What is the Apex seal?
 

Hi guys and gals,

Been reading about the Apex seal, I am told this should be changed after a while. My question is, what is the apex seal? And how long before I need to change it.

Lastly, been told the beloved rotary engine doesnt last long, around 100,000km. I guess no one has reached that stage yet. My question, is this true?

Curious.

Tubbs

I wouldn't even bother to flame you, here you go http://www.rotaryengineillustrated.com/

Cool thanks....

You may flame if you wish, just wanted to learn a bit more abt these engines. I am new to them!

Tks.
tubbs

APex seal change - after a while??? so long as u use the correct oil, there shldnt be any change "after a awhile". Whoever told u dat DO NOT know rotary engine.

Rotary engine dun last long - Myth again. if it only last 100,000km, we can throw the car away. Again, its all up to the maintenance of the car. If engine oil dun change, regular maintenance dun do, even normal piston engine car oso cun last 100,000km.

Hope this clears ur doubts.

Coupe07,

Everytime I see the illustration of the rotary engine, it shows 1 chamber thru the 3 process of intake, ignite, exhaust. But in actual fact, all 3 chambers of the rotor is at work right? Just wanna confirm my belief that they use 1 chamber for ease of explaining. Thanks.


Sorry to hijack this thread. :)

our engine is 2 rotors, so 2 "chambers" if that's wat it is called. When engine is running, the 2 rotors are turning. Yup, 1 chamber is for illustration purpose since the 2nd one does the same thing at different timing.

2 rotors = 13B. 3 rotors = 20B.

Sorry, mabbe I never ask correctly. What I mean was, per rotor there is 3 err... "space"/chamber. So if 1 was drawing air, the other will be at ignite stage and the last at exhaust stage. Right? Or only 1 side of the rotor(triangle) is used?

i tink this shld answer ur question.

http://www.rotaryengineillustrated.c...imation-4.html

I seen this. Like all animation, it only shows 1 side of the rotor being used. Does that mean the other 2 sides are not in used or they omit showing it, so as not to confuse viewers. As a rotor has 3 sides, while 1 side of the rotor is igniting, are the other 2 sides releasing exhaust and drawing intake?

Yup. the combustion is always in the chamber where the spark plugs are.

Yes, Silver_Z... All 3 sides of the roter are working simultaneously. While 1 side is in the intake/compression phase, 1 side is in the combustion phase and the other 1 side is in the exhaust phase all at the SAME TIME.

Naturally for ease of explaination in the animation, the phases are broken down and explained one phase at a time, but all 3 phases happen at the same time in different 'chambers' or sides of the rotor.

Since you are interested in reliability, search the forum for premix and don't miss any rotarygod's tech threads.

100,000 km is 62k miles?

I just passed 60k miles yesterday.

Great info. guys!!!!

The onl reason why I asked was because I had friends telling me the previous Rx-7 generation had problems with their engines, they were breaking down prematurely.

Glad to know the newer ones are better.... with proper maintenance of course.

Thanks!!

Tubbs

The rx7 is not problematic. It appears problematic bcos there are no proper workshop to handle the engine....

Thx for the confirmation.