Why a rebuild after 60-80K?

[conehead]

Why do rotary engines need a rebuild every 60-80K?
How much does this cost on average?

Cheers,

Ciaran.

[Fish]

Ciaran, cant offer any explanation. Normally Asp. rotary's seem to last a lot longer, some have been reported with circa 150k miles on the clock before rebuild time.

IMHO I think it is down to the extra pressure put on the seals via the turbo's. But I could well be wrong.

Dan

[maximtaylor]

Not only that, but many seem to get water seal problems well before compression goes. This also means a rebuild :(

I think these two causes count for most of the rebuilds.

Regards

Max

[t2rew]

AS ENGINES GO ITS A GREAT LITTLE THING you have to remember that your getting a lot of bhp per litre so its inevitable something will give up sooner rather than later. on the plus side a compleate engine rebuild is usualy cheaper than on other big hp engines

[clive]

Originally posted by Fish
Ciaran, cant offer any explanation. Normally Asp. rotary's seem to last a lot longer, some have been reported with circa 150k miles on the clock before rebuild time.

IMHO I think it is down to the extra pressure put on the seals via the turbo's. But I could well be wrong.

Dan

Longest running Gen3 engine that l know of is a chap in California with TWO HUNDRED AND THIRTY THOUSAND MILES !!!!!



All the best Clive
clive@mazdarotaryclub.com
www.mazdarotaryclub.com

[conehead]

Thanks for the replies...it's just that I've little experience of rotary cars, so, I was trying to get some idea of the running costs of the RX8 I've ordered. If I can plan when the bills are due then it takes some of the sting out of'em (much as I like cars & driving, I don't want them to make me a pauper).

So, could anyone enlighten me as to the likely running costs. Is it the same sort of maintenance schedule as a 4-pot'er. For example, my current Civic Type R has an oil & filter change every 6K (£75), a minor service every 12K (£150), an medium service every 36K (£350) and a major service (e.g. cam belt etc...) every 60K (£500???).

Cheers,

Ciaran.

[Iwan]

well the RX-8 is another thing.

The big problem on 13B are the O-Rings. They are not so many problems with apex seals, except you are going for higher boost, or big turbos.

The RX-8 engine will solve the problem with O-rings. Them will be now in aluminum rotorhousing instead on cast iron plates like on 1-gen RX-7.

I've heard, that the RX-8 will come with ceramic apex seals. If its realy truth, the engine will be able easely go over 300k miles.

Iwan

[bnaellis]

I think in spite of rebuilds the rx7 works out the cheaper option than other cars in it's class, like gto's, 300zx, skylines etc etc
I am certain I could not drive alot of Jap sports cars the way I drive my rx7 for 60-80k without having huge cost for faults, whether it be new head gasket, camshaft cylinder head. piston rings, conrods, crankshaft the list can go on and on, and these cars are not cheap to repair. Yes the rx7 does need a rebuild somewhere around 70k mark but for my money it can suffer being thrashed with no side effects like very few jap sports cars could manage to do for 60-80k. An idea of how hard I push my rx7 I am on my 4th set of brake pads in just over 10,000 miles I currently have 36,000 miles on the clock and can happily thrash it for about another 30,000 before I need to consider any major outlay on it.
I dare someone in a jap piston engined car to do the same for 60-80k without spending alot mor ethan 2.5k as we would for a rebuild on a rotary engine.
May the jury rise;)

rgds

[richrx]

no bother, if you could just buy me one first- so i could prove you right of course:D

[Trappy]

I've read sooo many times that an RX7 needs an engine rebuild because of *****. What actually happens from the drivers point of view. Will the car gradually lose power and efficiency or will it go bang and thats it? Also if the engine did go to pot would driving it continuously do any harm to the rest of the car. Surely you could keep plowing on (smoking like a chimney) until you've got the money to fix it! If your enfgine is screwed and you're gonna get a new one who cares if it falls apart?

[Fish]

Normally it just starts becoming a pain to start, or you will know that there is something wrong when you drive it.

Dan