We Want More Power

I don't know what Mazda it thinking, we want more power! The worst thing that you can do is advertise more hp than you actualy have! The prototype had the full 280hp then they cut it down to 250hp now it it 238hp. What next 200? Come on guys this is America the land of excess power cravings, where 1/4 mile times and lataral gs sell cars. What part of that don't you understand? Give us a three rotor if you cannot turbocharge it. We need somthing to smoke the Evo with.

I agree! I sure hope that Mazda makes avail a "bolt on" Turbo charger for us guys who have this 2004 RX-8.

They said that they cannot make a turbo version because as we all know turbochargers reduce exaust temps (after turbo). This robs heat from the catalitic converter reducing its ability to burn off hydrocarbons. Basicly it would not pass emissions. Although a subercharger would work. In fact it would work very well considering that the rotory engine has a very low compression ratio by its design.

Stop whining about the power loss. I'm happy just to have a car with a rotary in it. anyways, about the supercharger rumor, it's true...they should be available in at least 6 months.

They said that they cannot make a turbo version because as we all know turbochargers reduce exaust temps (after turbo). This robs heat from the catalitic converter reducing its ability to burn off hydrocarbons. Basicly it would not pass emissions. Although a subercharger would work. In fact it would work very well considering that the rotory engine has a very low compression ratio by its design.

What are you smokin? 10:1 compression ratio was pretty high last time I looked. So high in fact, that if you were to turbocharge it with pumpgas, your seals would be toast after 5lbs of boost.

What are you smokin? 10:1 compression ratio was pretty high last time I looked. So high in fact, that if you were to turbocharge it with pumpgas, your seals would be toast after 5lbs of boost.


What are YOU smoking? First off a 10:1 CR is not high; several cars now excede 11:1. Secondly you very scientific statment that the seals would be toast is very misleading. Running 5psi with a 10:1 makes just shy of 200 psi at ambent air temp assuming a 100% volumetric effecency. People have made well over 240psi without "tosting" their seals. So please get your facts streight BEFORE you accuse me of smoking somthing. The reason that so many people "tosted" their seald in the Gen 3 Rx7s is because it had a weak cooling system, just ask any Rx fanatic and they will tell you the first mod to make is the radator.

If you want something better, buy the MazdaSpeed RX-8

When did that come out?? What are it's specs?

I was under the impression the actual HP was 200, maybe im wrong. But you poor rx8 owners definatly need a turbo to live up to the heritage of the cars you drive.

If you want something better, buy the MazdaSpeed RX-8 :screwy:

hmmmm...yeah maybe i'll get a time machine and go 2 years into the future, buy one, and find a way to get it back to present time...oh wait! the DeLoreans busted! Never mind that! :grinno:

Good one! :evillol: I did not think that they were out yet. Even if they do make one I doubt that it will be as good as the Evo or the STi. I was a huge RX7 fan but Mazda has disapointed me, especaly since they anounced that thay will NOT be reviving the RX7 like they had planed.

Everybody is looking to forced induction to increase power. Has anyone thought of a 3-rotor Renesis engine?? How much harder would that be? 150% of the power, with the slightest weight/size increase, and you still retain incredible throttle response (read: no turbo lag)!

ever consider we're trying to PASS emissions here?

j/k :D

Forced induction does not significantly increase emmisions, in fact since the compression ratio is reduced they usualy have lower emmisions.

ya 280 under the f u c k i n g hood j a c k a s s ! to the wheels like 240. oh my god. :nono:

It is less than 240whp. A friend of mine dynoed one at BCIT. Was around 220 or so.

Second, y are you all complaning, the car is quite amazing for what it is (a glorified 4 door family car). Mazda was not trying to take on the likes of the 350Z or EVO. Rather provide a semi sporty car that is functional.

If you want turbos wait till the new RX7 hits the market. Should be fun, 2 door, light weight, more power. And yes 10:1 compression is fairly high compared to the 7.5-8.5 a turbocharged car would run. You can run 10:1compression ratio but the first ping you have there go your apex seals. You have to be very carfull at that high of a pressure.

I agree with 89turbo. Mazda isn't trying to corner the market with the RX-8, but it is a damn fine car. According to Car and Driver the
RX-8 is one of the best Japanese sports cars on the market at the time. For the price you can't beat the performance.

