What about the rev limiter?

its not normal for it to get to 8,000 on that engine. It shouldnt vary that much! My D16Z varried about 100 RPM depending on how fast and hard I hit it. In first gear I could hit it pretty hard and it would hit about 7300. Most of the time all the other gears hit it about 7200. Ohh BTW if yours is a 5th gen ECU I think the revlimiter cuts fuel and not ignition. Not a very good way to limit the engine. I wouldnt hit it too much if I were u. It runs the engine lean. Thats how I blew my 150,000 mile D15 up that was previously in the car.