From a real rx8 owner here is what you should actually know about the rx8 if you're going to own one since this guy doesn't know what he's talking about. 1. Do not use the factory rated 5w-20 oil, its too thin and leads to excess wear on the engine. 10w-20 or even 10w-30 is better in the warm weather. 2. Let the engine warm completely up before driving in the winter and in the summer keep the rpms below 4k until its warmed up, revving while cold kills rotary and really all aluminum block engines 3. Never run low grade fuel unless you want to kill your performance 4. Check your oil often as they burn oil naturally, white foam in your oil is normal don't freak out 5. Once a day rev the engine to 10k rpms, this clears excess carbon out of the motor 6. Rx8s are track cars not drag strip cars, race on a circuit or autocross. 7. Do not start the car and turn it off unless its fully warmed up, if you do you're risking flooding the engine. 8. If you have to turn the car off early you need to rev the engine to 3500rpm and turn the key to off before the rpms drop to 0 this helps clear fuel and oil out. 5 year rx8 owner, these are the most important rules to follow, everything else is the same as any other car
No bro you got it wrong... Step 1: Marry a mechanic Step 2: Marry a gas station owner Step 3: Buy an rx8 Step 4: Be overprotective Step 5: Have tons of fun and beat the shit out of it, it helps with the reliability (no joke)
thanks for the video. I'm a long time owner of an RX8 (11 yrs) and there are three main rules for a healthy Rx8 that I have followed. 1. Pre mix your fuel with a good 2 stroke oil. 2. coil packs. either change the mazda coils every 30,000 miles or fit the good aftermarket Ls2 coils. 3. Cooling. keep your engine cool. I've fitted an upgraded radiator and a 76 degree centigrade thermostat. As an extra tips make sure both your cooling fans work as they are prone to failure. hope this helps and happy Rx8 motoring.☺
JDMcamMims 702, I agree. I've got a 2009 series 2 as a second car for weekend spins in the hills. Mine is the GT model in Australia (called the R3 in USA), which may be harder to find, but it comes with 19 inch wheels, Recaro seats, body kit, twin oil coolers, all standard.
I have mine almost for over 2 years now. At the time I bought it I was very uninformed about Rotary engines. So I concentrated my energy to get to know the sellers. I wanted to see how they treat their other cars or if they had the money to take care of the RX8. In the end I bought mine from a man his the late 40 who had two brand new BMW's (530 and a 5 series station wagon). His reason for selling the RX8 was his sons coming 18th birthday. He wanted to get rid of the car before his son was able to drive a too powerful car for a new driver. So I got my very clean all stock 2006 6 speed manual at 70000 km for almost 9000€. Now I have almost 95000 km and I never had a problem.
@@psilence015 The noticeable differences are the changes in the tail-light design, front bumper and grill, oil pressure increase and a third oil injector. Finally, they unified the engine and trans options from the S1 having literally every mix-n-match option you could think of into only 2 options: 6-speed auto mated to a 6-port RE and a reinforced 6-speed manual mated to a 6-port RE. Simple. Made choosing the right car with the right engine so much easier because there were literally only 2 options.
Awsome video and totally agree with everything especially #5. I looked at a lot of these cars before settling on my R3 and you wouldn't believe how many owners had no clue what they owned. Some didn't even know there was a rotary engine in it. Channels like this and sites like rx8club have a sea of information that can help an owner/buyer immensely. Loving the channel and looking forward to more content.
Thank you for the helpful info. I always wanted a rotary and I just got a rx8 for free yesterday so this vid really helps on the negative perspectives that people talk about thanks 👍🏼.
Great vid! Been very happy with my 09 S2 for the last five years. Aside from squeezing wider 245 Nitto tires on the stock rims, it's untouched. Got it with 24K on it. Has 64K on it now. Despite some people's objections, been running royal purple in it. Zero issues. Burn clean and when I pull the plugs they look perfect. Slight brown ash, like normal. It is due from new coils again. But it still runs strong. That being said, I have been thinking about getting ready for a rebuild before issues crop up. Maybe next winter. I will be at around 70K by then. It's not my daily driver, so the downtime is not a big deal. I having it ported while the engine is out. I know it won't add much, but I figure it's not a huge expense for the gains. At least it's not a lot in the overall cost of a rebuild.
Thanks for making this video and stating that the negative reputation of the RX8 is undeserved. I have a Series II, and had a Series I as well, and both served me very well! Granted, I did do my research, and wanted to genuinely know more about rotaries. I love and adore my RX8, and is going try and use my car to break the cycle and perception of its negative reputation.
Hows the breaking of the negative the perception going? It has a negative reputation because of the amount of maintenance and inherent flaws the motor has. So unless you can go to a non-car enthusiast and explain why an RX-8 is better than a traditional car with the same performance stats and convince that person to pick it over the traditional car...your attempt is moot.
Great video, especially as I am looking to buy one soon, but I do have one complaint/suggestion. Modifications like a CAI or catback exhaust are more than just power adders, they also improve throttle response and make the car more fun to drive.