Exactly. The thing handles like it is on rails, It looks........intresting. And is a blast to drive. What more can you expect from a company that gave up on developing performance vehicles for the North American market till reciently. I think they did a good job for an interily new engine.

Everybody is looking to forced induction to increase power. Has anyone thought of a 3-rotor Renesis engine?? How much harder would that be? 150% of the power, with the slightest weight/size increase, and you still retain incredible throttle response (read: no turbo lag)!

3 Rotary = Illegal. I can't confirm the source but it's just illegal for many reasons.

Are RX-8 is dwarfed because of emissions. In Japan, this car probably screams because they are less restrictive. When I get mine, all I know is that I'm visiting my uncle at the DMV to pass me.

I'm not exactly sure how a cat. converter works but someone said if the emissions are too cold it doesn't work? We gotta be able to tune this thing some how.

3 Rotary = Illegal. I can't confirm the source but it's just illegal for many reasons.

Y is it illegal? Basicly ou are saying that adding another 3 cylinders to the engine is illegal. Last time i looked there wasent a law on the number of cylinders a car could have.

Second a catilitic converter uses a catlist that heats up and burns off hydrocarbons(unburnt fuel), NOx, and CO. All new cats have different types of catalysts, a reduction catalyst and an oxidization catalyst.

The ruduction catlyst preforms a chemical reaction with the NOX and CO to basicly neutralize it. The Oxydation catlyst handles mostly the hydrocarbons by burning them off.

Is it possible to turbo it at a High compression ratio? It does take compression to make horse power. I believe that you just run lower boost but still be able to get horsepower out of the turbo. I am currently working on putting on a turbo on my car now. Plan on putting a single turbo, putting about where the battery box is now....with engine management....but I'm concerned on how much the engine can handle. I have dyno my car, only 180hp to the ground. I have a cat-back exhaust and that's it. The car also showed that it was running lean....not sure why....

Yes it is possilbe to turbo a high compression car. You just cant boost vary high. A turbocharger basicly raises the cars compression ratio.

I am not an RX-8 expert, but 180whp after a cat-back is low...normally, don't they dyno @ around 188 stock? The hp is low probably becuase it's running lean (that's never good).

Anyways, 89Turbo944, good post on how the cat works.

Thanks.

Ya 180 does sound kind of bad. Y was your car running lean. Lean kills rotaries!!!

Thanks.

Ya 180 does sound kind of bad. Y was your car running lean. Lean kills rotaries!!!

Ya...this got me thinking, I would think the cat-back void the warrenty on the car also. If they are nice they'll only void it from the cat-back. Either way, I agree with you, and I'd take car of it ASAP.

I dont see whay the cat back would cause the car to run lean. Cause you are really not allowing the car to flow all that much more. But it is possible that the Ren needs more backpressure to run properly. Dont know alot about the Ren but take off the catback and redyno it and check you AF.

Dont worrie about the warantee to much tho. Dealers cant officialy void your warantee for simple bolt ons. There was a legal battle about it and dealerships lost. But if you do mess with the ECU and they find out you are screwed.

I dont see whay the cat back would cause the car to run lean. Cause you are really not allowing the car to flow all that much more. But it is possible that the Ren needs more backpressure to run properly. Dont know alot about the Ren but take off the catback and redyno it and check you AF.

Dont worrie about the warantee to much tho. Dealers cant officialy void your warantee for simple bolt ons. There was a legal battle about it and dealerships lost. But if you do mess with the ECU and they find out you are screwed.

Really? So suspenion, intake, exhaust, header, etc...won't offically void the warrenty? Of course, I am guessing it will void the parts warrenty you installed (like an intake would void an the warrenty as applied to intakes). How do you get them to live up to this, I am curious. Where can you find more info? I am interested in this, and I know others who would be. No one wants to void a warrenty because or an I/H/E and some shocks and springs.

Im not sure where to get info on the perticulars. But yes the dealer will not replace any broken aftermarket parts that brake. The only way they can void your warantee due to aftermarket parts is eather, your mod caused a direct problem with the damaged component, or you modify the internal workings of the car.

Best thing to do would be to go to your dealer and aske. They will usualy help you pick the parts and in a lot of cases they will even hepl you install them. If you have the dealer install them and still have a problem then you can go back to the dealer and have them fix it.

