Black plate (326,1)
After washing the vehicle, dry it with a
clean chamois to prevent water spots from
forming.
WARNING
Dry wet brakes by driving very slowly
and applying the brakes lightly until
brake performance is normal:
Driving with wet brakes is dangerous.
Increased stopping distance or the
vehicle pulling to one side when
braking could result in a serious
accident. Light braking will indicate
whether the brakes have been affected.
Waxing
Your vehicle needs to be waxed when
water no longer beads on the finish.
Always wash and dry the vehicle before
waxing it. In addition to the vehicle body,
wax the metal trim to maintain its luster.
1. Use wax which contains no abrasives.
Waxes containing abrasive will remove
paint and could damage bright metal
parts.
2. Use a good grade of natural wax for
metallic, mica, and solid colors.
3. When waxing, coat evenly with the
sponge supplied or a soft cloth.
4. Wipe off the wax with a soft cloth.
NOTE
A spot remover to remove oil, tar, and
similar materials will usually also take
off the wax. Rewax these areas even if
the rest of the vehicle doesn't need it.
qRepairing Damage to the Finish
Deep scratches or chips on the finish
should be repaired promptly. Exposed
metal quickly rusts and can lead to major
repairs.
CAUTION
If your Mazda is damaged and needs
metal parts repaired or replaced, make
sure the body shop applies anti-
corrosion materials to all parts, both
repaired and new. This will prevent
them from rusting.
qBright-Metal Maintenance
lUse tar remover to remove road tar and
insects. Never do this with a knife or
similar tool.
lTo prevent corrosion on bright-metal
surfaces, apply wax or chrome
preservative and rub it to a high luster.
lDuring cold weather or in coastal areas,
cover bright-metal parts with a coating
of wax or preservative heavier than
usual. It would also help to coat them
with noncorrosive petroleum jelly or
some other protective compound.
CAUTION
Don't use steel wool, abrasive cleaners,
or strong detergents containing highly
alkaline or caustic agents on chrome-
plated or anodized aluminum parts.
This may result in damage to the
protective coating and cause
discoloration or paint deterioration.
8-44
Maintenance and Care
Appearance Care
RX-8_8V89-EA-06F_Edition1 Page326
Friday, May 19 2006 9:53 AM
Form No.8V89-EA-06F
Black plate (328,1)
Interior Care
qDashboard Precautions
Prevent caustic solutions such as perfume
and cosmetic oils from contacting the
dashboard. They'll damage and discolor it.
If these solutions get on the dashboard,
wipe them off immediately.
CAUTION
Do not use glazing agents.
Glazing agents contain ingredients
which may cause discoloration,
wrinkling, cracks and peeling.
qCleaning the Upholstery and
Interior Trim
Vinyl
Remove dust and loose dirt from vinyl
with a whisk broom or vacuum cleaner.
Clean vinyl with a leather-and-vinyl
cleaner.
Leatherí
Real leather isn't uniform and may have
scars, scratches, and wrinkles. Clean it
with a leather cleaner or mild soap.
If the leather gets wet from rain, remove
the moisture as soon as possible and dry
in a shaded area.
If the seats get wet, promptly remove
moisture with a dry cloth and allow it to
further dry in a shaded area.
If moisture is not removed, it will cause
hardening and shrinkage of the leather.
Do not leave vinyl products on the seats
for long periods as they may affect the
leather quality and coloring.
Fabricí
Remove dust and loose dirt from fabric
with a whisk broom or vacuum cleaner.
Clean it with a mild soap solution good
for upholstery and carpets. Remove fresh
spots immediately with a fabric spot
cleaner.
To keep the fabric looking clean and
fresh, take care of it. Otherwise its color
will be affected, it can be stained easily,
and its fire-resistance may be reduced.
CAUTION
Use only recommended cleaners and
procedures. Others may affect
appearance and fire-resistance.
Suede-like materialí
Stains which are not treated immediately
will be difficult to remove later, and may
cause fading or discoloration.
Remove stains as soon as possible.
To clean,wipe with a soft, damp cloth.
Then buff with a soft, dry cloth.
If stains cannot be removed, using plain
water, try wiping with soapy water or a
mild detergent.
CAUTION
Don't clean the suede with leather
cleaner, a detergent, or soap. It will
cause discoloration.
To dry away any water,wipe with a soft,
dry cloth.
8-46
Maintenance and Care
íSome models.