Thanks for the video 👍I do own two 09 R3's and one 06 Rx8 like I say if you know what you're doing they keep on going p.s: I bought all of them used and they still have original engines
Same thing has happened in the Subaru community. People like to trash EJ-257s for being unreliable. It isn't that the engine is bad, it's that it has it's quirks and you can't just beat the hell out of it before it warms up properly. The problem with most used performance cars is that they weren't treated well, that's coming from someone who has owned several used performance cars and had issues with some of them. NA cars tend to be less of an issue, but turbo cars are a mixed bag. People beat on them and don't let the turbo cool before shutting the car off. The oil pump doesn't circulate oil when the engine isn't running and therefore oil is trapped in the hot turbo and is turned into sludge because it's taken far beyond it's operating temperature and then you have a poor lubricant and boom, there goes your engine after a few thousand miles.
WesSites wrong. The ej257 and most turbo engines have coolant flowing through the turbo after its shut off, you do not need to let it cool down unless you full throttled into your garage and immediately shut it off.
Skyler Gabriele hey dumb ass, no they don't. The oil pump shuts off when the engine shuts off, it runs off the serpentine belt. It doesn't have an electric power source that keeps it running. I own an STI, I'm well aware of what it does and does not do. The only thing that cools the Turbo is oil, antifreeze would vaporize if you ran it through the Turbo. You obviously have zero knowledge about automobiles.
Well, heres another thing. The ej257 is an aluminium block with thin cylinder walls and basically no support at the top of the block, so the cylinder walls move around in high boosts and can cause headgasket issues, and the cylinder walls can also crack alot easier. Theres also the fact that it uses cast pistons, that are somewhat large, and weak rods. The ej207 tends to be more reliable, because the walls are so fucking thick that they barely move. Also the fact that some came with forged pistons
@@skylergabriele6445 dumbest attempt to look smart and knowledgeable. Lol. Check your blinker fluid and make sure it's topped off too while you're at it.
nice vid.. I have 09 r3 that I daily. I don't premixed and have all original coils, starter, sparks, and wires with zero issues so far... I am on straight pipes but I know that is not possible in many states due to emission regulations but my state doesn't have any emission testing... I meticulously keep up on my maintenance and care for it constantly.. they are great cars very reliable if you care for it properly and great fun to play in... and as you said it's not a power house engine... for dailies I would say a street port and tune with other mods like exhaust and new coils with plugs is about as far as you need to go... just that alone can give you a solid 40whp boost if your tune is good and that makes a lot of difference in how it feels
I've been looking for some RX-8 deals lately, since the RX-7s barely saw the Italian market. Sadly, most of the times the owners will just skip the engine conditions in the vehicle description. As soon as they start blabbing on how good the sound system is or how comfy the seats are, you know they're trying not to say the engine is f*cked big time😂
He's right. I've been reading about the RX8 on the forums since October last year. Everyone is right and everyone is wrong. But what I did get from this : replace the coils, keep an eye on the temp, use 10W40 mineral oil, don't rev it when cold. That's the basics but it goes a long way in engine life
So what you are saying, it is fragile engine that can't survive unless it is treated much differently from a normal engine that will go 200k with normal care.
@@rotart12arx3 it's a completely different kind of engine, it's obviously not gonna have the same types of needs. Plenty of pros and cons compared to piston engines
@@threadworm437 I know it is, I have owned 2 RX-3 and 1 RX-4 and 2 RX-8. My 2004 was not so good and my 2010 has been great. They just won't last as long as a good piston engine even with perfect care.
I have owned a series 2 since I bought it Brand new in 2010. Best car I have owned all my friends cars have broken or been lost some way since then. I've spent a lot on maintenence but zero on repair. going on 85000 miles now. and it surprises me on how fast it is.
i have an rx8 150k miles. always premix. i drive it like crazy. 20 miles everyday. and only flooded once. because of my fault. and got back to normal. in minutes. best car ever. and the only engine that has last for so long with my way of driving. i used 5 sets of rear tires in 8 months only. so that tells a lot about me. i had to put oil every 4 days. Still turns on in less than 2 seconds when cold or hot. to be honest. its not the fastest car. but. its the only cat that you can take to the track. with 150k miles. and drive it hard all day... trust me guys. i drive almost everyday. at over 6k rpms for more than 20 miles. engine is as happy as it can get.
Always ask about fuel economy, if they say anything less than horrible then don't buy it. They most likely ran it wrong and the engine doesn't have much life left to it. Let's be honest, worrying about Gas mileage on the 8 is like re-arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.
great video bud. I've been bouncing between a rx8 2nd gen, hyundai genesis coupe, bmw 128i-135i and a bmw 2002. But some how i keep coming back to a rx8.
