Hans Conser wrote:
Begin forwarded message:
From: Dan Mazzella <dan@rotarynews.com>
Date: Sun Aug 3, 2003 6:08:01 PM US/Mountain
To: rxecret7@aol.com
Cc: socal7s@yahoogroups.com, sdrx7club_announce@yahoogroups.com,
fc3s_org@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [fc3s_org] Re: [SoCalRXClub] Dyno RX-8 =(
Reply-To: fc3s_org@yahoogroups.com
We (Berny and me at rotarynews) are investigating the issue. We
suspect the ECU is programmed with a brake in program that'll run the
engine rich to protect it. It should be possible to verify
this with a
dyno run with a wide band O2 attached to monitor AF ratio.
We are in contact with folks within Mazda, (called them on
Friday which
was Saturday Japan time) so nothing has been reported back to us yet.
--dan
rxecret7@aol.com wrote:
This is Tony here with Rotary Xecret 7, just to let you guys know I
dynoed
the RX-8 on Friday and the car only pulled 185 to the
wheels, which is
pretty
low for a 250HP rating.
We then disconnected the exhaust and intake and that pumped it up to
about
192RWHP.
I will keep you guys updated on the Project - 8 or you can check out
the
site, haven't got time to post any pictures up yet.
OH yeah, just a reminder next month's Import Racer issure will cover
the BBQ
back in June.
Tony
The one I drove sure and hell had 250 HP. I tested cars for a living
more or less for 30 years. Given the increased size of the ports
and the RPM red line
there is no doubt what so ever in my mind that the engine is
capable of 250 HP.
Now a more likely scenario is the engine is running too lean for
emissions
reasons.
Paul Lamar
Ageless Wings wrote:
We suspect the ECU is programmed with a brake in program that'll run the
engine rich to protect it. It should be possible to verify this with a dyno
run with a wide band O2 attached to monitor AF ratio<<
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.
Paul Lamar
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