Mazda RX-8: Review and Opinion

[savahn]

muikit80: RX8 is NA

woaychee: is between 5K and 20K. If you are doing regular rebuild, its about 5K to break-down and replace seals. If during rebuild, found that there is damage to rotor or housings, then its damn expensive.

 

[zealless]

Rebuild cost between Rm9k - Rm20k depending on number of parts replaced (Rm20k being almost complete engine).

Mileage is not the deciding factor. Ive come across 20k - 30k low-mileage Rx8 with blown engines and also 80k++ - 100k++ mileage cars still running on the ori engine.....

***Word of caution - Auto Rx8 engine tend to blow up prematurely. The ratio is out of 10 blown Rx8's, 8 will be the 4AT versions.......

Hi, usually people rebuild around 70K + mileage right ? that factory recommendation ?
well, i am not getting AT version cause, my friend AT keep flooding in the early morning, but in OZ la, coz cold weather, he rebuild in OZ, around RM15K. Also auto gear box really sux, very not smooth and lag.

What is the best way to test the engine before purchase ? compression test or ? physically strip it ? I never maintain one before, but my friend in OZ have 7 and 8 ... 7 causing him alot of problem, especially in the cold weather. 8 is better, but parts are expensive. ..

just to confirm whether that is true.

 

[savahn]

Zealless,

Rebuild anywhere from 70-80K MILES. That's 112 - 128K KM.

The weakest part of the RX8 'experience' is the gearbox. Just get an MT.

On testing the engine, please read the FAQ. Most important are compression test (which I dont know how to do) and the champagne test.

I dont know why an RX7 is giving trouble in cold climate which is its best environment unless the components are old and breaking down.

And to be honest, everything is expensive about cars. But in Oz, its more than 2x cheaper than in Malaysia due to purchasing power parity.

 

[babyken]

how much it cost to replace better aftermarket apex seal for FD??
i forgot wat it call, 3mm apex seal?
and are there anyone here pnp the rotary engine, and where to pnp "rotary" in malaysia???
i'm wondering pnp output 3xx~400hp on stock tt will better than converting single turbo?
thanx.

 

[woaychee]

dude, try out hurley racing apex seal if you want to drag.

 

[babyken]

lol... racing apex seal.... how much is that? have to order from US?
i am not going to drag... haha
btw thanx...

 

[zealless]

Zealless,

Rebuild anywhere from 70-80K MILES. That's 112 - 128K KM.

The weakest part of the RX8 'experience' is the gearbox. Just get an MT.

On testing the engine, please read the FAQ. Most important are compression test (which I dont know how to do) and the champagne test.

I dont know why an RX7 is giving trouble in cold climate which is its best environment unless the components are old and breaking down.

And to be honest, everything is expensive about cars. But in Oz, its more than 2x cheaper than in Malaysia due to purchasing power parity.

the problem about cold weather is that it takes over 10mins to warm up the fd before drive. and because of that, the ecu tend to spray more fuel and set rpm higher, but this sometimes flood the engine. nope, FD in OZ is as expensiv as in here. and labour is 2x in malaysia.

 

[savahn]

zealless, that's odd. Will check out that particular thing but it does not sound right to me.

 

[csl]

At 310whp, one of the famous workshop at Sunway recommended rebuilt every 50k km. On 1 article, can self figure out.

Bump: ADD. I just ask Ah Choi last month about REW transplant on RX8. His answer is negative.

Bump: ADD. I just ask Ah Choi last month about REW transplant on RX8. His answer is negative.

 

[savahn]

csl: Ah Choy once mentioned that the 13B-REW has different mounting points, not compatible with the '8. However, if you really insist on installing one, its possible but to make an engine mount and frame... not something I'd recommend in MY.

Regarding that article, its not surprising to hear that the exit ports are not designed to take the increase exhaust heat/pressure. When the exhaust port expands and deforms under that heat, the apex seal is bound to be broken in a short time. Note that the 13B-MSP rotors and seal designs are different from previous 13Bs. Also note that the MSP engine runs at 10:1 compression ratio compared against a 9:1 for the REW.