Shocks, springs, and components will not void your warantee. But like i said before, if they brake the dealer will not replace the part.

So let me get this straight with the exhaust system. With the renesis engine, if everything flows out of the car too nicely due to an unrestrictive exhaust system, it'll actually cause a decrease in HP because of the lack in back pressure?

I read in an automotive magazine I have, the Rx8 was test driven by Rx7 drivers, and the only mod the Rx8 had was a cold air intake, which gave it a nice kick. Maybe they didn't do the rest of the exhaust system for back pressure reasons.

ya 280 under the f u c k i n g hood j a c k a s s ! to the wheels like 240. oh my god. :nono:


Are you realy as dumb as you sound or is that just an act???? It is 240 at the flywheel. No RX has made 280 since the J-Spec RX7, learn this stuff BEFORE you come here and confuse the noobies.

I want to put the original exhaust back on......and dyno it to see what it does???? But we ran it on the dyno 4 times.....consistantly ran the same fuel/air mixture everytime. Didn't gain any more HP over 180. We even tried disconnecting the battery for 5mins to let the ECU reset, thinking maybe the computer would compensate the new "air flow". That didn't do anything. Is anybody planning on turboing there RX-8, seriously!!??? I'm in the works getting it started. I have on order the mazdaspeed body kit....I will post pics when I get them. I plan on taking pics of the whole "turbo project". But first thing first see why it's running lean, maybe the new Renesis engine runs a little leaner then the old 13B engines?? But I am lacking a little HP then it should 190hp.

Doug McGill is a jack ass. Hes just out to piss off people.

And PRnPimpin what i said was just a guess, so i dont know if the stock one makes backpressure or not. So dont wuote me on that.

Yes put your factory exhaust back on and try to dyno it again. You may end up with a better result.

Doug McGill is a jack ass. Hes just out to piss off people.

And PRnPimpin what i said was just a guess, so i dont know if the stock one makes backpressure or not. So dont wuote me on that.

Yes put your factory exhaust back on and try to dyno it again. You may end up with a better result.

If that doesn't clear the lean problem up, keep checking. A new car like that shouldn't be running lean. Keep us posted. I've heard of several problems and complants from RX-8 owners, more than the typical "new car." I also think it;s sad that Mazda gave the magazines intially a version with the correctly stated power, so the magazines printed the intial performance...then mazda de-tuned the motor, etc...and sold it. It's nice they feesed up, but the car comunity already knew that the power output was lower than stated. In a lot of ways, the admission and resulting offer of cash back, etc...was a way to save face, IMO...it's a pretty car for the most part, I was exitied when it first was released and the initial performance was printed. It's kind of sad it doesn't have the orginal power output, etc. The thing can handle, that extra power would have made it one heck of a ride.

I have alittle over 7000 miles on the RX-8, Purchased in Aug '03. No problems with it. I have heard of some of the problems that people are having the sludge on the dip stick, engine failure. But no problems here. So I guess we will see here soon if the back pressure helps to improve HP.

I have alittle over 7000 miles on the RX-8, Purchased in Aug '03. No problems with it. I have heard of some of the problems that people are having the sludge on the dip stick, engine failure. But no problems here. So I guess we will see here soon if the back pressure helps to improve HP.

Let us know what you find out on the backpressure issue.

So I guess we will see here soon if the back pressure helps to improve HP.

Good Job Be-Fri, way to take one for the team.

Does anyone think the US is receiving a toned down version of the Renesis Engine or juste a version with restrictions? I do a lot of reading on this car and I'm just spitting out ideas. I read somewhere that the engine has alll sorts of restrictors and sensors locking in the potential power of the engine in order to meet emission requirements. If anyone is in a state where the emission laws aren't as strict, I would make it a point to find out exactly where the restrictors and sensors are and remove them. This at least should put us back to 247 at the fly wheel. I don't know about the wheels though.

I know some states a Cat. isn't required. If emissions is what's locking up these cars, this shouldn't be a problem in those states.

Here's a side question. Are there any after market cat converters that would be more efficient at burning up pollution or are we stuck with he stock ones that remain on our casr?

Good Job Be-Fri, way to take one for the team.

