Mazda RX-8 SE3P

Renesis rotary engine with side exhaust ports and two separate combustion chambers. Revs willingly to 9,000 rpm — but the engine demands discipline: always warm up properly (min. 10 km), never shut off cold, check oil level every other tank fill. By-design oil consumption of 0.3–0.5 l/1,000 km is normal; ignore it and apex seal damage is the result.

• !! Apex Seal Wear from 100,000 km

  Apex seals wear by design. Wear limit is 6.9 bar compression. In practice, problems appear from 80,000–130,000 km. Engine overhaul or replacement engine required.

  Symptoms: Hard cold start, rough running, power loss, compression test below 7 bar
  2,500–5,500 $
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• !! Catalytic Converter Destruction from Ignition Failure from 80,000 km

  Unburnt fuel during misfires or flooding reaches the catalytic converter and destroys it thermally. Can cause secondary engine damage if ceramic fragments travel back into the engine.

  Symptoms: Exhaust warning light, power loss, rattling noise from underneath, elevated exhaust emissions
  300–1,800 $
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• !! Compression Loss and Engine Failure from 120,000 km

  From 100,000–150,000 km, compression drops below minimum limits. Engine overhaul with new apex seals or a replacement engine (3,500–5,500 EUR) then becomes unavoidable. Regular oil changes and proper warm-up delay wear.

  Symptoms: Noticeable power loss, hard starting, compression test below 6.5 bar
  2,500–5,500 $
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+ 2 more engine weaknesses + vehicle weaknesses