Appearance Care
RX-8_8V89-EA-06F_Edition1 Page328
Friday, May 19 2006 9:53 AM
Form No.8V89-EA-06F
Black plate (329,1)
CAUTION
Sharp or pointed metal objects can
damage the suede beyond repair.
Piano black panel
The following parts are fitted with panels
that have been treated with a special
coating that resists scratching.
lCenter panel
lDoor switch panel
When the panel needs to be cleaned, use a
soft cloth to wipe off dirt from the surface.
NOTE
Scratches or nicks on the panels
resulting from the use of a hard brush or
cloth may not be repairable.
qCleaning the Lap/Shoulder Belt
Webbing
Clean the webbing with a mild soap
solution recommended for upholstery or
carpets. Follow instructions. Don't bleach
or dye the webbing; this may weaken it.
After cleaning the belts, thoroughly dry
the belt webbing and make sure there is
no remaining moisture before retracting
them.
WARNING
Have an Authorized Mazda Dealer
replace damaged seat belts
immediately:
Using damaged seat belts is
dangerous. In a collision, damaged
belts cannot provide adequate
protection.
qCleaning the Window Interiors
If the windows become covered with an
oily, greasy, or waxy film, clean them
with glass cleaner. Follow the directions
on the container.
CAUTION
lDon't scrape or scratch the inside of
the rear window. You may damage
the rear window defroster grid.
lWhen washing the inside rear
window, use a soft cloth dampened
in lukewarm water, gently wiping
the antenna lines.
Use of glass cleaning products could
damage the antenna.
Maintenance and Care
Appearance Care
8-47
RX-8_8V89-EA-06F_Edition1 Page329
Friday, May 19 2006 9:53 AM
Form No.8V89-EA-06F
Black plate (374,1)
Specifications
qEngine
Item Model
Type Rotary engine
Displacement 654 ml × 2 (654 cc × 2, 40.0 cu in × 2)
Compression ratio 10.0
qElectrical System
Item Classification
Battery 12V-52AH/5HR
Spark-plug numberTrailing side N3Y1 18 110, N3H1 18 110C
*1
Leading side N3Y8 18 110, N3Y9 18 110, N3H5 18 110*1
Spark-plug gap 1.15―1.25 mm (0.046―0.049 in)
*1 ex factory
CAUTION
When cleaning the iridium plugs, do not use a wire brush. The fine particulate coating on
the iridium alloy and platinum tips could be damaged.
qLubricant Quality
Lubricant Classification
Engine oil Refer to the recommended SAE viscosity numbers on page 8-12.
Manual transmission oil API Service GL-4 (SAE 75W-90)
Automatic transmission fluid JWS3309
Rear differential oilAPI Service GL-5 (SAE 90)
API Service GL-5 (SAE 80W-90)
API Service GL-5 (SAE 75W-90)
*
Brake/Clutch fluid SAE J1703 or FMVSS116 DOT-3
* Not available from Mazda
10-4
Specifications
RX-8_8V89-EA-06F_Edition1 Page374
Friday, May 19 2006 9:53 AM
Form No.8V89-EA-06F
Black plate (375,1)
qCapacities
(Approximate Quantities)
Item Capacity
Engine oilWith oil filter replacement 3.5 L (3.7 US qt, 3.1 Imp qt)
Without oil filter replacement 3.3 L (3.5 US qt, 2.9 Imp qt)
Coolant 9.8 L (10.4 US qt, 8.6 Imp qt)
Manual transmission oil 1.75 L (1.85 US qt, 1.54 Imp qt)
Automatic transmission fluid 7.9 L (8.4 US qt, 7.0 Imp qt)
Rear differential oil 1.3 L (1.4 US qt, 1.1 Imp qt)
Fuel tank 60 L (15.9 US gal, 13.2 Imp gal)
Check oil and fluid levels with dipsticks or reservoir gauges.
