I have an RX8 which I absolutely love, only had it a couple of months but on websites it says main fault is 'engine flooding', and never switch it off after short journeys. I am beginning to worry, and if I ever have to move my car off the drive because I'm parked behind my husband I take it for a little drive instead of just moving it onto the road. Am I worrying un-necessarily?
2007-08-31 21:52:18 · 5 answers · asked by Heather B 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Car Makes ➔ Mazda
Yes, rotary engines are prone to flooding.
If your RX8 has had the latest updates flashed to its ECU the problem is minimized. Still, just follow the simple rule of not shutting it down cold. If you have to move the car just let it run a couple minutes.
Also, Mazda wrote in the owners manual that if you plan to shutdown cold, rev the engine up to around 3000 rpm and hold it there for 5-10 seconds then shut down.
Should the engine ever flood you can sometimes clear it yourself. Push the gas pedal to the floor (which actually tells the ECU to supply NO gas at startup) and try cranking the engine for 10-20 seconds. This should expel the excess gas. Then try starting normally.
2007-09-01 13:13:20 · answer #1 · answered by cnshinn 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All the fuel injection rotary Mazda's have had this problem with flooding. We used to get calls from body shops all the time because they did lots of start, short move, turn offs. Driving around the block is a whole lot cheaper than towing and a new set of plugs. The rotaries use really cold plugs,so they are more prone to fowling. Small price to pay for a fun, fast car.
2007-09-01 09:40:25 · answer #2 · answered by the mazda mechanic 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Engine flooding is possible with the RX-8, since its a 1.3 rotary..you need to leave it running for while every time you move your car or make a really short trip, basically let the engine warm up a while, nothing wrong with the engine, mainly user ignorance for when engine floods.
2007-09-01 18:47:16 · answer #3 · answered by guitrprod1 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think the choke floods the engine and there is a possibility it won't start. Although on my old Nissan 200sx you could start it eventually if you hammered the accelerator just when it started - (that's what the AA did the first time it happened and I called them out).
You'd need a mechanic to tell you about any long-term damage but I never had any.
2007-08-31 22:01:29 · answer #4 · answered by Harry Callaghan 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I have come across this problem a couple of times, but i doubt it applies to all rx8's.
I should just enjoy the car and worry about problems when they happen.
2007-08-31 22:04:04 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