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OT,Rotory engine

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Butcher

12-21-2005 09:40:13

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I was just wondering if anyone was still making the Wankle rotory engines. I used to have a 72 Mazda rx2 with one in it. That little car sure had alot of zip.

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Jon Holt

12-24-2005 22:09:21

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Re: OT,Rotory engine in reply to Butcher, 12-21-2005 09:40:13

The new RX-8 has the rotary engine in it. I work for a Mazda dealer and there is one major problem that these motors have. Flooding. If you don"t know how to drive them, you will probably be spending a lot of time at the dealer or local garage deflooding the car. Mazda is having a big problem right now with RX-8 flooding.

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Hal/WA

12-23-2005 14:08:48

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Re: OT,Rotory engine in reply to Butcher, 12-21-2005 09:40:13

A friend of mine had an RX-2 about that time. The first time he brought it over to show it to me was the first time I ever saw a Wankel engine. We then went for a ride--130+ with 4 fair sized guys in it. Needless to say we were impressed..... however: it got about 14 miles per gallon and the apex seals went out before 30K. Mazda fixed the engine on warranty and it did it again within 10K more. My friend got rid of it and took a huge loss.

Mazda apparently learned quite a bit about the Wankels, and by the time the RX-7s came out, the durability problems were pretty much taken care of. Other refinements, like fuel injection have made the rotaries more fuel efficient and powerful. I know a guy whose sideline is rebuilding and fixing RX-7s. It has become an almost full-time job for him and he seems to be making quite a bit of money.

I have always thought that a late rotary engine would be a great thing to put in a very light, small car to make a hot rod out of it. The actual engine and transmission package is very small and would probably fit many engine compartments. Maybe a Sprite or MG Midget. Or maybe a Chevy Chevette? I bet it would be a fun combination to play with.

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james in ca.

12-21-2005 18:49:20

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Re: OT,Rotory engine in reply to Butcher, 12-21-2005 09:40:13

Poor fuel economy? Show me cars that have 280 hp can do 0-60 in about 5 seconds goes 130+ and gets 25 mpg! Not to mention an almost perfect 49/51 weight ratio.(3 gen cars)

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RayP(MI)

12-21-2005 15:52:31

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Re: OT,Rotory engine in reply to Butcher, 12-21-2005 09:40:13

As I remember, they had a lot of problems with seals on that unusual shaped combustion chamber and rotor. Think this may be what led to the loss of interest by major manufacturers. May have been emissions problems too. Guaranteed to destroy a promising technology!

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Davis in SC

12-21-2005 14:10:25

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Re: OT,Rotory engine in reply to Butcher, 12-21-2005 09:40:13

The new RX-8 is claimed to be a great car. I had an 83 RX-7, Great lil car, but I only got only 16-18 MPG... It would zip up close to 120 MPH in a hurry. From my understanding, the fleet fuel economy rules really hurt the chance for widespread use of Wankel engines... If I remember correctly, Suzuki made a motorcycle with a rotary, but several came apart at high RPM, so they stopped making them... I would not want to be straddling an engine that started throwing shrapnel, LOL...

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jdemaris

12-21-2005 13:39:03

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Re: OT,Rotory engine in reply to Butcher, 12-21-2005 09:40:13

I've still got two of the older RX7s. Mazda is still using the engines but they've been improved quite a bit.
Deere never found a good use for the engine and there were complications with fuel-efficiency and oil consumption. Another poster mentioned good fuel efficiency - but in my experience that is one thing they were NOT noted for. Fun to drive - yes - they have an amazing torque curve - runs kind of like an electric motor. My 1985 2 rotor 1.1 liter RX7 gets around 22 MPG at its best on the highway. My son has an 97 RX7 with the 1.3 liter rotary and he can get up to 24 MPG. That's pretty poor fuel mileage for such a tiny car. My 1979 Datsun 280ZX 2+2 with the 2.8 six-cylinder engine can get 26 MPG and it's a much heavier car. They are fun little cars, though. The new 2006 Mazda RX-8 still has a 1.3 litre 2-rotor engine and is rated at 25 MPG which is still not very good mileage when compared to other cars of the same size class and horsepower. Can't say I ever drove a new one, though.

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hay

12-21-2005 12:17:39

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Re: OT,Rotory engine in reply to Butcher, 12-21-2005 09:40:13

seems to me from what i read and learned about the Wankel engine is that it had a great amount of potential. light weight, compact design, low emissions, and good fuel mileage. with all that going for it why did it not make it into the major autos ( Ford, GM, Chrysler)?

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BushogPapa

12-21-2005 11:03:22

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Re: OT,Rotory engine in reply to Butcher, 12-21-2005 09:40:13

I think I saw that Mazda still has a High Performance car offered that has the Wankel in it..

Ron..

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Mike M

12-21-2005 09:58:11

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Re: OT,Rotory engine in reply to Butcher, 12-21-2005 09:40:13

I think I still have a brochure from John Deere around 1987 where they were going to make them.I think JD owns the patent now. I don't know if it ever panned out. The military may use them ?

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12-21-2005 09:56:55

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Re: OT,Rotory engine in reply to Butcher, 12-21-2005 09:40:13

Couple articles past years- Mazda had new model for US market EPA certified most states except California, Kawasaki jetski had Wankel engine, NSU sedan for continental (but not USA) market, Norton motorcycle in England had police bike with very fast acceleration noted. Light plane engine noted also-NSU? Engine still around for some uses, some emissions and fuel economyy problems years back, seems to have been improved some. RN

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