qDimensions
Item Model
Overall length 4,425 mm (174.2 in), 4,430 mm*(174.4 in)
Overall width 1,770 mm (69.7 in)
Overall height 1,340 mm (52.8 in)
Front tread 1,500 mm (59.1 in)
Rear tread 1,505 mm (59.3 in)
Wheelbase 2,700 mm (106.3 in)
*With license plate holder
qWeights
ItemWeight
Manual transmission Automatic transmission
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) 1,728 kg (3,810 lbs) 1,748 kg (3,854 lbs)
GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating)Front 827 kg (1,823 lbs) 844 kg (1,861 lbs)
Rear 901 kg (1,986 lbs) 907 kg (2,000 lbs)
CW (Curb Weight)U.S.A. 1,381 kg (3,045 lbs) 1,395 kg (3,075 lbs)
Canada 1,389 kg (3,062 lbs) 1,404 kg (3,095 lbs)
qAir Conditioner
Gas complies with SAE J639 Maximum operating charge
HFC134a (R-134a) 0.42 kg (14.8 oz)
Specifications
10-5
RX-8_8V89-EA-06F_Edition1 Page375
Friday, May 19 2006 9:53 AM
Form No.8V89-EA-06F
Black plate (381,1)
C
Child Restraint
Child restraint precautions ......... 2-19
Installing child-restraint
systems ....................................... 2-23
LATCH child-restraint
systems ....................................... 2-29
Cigarette Lighter ............................... 6-48
Climate Control System ...................... 6-2
Gas specifications ...................... 10-5
Clock ................................................. 6-47
Coin Box ........................................... 6-51
Courtesy Lights ................................. 6-45
Cruise Control ................................... 5-19
Cup Holder ........................................ 6-50
Customer Assistance ........................... 9-2
D
Dashboard Illumination .................... 5-38
Daytime Running Lights ................... 5-56
Defroster
Rear window .............................. 5-60
Dimensions ....................................... 10-5
Door Locks ....................................... 3-28
Driving In Flooded Area ................... 4-11
Driving Tips ........................................ 4-7
Automatic transmission .............. 5-18
Break-in period ............................ 4-7
Driving in flooded area .............. 4-11
Hazardous driving ........................ 4-8
Money-saving suggestions ........... 4-7
Rocking the vehicle ...................... 4-9
Winter driving .............................. 4-9
Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) ..... 5-24
DSC OFF indicator light ............ 5-25
DSC OFF switch ........................ 5-26
TCS/DSC Indicator light ............ 5-24
E
Emergency Starting ........................... 7-20
Jump-starting .............................. 7-21
Push-starting .............................. 7-24
Emergency Towing ........................... 7-25
Emission Control System .................... 4-4
Engine
Coolant ....................................... 8-14
Exhaust gas .................................. 4-5
Hood release .............................. 3-42
Oil .............................................. 8-12
Overheating ................................ 7-18
Starting ......................................... 5-4
Engine Compartment Overview ........ 8-11
Engine Coolant
Overheating ................................ 7-18
Engine Coolant Temperature
Gauge ................................................ 5-36
Exhaust Gas ........................................ 4-5
Exterior Care ..................................... 8-43
F
Flasher
Hazard warning .......................... 5-62
Headlights .................................. 5-55
Flat Tire ............................................... 7-3
Changing .................................... 7-12
Instant Mobility System
(IMS) Emergency Flat Tire Repair
Kit ................................................ 7-5
Spare tire and tool storage ............ 7-3
Fluids
Classification .............................. 10-4
Owner maintenance ..................... 8-8
Fog Lights ......................................... 5-57
Foot Brake .......................................... 5-5
Front Seats
(Electrically Operated Seats) ............... 2-5
Index
11-3
RX-8_8V89-EA-06F_Edition1 Page381
Friday, May 19 2006 9:53 AM
Form No.8V89-EA-06F
Black plate (385,1)
W
Warning Lights ................................. 5-39
ABS ............................................ 5-41
Air bag system ........................... 5-44
Automatic transmission .............. 5-46
Brake system .............................. 5-41
Charging system ......................... 5-42
Check engine .............................. 5-44
Door-ajar .................................... 5-46
Engine coolant level ................... 5-43
Engine oil level .......................... 5-43
Front seat belt pretensioner
system ........................................ 5-44
KEY Warning Light
(Red)/KEY Indicator Light
(Green) ....................................... 5-48
Low fuel ..................................... 5-45
Low washer fluid level ............... 5-46
seat belt ...................................... 5-45
Tire pressure monitoring
system ........................................ 5-46
Warranty .............................................. 9-9
Washer Fluid ..................................... 8-17
Weights ............................................. 10-5
Wheel Replacement .......................... 8-28
Windows
Power windows .......................... 3-37
Rear quarter windows ................ 3-39
Windshield Washer ........................... 5-59
Windshield Wipers ............................ 5-58
Blades replacement .................... 8-19
Winter Driving .................................... 4-9
Index
11-7
RX-8_8V89-EA-06F_Edition1 Page385
Friday, May 19 2006 9:53 AM
Form No.8V89-EA-06F