2008 MAZDA MODEL RX 8 differential

Black plate (152,1)
qDSC OFF Switch
Press the DSC OFF switch to turn off the
TCS/DSC. The DSC OFF indicator light
will illuminate.
Press the switch again to turn the TCS/
DSC back on. The DSC OFF indicator
light will go out. NOTE
lWhen DSC is on and you attempt to free the
vehicle when it is stuck, or drive it out of
freshly fallen snow, the TCS (part of the
DSC system) will activate. Depressing the
accelerator will not increase engine power
and freeing the vehicle may be difficult.
When this happens, turn off the TCS/DSC.
lIf the TCS/DSC is off when the engine is
turned off, it automatically activates when
the ignition switch is turned on.
lLeaving the TCS/DSC on will provide the
best stability. When the TCS/DSC is off, the
TCS/DSC does not activate but the brake
LSD (Limited Slip Differentials) function
remains.
lIf the DSC OFF switch is pressed and held
for a second or more, the TCS/DSC system
may become inoperative due to the system
detecting switch trouble. If the TCS/DSC
system becomes inoperative, the TCS/DSC
and the DSC OFF indicator lights
illuminate simultaneously. In this case, turn
off the engine and restart it to restore the
TCS/DSC.
5-26
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
RX-8_8X44-EA-07G_Edition1 Page152
Friday, May 11 2007 5:3 PM
Form No.8X44-EA-07G

Black plate (249,1)
CAUTION
ØWhen using the temporary spare
tire, driving stability may decrease
compared to when using only the
conventional tire.
Drive carefully.
Ø To avoid damage to the temporary
spare tire or to the vehicle, observe
the following precautions:
ØDo not exceed 80 km/h (50
mph).
ØAvoid driving over obstacles.
Also, do not drive through an
automatic car wash. This tire's
diameter is smaller than a
conventional tire's, so the
ground clearance is reduced
about 25 mm (1 in).
ØDo not use a tire chain on this
tire because it won't fit
properly.
ØDo not use your temporary
spare tire on any other vehicle;
it has been designed only for
your Mazda.
ØUse only one temporary spare
tire on your vehicle at the same
time.
(With limited slip differential)
When using the temporary spare tire
on the rear axle, replace it with a
standard tire as soon as possible. The
size difference between the spare and
the standard tire will cause the
limited slip differential to
malfunction.
NOTE
(With Tire Pressure Monitoring System)
A tire pressure sensor is not installed to the
temporary spare tire. The warning light will
flash continuously while the temporary spare
tire is being used (page 5-28).
Instant Mobility System
(IMS) Emergency Flat
Tire Repair Kit
The IMS emergency flat tire repair kit
included with your Mazda is for a
temporary repair of a slightly damaged
flat tire resulting from running over nails
or similar sharp objects on the road
surface.
NOTE
Your vehicle is not equipped with a spare tire.
In the event of a flat tire, use the emergency
flat tire repair kit to repair the tire temporarily.
When doing the repair, refer to the instructions
included in the emergency flat tire repair kit.
After temporarily repairing a tire with the
emergency flat tire repair kit, take your vehicle
to an Authorized Mazda Dealer to have the tire
replaced.
In Case of an Emergency
Flat Tire
7-5
RX-8_8X44-EA-07G_Edition1 Page249
Friday, May 11 2007 5:4 PM
Form No.8X44-EA-07G

