Ageless Wings wrote:
I expect that Hans is right here, too...I have just about 1000 miles
on my
RX8 now, and have been getting some pretty black soot coming out of
the
exhaust...coating the inside of the extension tips. Also, occasional
backfiring when backing off from high RPMs over 7-8k. My first
thought was
unburned gas from an overrich condition, which, as Hans suggested,
could be
a preprogrammed break-in period.
Any way to confirm that this what they've done?, And any idea how
long this
break-in program would be set for? The manual says to be careful for
the
first 600 miles or so...but there are no special break-in conditions
(except
not to run it at WOT for "extended" periods <G>) and doesn't mention
having
to take it back to the dealer to be "reset" so, I would think it's a
mileage referenced program, if it exists.
BTW... a word of warning for any of you getting an RX8 ... I already
have
some "finish" damage on mine. The black "color" on the door pillar
behind
the window is not paint. It's like vinyl trim tape! Covers the entire
pillar.
A friend with longer than normal (and worn sharp!) finger nails
closed the
door when I was getting in, and one of his nails caught the tape and
ripped
a little of it...now I have a little v shaped tear in the tape about
a 1/4"
long ... right down to bare aluminum! I tried stretching it back and
smoothing it out, but the wrinkles and stretching make it look
obvious. See
attached photo. The other photo is the soot buildup in the right
exhaust
pipe tip.
Harley--
The left exhaust tip is OK Harley? Does not look that rich to me.
It takes a lot of rich to hurt the power. What kind of gas mileage
are you seeing?
Racing Beat has an RX8 engine on the dyno and Jim Mederer did not
mention to
me that he measured it other than 250 HP. I saw it on the dyno myself.
Are you willing to make a balls to the wall acceleration run?
Rev the engine to about 8000 RPM, step off the clutch and time the car
to 60 MPH and/or the 1/4 mile and let us know what numbers you get.
C & D in the 2003 Road Test Annual got 5.9 and 14.5 in the 1/4
respectively.
Pick a good country road as you should be doing about 96 MPH in the
1/4.
If not a measured 1/4 mile just time it to 96 MPH.
Sounds like Mazda/Ford made a big mistake with that vinyl trim tape.
Perhaps you will have to peel it off and paint the panel.
Or make a flat black panel to cover it over.
That wasn't me talking Harley, I just forwarded that email from the
RX-7 list.
The story of your friend damaging your trim with your fingernail had me
laughing though, that sounds so much like Mazda. I guess some things
never change.
Hans
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