Put it this way, no one in his right mind turbo-charges a V-TECH engine at 10:1 or 11:1 compression. If they want to do so, they would reduce the compression ratio using different pistons to 9 or below... or get a blown engine 200ft from the starting line.

Under the same rationale, if you want to turbo-charge a 13B-MSP, please lower the compression - change to 13B-REW rotors.

An interesting note regarding another thread recently - the reason the 2JZ (Supra) and RB (GTR) family of engines are so-called "bullet proof" is because of low compression and humongous surface area made of cast and forged iron. They are literally over-engineered on purpose.

If only Mazda built a cast and forged iron alloy MSP engine... with steel-molybdenum alloy housings like in the Nissan VQ and VR series of engines...

 

[csl]

Add a little, Renesis is using PCM that running on CANbus and REW is using traditional ECU. On the PCM, it control a lot of thing, like throttle position, power steering, ABS, DSC, and etc. In order to use back the items, you must use back the PCM. So, add a microtech on similar thing will be the solution. But that is if you have no problem with the irritation of CEL/MIL. Engine mounting is just a very simple mechanical add on. I would say the end result is just bring the REW forward about 5cm, as the sample from several transplanted RX8. When you can get the REW on, how much power you are gonna make it produce? 400? Then, other thing have to be concern, like Axle shaft, drive shaft, bushings, suspension, body flex and etc. So, end of the day, A car not like a car. Spending so much on mod but drive without peace of mind. Better to get a RX7 as compensate the RX8 as a race/drag car. On our weather, our fuel, and other element, 310whp on RX8 is the max. Anyway, how much is the REW halfcut nowadays?

 

[RERider]

Price for Year 92-95 (255ps) Halfcut are from RM7k-10k. Year 96-98 (265ps) add RM2k-3k on top of 255ps halfcut. Year 99 (280ps) and above are from RM1xk to RM2xk. Depends on mods and conditions. Could be more if heavy modded. Front cut only, not included the rear half and the doors.

 

[savahn]

It is not about engine control, its about the physical limits of the engine itself. You cannot solve the exhaust port warping under extreme heat by using a different engine control.

And the engine frame is not as easy as moving the thing forward by a few cm. If this is Oz or US, its quite easy as fabrication knowledge is widespread - an engine "frame" has to be made where the engine is mounted. This frame is in turn mounted into the engine bay.

But agree, why do crazy mods when you compromise reliability.

I read its possible to get up to 300hp for 13B-MSP using bridgeport... but that means day-to-day driving is completely compromised.

13B-REW can make up to 500 horses and remain streetable... barely.

 

[csl]

I'm with O&G industrial and the modifying mounting bracket thing is not that hard for me. But frankly speaking, I still can't do even 1 of the corner with speed cut of 187km/h on my RX8 at Karak highway. Fcking T1R start bitching at 160, sometimes 170 (without cutting into apex, cuz scare slow lane got car n lorries ma). But I strongly felt that is possible and is not hard. Maybe balls not big enough, as well as techniques still far to catch up. So I believe using the engine output to compensate the skill is just a bit expensive, in terms of wallet and safety.

The conclusion may be just do some exterior or minor mods at the beginning and let the car grows along with owner. This will prolong the play. No point to have a ferrari but can be chased down by an e class.

 

[Joker]

I heard that RX-8 AT is not very good compared to Manual (But I am not sure how not good is not good because my fren heard of a fren.) Can anyone tell me? I saw some post about flooding, what is that? How about the fuel economy since it is a 1.3?

Thanks.

 

[savahn]

Joker:
1. If you can handle a manual, always get a manual. The manual offers you more control and a little more power.
2. Quote the post?
3. Fuel economy is remarkably poor - probably not what you'd expect from such a small engine :) Assume that it has the fuel economy of a piston engine 3 times its size.