Black plate (274,1)
qSchedule 1
Maintenance Interval Number of months or kilometers (miles), whichever comes first
Months 6 12 18 24 30 36 42 48
×1000 km 12 24 36 48 60 72 84 96
×1000 miles 7.5 15 22.5 30 37.5 45 52.5 60
ENGINE
Engine oil RRRRRRRR
Engine oil filter RRRRRRRR
Drive belt II
AIR FILTER
Air filter CC R C
IGNITION SYSTEM
Spark plugs R
FUEL SYSTEM
Fuel filter Replace every 160,000 km (100,000 miles)
Fuel lines, hoses and connections
*1II
COOLING SYSTEM
Cooling system I I
Engine coolant FL22 type
*2Replace at first 192,000 km (120,000 miles) or 10 years; after
that, every 96,000 km (60,000 miles) or 5 years
Others Replace at first 96,000 km (60,000 miles) or 4 years; after that,
every 2 years
CHASSIS AND BODY
Brake lines, hoses and connections I I
Disc brakes IIII
Tire (Rotation) Rotate every 12,000 km (7,500 miles)
Steering operation and linkages I I
Front and rear suspension, ball joints and wheel
bearing axial play II
Manual transmission oil R
Rear differential oil R
Driveshaft dust boots II
Exhaust system and heat shields Inspect every 72,000 km (45,000 miles) or 5 years
All locks and hinges LLLLLLLL
Bolts and nuts on chassis and body TT
Flat tire repair kit
*3Inspect every year
8-4
Maintenance and Care
Scheduled Maintenance
RX-8_8X44-EA-07G_Edition1 Page274
Friday, May 11 2007 5:5 PM
Form No.8X44-EA-07G

Black plate (277,1)
Maintenance IntervalNumber of months or kilometers (miles), whichever comes first
Months 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32 36 40 44 48
×1000 km 8 16 24 32 40 48 56 64 72 80 88 96
×1000 miles 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60
CHASSIS AND BODY
Brake lines, hoses and connections II
Brake and clutch fluid level IIIII IIIII
Brake fluid RR
Disc brakes IIII
Tire (Rotation) Rotate every 8,000 km (5,000 miles)
Tire inflation pressure and tire wear IIIIIIIIIIII
Steering operation and linkages II
Front and rear suspension, ball joints and wheel
bearing axial play II
Manual transmission oil RR
Rear differential oil RR
Driveshaft dust boots II
Exhaust system and heat shields Inspect every 72,000 km (45,000 miles) or 5 years
All locks and hinges LLLLLLLLLLLL
Washer fluid level IIIIIIIIIIII
Bolts and nuts on chassis and body TT
Flat tire repair kit
*3Inspect every year
AIR CONDITIONER SYSTEM
Cabin air filter Replace every 40,000 km (25,000 miles) or 2 years
Chart symbols:
I:Inspect: Inspect and clean, repair, adjust, or replace if necessary.
R: Replace
L: Lubricate
C: Clean
T : Tighten
Remarks:
*1 According to state/provincial and federal regulations, failure to perform maintenance on these items will not
void your emissions warranties. However, Mazda recommends that all maintenance services be performed at
the recommended time or mileage/kilometer period to ensure long-term reliability.
*2 Use FL22 type coolant in vehicles with the inscription “FL22 ”on the radiator cap itself or the surrounding
area. Use FL22 when replacing the coolant.
*3 Check the tire repair fluid expiration date every year when performing the periodic maintenance. Replace the tire repair fluid bottle with new one before the expiration date.
Maintenance and Care
Scheduled Maintenance
8-7
RX-8_8X44-EA-07G_Edition1 Page277
Friday, May 11 2007 5:5 PM
Form No.8X44-EA-07G

Black plate (294,1)
Forward
Also, inspect them for uneven wear and
damage. Abnormal wear is usually caused
by one or a combination of the following:
lIncorrect tire pressurelImproper wheel alignmentlOut-of-balance wheellSevere braking
After rotation, inflate all tire pressures to
specification (page 10-6) and inspect the
lug nuts for tightness.
CAUTION
Rotate unidirectional tires and radial
tires that have an asymmetrical tread
pattern or studs only from front to
rear, not from side to side. Tire
performance will be weakened if
rotated from side to side.
CAUTION
Limited-Slip Differential system;
don't use the following:
Ø Tires not of the designated size
Ø Tires of different sizes or types at
the same time
Ø Tires not sufficiently inflated
If these instructions aren't followed,
the rotation of the left and right
wheels will be different and will thus
apply a constant load on the limited-
slip differential.
This will cause a malfunction.
q Replacing a Tire
WARNING
Always use tires that are in good
condition:
Driving with worn tires is dangerous.
Reduced braking, steering, and
traction could result in an accident.
CAUTION
(With Tire Pressure Monitoring
System)
When replacing/repairing the tires or
wheels or both, have the work done
by an Authorized Mazda Dealer, or
the tire pressure sensors may be
damaged.
8-24
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
RX-8_8X44-EA-07G_Edition1 Page294
Friday, May 11 2007 5:5 PM
Form No.8X44-EA-07G

