2008 Mazda RX-8 Owner's Manual - Page 117

Before Driving Your Mazda Fuel and Engine Exhaust Precautions Emission Control System Your vehicle is equipped with an emission control system (the catalytic converter is part of this system) that enables your vehicle to comply with existing exhaust emissions requirements. WARNING Never park over or near anything flammable: Parking over or near anything flammable, such as dry grass, is dangerous. Even with the engine turned off, the exhaust system remains very hot after normal use and could ignite anything flammable. A resulting fire could cause serious injury or death. CAUTION Ignoring the following precautions could cause lead to accumulate on the catalyst inside the converter or cause the converter to get very hot. Either condition will damage the converter and cause poor performance. Ø USE ONLY UNLEADED FUEL. Ø Don't drive your Mazda with any sign of engine malfunction. Ø Don't coast with the ignition switch turned off. Ø Don't descend steep grades in gear with the ignition switch turned off. Ø Don't operate the engine at high idle for more than 2 minutes. Ø Don't tamper with the emission control system. All inspections and adjustments must be made by a qualified technician. Ø Don't push-start or pull-start your vehicle. NOTE Under U.S. federal law, any modification to the original-equipment emission control system before the first sale and registration of a vehicle is subject to penalties. In some states, such modification made on a used vehicle is also subject to penalties. NOTE While the engine is off, the sound of a valve opening and closing can be heard from inside and outside of the cabin interior, however this does not indicate an abnormality. Your vehicle has a selfchecking device and it operates while the engine is off. 4-3