is the SSV out of spec error. It tested fine at the dealer, but it'll be $700 to replace if it occurs again. Here's hoping it was my stop and stop parking that caused it.
In the mean time, they also found that both of my engine mounts had gone. They said mine had lasted ten times longer that anyone else's.
Over a year ago, a cold engine vibration had started, but I had just put up with the vibration because it went away once the car was warmed up. Well, that vibration was the bad engine mounts according to them. So I had been driving around without good mounts for a long time. I must have had my car for service and oil changes half a dozen times during that time and they never checked the mounts. Ugh!
Anyway, $525 to replace both mounts, $95 to diagnose a potential future problem. An entire year of driving around with a potentially dangerous engine mount flaw.
Here's the wisdom. An RX-8 AT when idling, cold or hot should ALWAYS be purring, not harshly vibrating. An RX-8 MT, when engaging the clutch, cold or hot, should ALWAYS be silky smooth, right up to the stall point. Otherwise, check the engine mounts!
Still lov'n my sweet ride. Did my fourth 2000 mile Boston to NC beach run. Two 10 year olds, my wife and I. Listen'ed to Harry Potter all the way done. Fantastic way to travel, by RX-8. I still feel just like Harry Potter on his Nimbus 2000 and his Firebolt, every single time I drive my RX-8 AT. I so love my car....
I don't really even care about the $600 bucks anymore, because she's driving like new again... so nice and smooth.
LOVE MY CAR. I have no issues at all. It's a 2004 GT 6-speed with 25,000 miles on it (yeah, 5 years old with that kind of mileage). The engine is still under warranty until 11/2010. I use cheap dino oil, as suggested in many forums. It loves to be "rode". I check the oil once a month, I let it warm up for 60 seconds when the day first starts and I make sure to red line it twice a week so everyone involved remembers what this relationship is all about.
My next car will, probably, be another slightly used RX8. I've had it for 7 months and still can't believe it's mine.
The check engine light came on about 1 month after purchase. Although it felt like it was going to stall it didn't, and I took it immediately to the dealership where I purchased. They were not aware of the starting procedures and managed to flood the car and were not able to get it started. In trying to get the car started again, they informed me that there was low compression and that the engine was shot. Shortly thereafter they notified me that they had gotten the car running. One month after the car home, the check engine light is on again. At this point, the car is not exhibiting the stalling issue. I took it to a different dealership, and they too informed me that there is a compression issue.
My confusion is that I have read many posts saying that compression may not be the issue? Additionally, I have been told that the car needs to be revved slightly prior to turning off the car, and then told that is nonsense and does not need to be revved?
Are there any experienced rx8 owners that are willing to provide some insight to a rx8 newbie? Any would be greatly appreciated.
I live in Boston. Even here snow tires really are not required. My cheap all seasons handle 4" of fresh snow. The traction control and LimSlipDif handle the slippage. Snow tires might handle slip better, but the car bottoms out at 5" so nothing will help with that.