Does anyone think the US is receiving a toned down version of the Renesis Engine or juste a version with restrictions? I do a lot of reading on this car and I'm just spitting out ideas. I read somewhere that the engine has alll sorts of restrictors and sensors locking in the potential power of the engine in order to meet emission requirements. If anyone is in a state where the emission laws aren't as strict, I would make it a point to find out exactly where the restrictors and sensors are and remove them. This at least should put us back to 247 at the fly wheel. I don't know about the wheels though.

I know some states a Cat. isn't required. If emissions is what's locking up these cars, this shouldn't be a problem in those states.

Here's a side question. Are there any after market cat converters that would be more efficient at burning up pollution or are we stuck with he stock ones that remain on our casr?

I am pretty sure there are a few legel high flow cats out there...now as to whether they burn it up as well, I do not know.

Has anyone installed nitrous into their RX8 yet?

I am curious to know what happened, hopefully their car didn't propel sideways through the nearest wall.

I have to say the Rx8 is already a very fast car, especially at high speeds, but it always feels very balanced, which I really love about the car.

As a result the car is easy to drive fast. I remind myself regularly that its not my driving skill that is impressive but the car's handling.

But the devil in you just wants a bit more, especially at lower revs. It would be nice to reduce the 0-60 time to below 6 seconds. Comical statement really because I'm just over .4 of second to reaching that target

I would hate the car to become a bad tempered terrier in the wet as a result of mods. Its nice to live inside a safety bubble.

Can ask what represented mileage milestones for the running in of the car, in terms of performance and the engine loosing up?

i chaged my exhaust from my rx-8 and it is a difrence,a small one but there is.i race my mazda here in romania and i am pleased.of course i want more power but for the moment there is no one who can make the electronics for this cars. i gain fron the exhaust about 10 hp but i chaged the whole sistem from back to the catalyctic converter.the dealer from mazda told me thea i will lose the warranty if i changed the catalyctic converter but but with those things down i will gain 25 hp so friends with the exhaust 10hp and the k&n typchoon air filter 9.5 hp there is aditional power.but i need more ,and i descoverd turbo for rx8 but the price is verry hight $6250.http://www.speedforceracing.com/index.php
so we can hope for some engine electronics.

"I have a friend...."
who has a supercharged RX-8 sitting in his driveway.
It isn't 'finished' yet, but will be.....soon.
A few details and some e-manage to complete, then off to the dyno!
Uses a ProCharger booster, mounted where the stock airbox goes.
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This is what I heard from Road & Track about the new Mazdaspeed coming to the U.S.
1. the american division of mazda is working with a hydrolic turbo on the rx-8
2. they are also working with a super charger, they are seeing which one of the two is better
3. for some reason the rottary engine is great for a hydrogin car, normal engines can't make the conversion yet, still bugs being tweaked out, but the rx-8 can, expect hydrogen powered rx-8s as early as 2006

Forget the hydrogen, that is 10 years away. The proposed Mazda hydrogen motor BURNS hydrogen.

There is NO possibility of a H2 burning motor. The power it takes to compress the gas is almost as much as it would produce. I work for the world's largest hydrogen producer/consumer. We make millions of tons of hydrogen a year, and it is made from natural gas and water. Takes a HUGE amount of energy to split hydrogen from water, and releases CO and CO2. Then to burn it in an engine is just a waste.

Real hydrogen power will come from electric cars, powered by fuel cells, you need a good clean fuel like ethanol or methanol for the hydrogen, then use the pure hydrogen to produce efficient electricity, and use that power to run the car.

Check out 'Ballard' fuel cells. (you may want to invest!)
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doc

An hydraulic S.C. would be a good compromise.

'My Buddy' is using a belt driven C-1 centrifugal, with an oversized intercooler and a B.O.V.

The hold-up is the blower, it takes about 20 hp to drive it, even at relatively low revs.

'Buddy' is adapting an electric clutch like an a/c unit, to cut it out when it becomes more of a drag than an asset.
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doc

Can you install a cold air intake system on a rotary engine? I don't see why not but have never seen anything written on it.

Here is link on cold air intake install:

http://www.automedia.com/autoCare/pht20030901ai/pht20030901ai.asp?affid=

i know i sound like a salesman but check out http://www.ststurbo.com/home, maybe they can make a turbo for your rx8. Or you can make your own rearmount turbo.