Fewer than 9,000 Mazda RX-8s left in the UK

Just 10 years ago there were over 22,000 Mazda RX-8s registered on the road in the UK. At the end of the last year that figure had fallen to just over 8,500*. 

This figure does not take into account cars kept off-road under a SORN, but even so, at this rate (averaging 1,350 taken off road every year) there will be fewer than 1,750 RX-8s still in circulation in five years time. It's a shocking forecast for this beautiful car with its sporty design and high-revving rotary engine returning a meaty 191hp or 237hp from a modest 1.3 litre engine. *source: https://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/?page=1&q=rx8

The Mazda RX-8s that are lovingly cared for by the many enthusiasts out there will go on to become classic cars, and deservedly so, but the RX-8 needs a sympathetic owner who is prepared to invest time learning how to care for the engine and lots of money in essential maintenance ..... oh yes, and regular petrol fill-ups (250 miles to a full tank if you're lucky). 

One of the biggest problems faced and dreaded by RX-8 owners is the 'hot start problem' that often occurs when the engine has run up somewhere between 60,000 and 80,000 miles. The engine usually starts on the button when cold, but after even a short run of 15-20 minutes the engine can simply refuse to restart once turned off. Anyone who owns an Mazda RX8 and has encountered the 'hot start' issue will know how frustrating this is, having to wait long enough for the engine to cool down before being able to move off again. Embarrassing, or what? 

Mazda RX-8 hot start fails are usually the first sign of significant wear in the apex seals on the rotor, but might also be caused by scoring of the elliptical 'cylinder' wall; either way, once the airtight seal between the cylinder wall and the rotor seals is compromised, further exacerbated by the engine heat causing expansion of the rotor casing, the engine struggles to produce enough compression to start.  An internal combustion engine needs at least 60 psi to fire up.

If ignored, the hot starting problem gets worse, happens more often, and becomes more annoying. Even when cool, the engine takes longer and longer to start. All the time, the seals are continuing to wear, until eventually there is too little compression to start the engine even when cold. When one apex seal fails, it affects two of the three rotary chambers, so just one bad seal causes engine failure. At this point, the RX-8 owner is faced with an engine rebuild, costing around £2,000, or decides to move the car on, selling it as a non-runner or for scrap. No wonder so many RX-8s are disappearing from our roads.

One inexpensive solution to engine wear causing low compression, even in the rotary engine, is Restore Engine Restorer & Lubricant from Ametech. The CSL (copper/lead) micro-beads contained in each can of Restore fill scratches in friction-producing engine metal to restore compression; it works wherever there is friction between two reciprocating or rotating metal-on-metal components and an oil supply to carry the Restore CSL particles to the parts. The friction between the two metal surfaces squashes the tiny copper/lead beads into the scratches and scoring, and the heat and friction binds the CSL to the engine metal to make the surfaces good again. It takes about 1000 miles or 20 hours of engine running to complete a repair, but improvements are usually seen after about 300 miles. 

One 400ml can of Engine Restorer (£21.99) is often enough to improve hot starting ability in the Mazda RX-8 Wankel rotary engine and if caught early enough, reverse the hot start problem. Using a 250ml can of Engine Restorer (£14.99) at every oil change thereafter will maintain protection against hot start fails and give continued enjoyment to the RX-8 owner, hopefully for many more years of happy motoring! 

For more information visit www.americantechnology.co.uk

Rover 45 Good to Go with Ametech

Rover 45 Diesel 2 litre turbo lives to fight another year with an Ametech Restore treatment and 12 months MOT.

The products used (at least two weeks in advance of the MOT) were: a bottle of Motor Cleaner (Engine Flush) added to the old oil to clean the engine, removing sludge, varnish, gums and carbon; a 400ml can of Engine Restorer to fills scratches in the cylinder walls and valve guides; a bottle of Oil Anti-Leak to recondition rubber seals and prevent oil leaks from shrunken valve stem seals contributing to high emissions; a bottle of Diesel Fuel Injector Cleaner to restore injector spray pattern, preventing over-fuelling and excessive diesel fumes. 

All these products can be purchased together as an MOT Emission Buster kit for just £35.00 - a worthwhile investment in another years trouble-free motoring. 

Visit www.americantechnology.co.uk for more information.