Hello I’m not only new to here but to the rx8 life

[Spatzrx8]

Names mark and hello everyone
New to the rx8 crew
Trying to navigate the site so might go quiet lol
Not sure how you post photos ??? Any help much appreciated

[Delanor]

Mark

Have a good nose round there is plenty to read up on, the Buyers Guide is up there ^^^^^ is very informative if you haven`t got an RX-8 yet but still helpful if you now have one and lots more techie stuff if you become a member.

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Del.

[GreySilver Beast]

Hi Mark & to the RX-8OC

<<<<<< Please put your Location in your Profile Box, it will help us to know where you are, if required any help in the future

Please check out the EVENTS SECTION's for anything coming up soon in your area

Events Team

[Ainmhidh]

Hi Mark, welcome to the forum. Regarding pics, check this thread (second half more relevant for guest members)
viewtopic.php?p=843109#p843109

[Shagrington]

Hi and Spatzrx8. for how to post photos.

Have a good read through whatever in the FAQ section you didn't already read and then (and just ignore me if you know all this already) here are my best tips for keeping it all running sweetly:

1. To start up turn the key to position 2, wait for most of the lights on the dash to go out (I watch the airbag light by the glove box), press the clutch to the floor (optional, but reduces drag), turn the key to start and do not touch the throttle until it has started. You can drive off straight away, just keep the revs down for a bit (see #4 below).

2. Never turn off the engine before it has reached at least somewhere towards normal operating temperature (should only take a minute or two, but best to go for a short drive if just swapping cars round on the drive etc). Switching off cold risks flooding, which is a real with a rotary engine. Mazda recommend rev to 4k and hold it for 8-10 seconds switching off while still revving if you have no option but to switch off cold (it is not necessary to do this in any other circumstance).

3. Check the oil level regularly (use the dipstick - the oil gauge tells you nothing other than that you have or don't have pressure) and top up if necessary with semi synthetic 5w30 (most people and specialists are advising to use 10w40 now though) ... small amounts at a time, no more than ½ a litre then check the level again before adding more as you don't want to overfill it.

4. Use all the revs once the engine is nice and warm (don't sit idling to warm up, start up and drive but keep it below about 4k until the needle on the water temperature gauge is pointing straight up, then give it another 10 minutes for the oil to warm up too before really thrashing it ) and hit the beep often. Best acceleration is from 4k revs up - to pull away you really need to rev to 2k - you can let the revs drop after lifting the clutch if you are in traffic, cruising steadily at 3½k revs and changing down to go up hills or accelerate gets you the best mpg ... which still won't be great.

5. Join the club for discounts on all sorts of things (you will very quickly get the cost of membership back - and then some), loads more info in the members only sections (including access to all the workshop and technical manuals), local meets (they were all postponed but have been starting up again recently) - if you can't find one exactly local it is a good excuse for a drive if you come to one a bit further away), a sexy keyring just for joining and more.

[YORKSHIRE777]

Welcome

[casey]

[Spatzrx8]

Hi everyone having a slight issue with the rx
Starts first time from the key cold but one warm day 1 hrs drive she won’t start straight away ????
Changed plugs , coils ,ht leads
Only thing I did notice was some honeycomb material come out my exhaust .. and now on start up exhaust has a slight tin rattle … could it be the cat collapsed????
Was looking into doing a de cat but love to know if the hot start could be the cat collapse
Any help much appreciated

[HarSc]

If you saw honeycomb material out the exhaust, then it looks like your cat has collapsed like you suspect and will be restricting or blocking exhaust flow. This is definitely not ideal, and it's probably best you get that sorted immediately before driving much further, be that swapping for another cat or to a decat. (Or at least drop the midpipe to check if it is collapsed or not and see what's happening in there)

Generally, the super cheap cats (ECP special, eBay cats, killer cats, whatever people like to call them ) aren't ideal for long term use but will get through an MOT and be ok for short periods on the car. There are numerous reports of these collapsing early, so if you do choose to go for a replacement cat, generally the rule of thumb is a 200cel/high flow cat, or a quality cat made to higher standards that will take the high heat and abuse of an RX-8. I believe there should be other threads touching on this topic, so a quick search should bring more info up.

I personally can't weigh in on the hot starting being related to the cat collapse, not experienced that before, but others will know more than me and hopefully be able to help there