Very informative video, thank you! Don't know what the pricing like in the US, but here in the UK, with that reputation, higher car tax and low MPG, you can get a 55k mile minter for a little over £1k, or $1250... you literally cannot give them away. I mean with a fresh engine they should be £4K+ all day long. Such a damn shame, they are disappearing FAST
I totally agree with point number 4: find a 2nd gen RX-8 because they have far less problems than the 1st gen models. I'm planning on getting an RX-8 R3 someday, which is a 2nd gen car, and I think it would be a blast to own one and have an RX-7 or a REPU on the side
Is pulling apart the rx8 motor and replacing the rotors or damaged pieces any tougher than putting together a block? So far I love the idea and feel of rotaries but I also would like a car I know how to work on, and the rx8 seems like a good introduction into the rotary madness. I have plenty of garage experience in DIY motor swaps and working on motors but this would be a new experience for me entirely. Also totally subbed! best rotary channel on youtube by far dude, looking forward to more content!
I'm supposed to be getting a series 1 RX8 and I was scared cause of what the public said about the engine, but being scared will help me keep that engine great so I'm getting the car I can't wait to pick it up.
@@LuthfiJournal Well for starters before buying one you should definitely have a compression test done to check the life of the engine, then try to upgrade your starter, ignition coils and upgrade your radiator as well for better coolant to flow to your engine. Or for definite answers to your question just subscribe to Japanda and he will give you a better understanding.
Great video, I'm a prior Aircraft Mechanic and I love anything that turns. I had an 85 RX-7 and since then I've been in love with these cars. I've hesitated more than once on buying an RX-8 due to the rep. I will reconsider, maybe an R3. Would you recommend, or not applying a small amount of boost or total stock? Thanks, Mike
im looking into buying an overheated RX8. so obviously ima be doing some work on it but my question is, is it worth it to buy this one and rebuild it or better to buy one with minimal to no problems?
I’m planning to buy a used RX-8 with a little more than 80,000 km on it and I’ve heard the the seals in the engine can be pretty worn down around then. Is it possible to just get new seals put on?
I've thought about getting an RX8 because I never owned a rotary and I've thought about getting one. I've done bits of research here and there for these cars. Premixing is more ideal to keep maintaining your motor better from what I understand. For power wise you can make power but you can't. Honestly I don't look to shoot for crazy power with it. I would want to at least bridgeport the motor and put your normal bolt ons the car. Hearing these motors brap at idle really grabbed my attention. I look to take apart a Renesis that needs a rebuild because I can get an understanding how it all works, how it's taken apart and what goes into rebuilding one. I'm in Florida just 2 hours north of Miami and it would be nice to meet other rotary enthusiast I could learn from.
Are there any engine codes from the NA Rx-8 to the NB Rx-8? Because I am planning to buy an Rx-8 which works and it is very cheap and swap the engine right away. Any better plans to that?
thx. great vid. i get no respect.....lol. you nailed the main starter points. i have the 2004 GT 6-speed manual. I WAS HOOKED after first test DRIVE. Looking at a 2009 to add to my OBCESSION....THE RX-8. thx again DG
So i have been looking to get an RX8, is there any real tips that i can get maintenance wise? Like whats the best thing to do to keep it running? The one I'm looking at is an 04 with 105k miles on her.
I live in Orlando Florida and the thing ppl are doing here is buying cheap or not running rx8 and doing a 13b swap and boost because it's more practical than a rx7 and they are good looking cars. I think you should have mentioned that it's great for doing a swap
i'm a student i have a part time job, I've heard that it is an expensive car to run and i would like to know your opinion on how much i should spend on the car. Also if it is worth buying as i will not being doing very long drives ( At most 5 Miles a day). I would really love to get one but i;m a bit worried about purchasing it.
I know a guy who bought an RX-8 series 1 and when he needed an engine rebuilt in around 130.000 miles he swapped the most with the 13B rotary engine from an RX-7 and he never had any problems again!! Plus he has twin turbos now!!!
Had an 04 RX-8 and put 120,000 miles on it before I sold it. Had zero problems with it at all. I removed the cat converter. Always used premix, changed coils every 30k and used water wetter instead of coolant.
Do people often put the series two motor in a FC/FD rx7 because of these improvements along with the aluminum cast or do they opt for the iron cast to be able to make more power? I always wondered how similar 13b's are.
I'm picking up an rx8 this Monday. I'm going to be cruising with this. I'm not into racing not even speeding But I've always loved its look. So I know my engine will last me.
I live in Canada, Alberta and i'm thinking of buying an 04 R-X8, what are the biggest things I need to do and watch for if I actually end up buying this car. As a note the car i'm thinking of buying has low kms, no rust, no fixes, no accidents, all factory, some dents, and no major problems.
I LOVED my RX8. However, the problems are MASSIVE & the costs just wear you down... Oil, Fuel, Servicing, Insurance, other issues (E..g. Clutch, Brakes, etc). Then there's the engine dilemma, which is essentially like buying another car. Mine only lasted 2 years. It was my baby & I took care of it, but the reliability issues are very real.