Black plate (296,1)
NOTE
Tires degrade over time, even when they are
not being used on the road. It is recommended
that tires generally be replaced when they are
6 years or older. Heat caused by hot climates
or frequent high loading conditions can
accelerate the aging process. You should
replace the spare tire when you replace the
other road tires due to the aging of the spare
tire. Regarding the manufacturing week and
year is indicated with 4 digit.
Refer to The tire labeling on page 9-18.
qReplacing a Wheel
WARNING
Always use wheels of the correct size
on your vehicle:
Using a wrong-sized wheel is
dangerous. Braking and handling
could be affected, leading to loss of
control and an accident.
CAUTION
ØA wrong-sized wheel may
adversely affect:
ØTire fit
ØWheel and bearing life
ØGround clearance
ØSnow-chain clearance
ØSpeedometer calibration
ØHeadlight aim
ØBumper height
ØTire Pressure Monitoring
System
ØLimited-Slip Differential System
Ø (With Tire Pressure Monitoring
System)
ØWhen replacing/repairing the
tires or wheels or both, have the
work done by an Authorized
Mazda Dealer, or the tire
pressure sensors may be
damaged.
ØThe wheels equipped on your
Mazda are specially designed
for installation of the tire
pressure sensors. Do not use
non-genuine wheels, otherwise
it may not be possible to install
the tire pressure sensors.
NOTE
Be sure to install the tire pressure sensors
whenever tires or wheels are replaced. Refer to
Tires and Wheels on page 5-31.
When replacing a wheel, make sure the
new one is the same as the original factory
wheel in diameter, rim width, and offset.
Proper tire balancing provides the best
riding comfort and helps reduce tread
wear. Out-of-balance tires can cause
vibration and uneven wear, such as
cupping and flat spots.
8-26
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
RX-8_8X44-EA-07G_Edition1 Page296
Friday, May 11 2007 5:5 PM
Form No.8X44-EA-07G

Black plate (344,1)
CAUTION
Rotate unidirectional tires and radial tires that have an asymmetrical tread pattern
or studs only from front to rear, not from side to side. Tire performance will be
weakened if rotated from side to side.
(With limited-slip differential)
Don't use the following:
ØTires not of the designated size
Ø Tires of different sizes or types at the same time
Ø Tires not sufficiently inflated
If these instructions aren't followed, the rotation of the left and right wheels will be
different and will thus apply a constant load on the limited-slip differential.
This will cause a malfunction.
q Replacing a Tire
WARNING
Always use tires that are in good condition:
Driving with worn tires is dangerous. Reduced braking, steering, and traction could
result in an accident.
If a tire wears evenly, a wear indicator will appear as a solid band across the tread. Replace
the tire when this happens.
New tread Tread wear indicator
Worn tread
You should replace it before the band is across the entire tread.
NOTE
Tires degrade over time, even when they are not being used on the road. It is recommended that tires
generally be replaced when they are 6 years or older. Heat caused by hot climates or frequent high
loading conditions can accelerate the aging process. You should replace the spare tire when you
replace the other road tires due to the aging of the spare tire. Regarding the manufacturing week and
year is indicated with 4 digit. Refer to The tire labeling on page 9-18.
9-28
Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects
Tire Information (U.S.A.)
RX-8_8X44-EA-07G_Edition1 Page344
Friday, May 11 2007 5:5 PM
Form No.8X44-EA-07G

Black plate (362,1)
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 number Trailing side
N3Y1 18 110A, N3H1 18 110D
*1
Leading sideN3Y8 18 110A, N3Y9 18 110A, N3H5 18 110A*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.
q Lubricant Quality
Lubricant Classification
Engine oil Refer to the recommended SAE viscosity numbers on page 8-11.
Manual transmission oil API Service GL-4 (SAE 75W-90)
Automatic transmission fluid JWS3309
Rear differential oil API 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_8X44-EA-07G_Edition1 Page362
Friday, May 11 2007 5:5 PM
Form No.8X44-EA-07G