Apex seal opinions
#1
Registered
Thread Starter
Apex seal opinions
I'm having a local (but well trained) rotary mechanic rebuild my 2004 rx8 6 port. He says he is going to use a few aftermarket parts. One that has me worried are the Goopy brand apex seals. I'm not looking for power, just looking for a daily driver car, valuing reliability. How long would these last me not hot rodding the car too much and should i steer away from this brand?
#4
SARX Legend
iTrader: (46)
Worse case scenario the engine won't start and it will have to be pulled and rebuilt again. Could it work out fine? Yes, it could. It all depends on how skilled your rebuilder is with rebuilding Renesis engines (doesn't matter how many older rotaries he has rebuilt). Most reputable builders recommend the use of OEM seals. But you should post his name here, if there is nothing know about him in the RX-8 world then you should probably find a reputable builder that is experienced in rebuilding the Renesis.
My buddy got brand new seals from Atkins that were warped due to a manufacturing defect, it wasn't caught until the engine didn't start and then was pulled apart again. He never thought to spec a brand new seal, hard lesson learned when buying seals from mom and pop shops with very little QC.
Also read this guys story, he was in denial. But in the end it was bad decisions made during the rebuild process.
https://www.rx8club.com/new-member-f...ebuild-265092/
and then:
https://www.rx8club.com/new-member-f...groove-265532/
My buddy got brand new seals from Atkins that were warped due to a manufacturing defect, it wasn't caught until the engine didn't start and then was pulled apart again. He never thought to spec a brand new seal, hard lesson learned when buying seals from mom and pop shops with very little QC.
Also read this guys story, he was in denial. But in the end it was bad decisions made during the rebuild process.
https://www.rx8club.com/new-member-f...ebuild-265092/
and then:
https://www.rx8club.com/new-member-f...groove-265532/
Last edited by 9krpmrx8; 06-19-2017 at 05:26 PM.
#5
Registered
Thread Starter
Ok thanks, I really value your opinion. So as long as it starts and he hasn't done anything crazy wrong with the rebuild, I should see a bit less than OEM lifetime correct?
#8
Modulated Moderator
iTrader: (3)
There are no aftermarket seals that will last longer ( and not screw up the housings anyway) than OEM Mazda ones. Mazda has spent Toms of money and has a lot of engineering into there seals
For an NA engine there isn't anything better except Ianetti ceramic seals....and you don't want to ask how much they cost 😎
For a FI engine build you have to look at other things that could kill the engine and make decisions on seals. Sometimes the aftermarket ones work well for that application where detonation strength is worth the risk of the downsides
For an NA engine there isn't anything better except Ianetti ceramic seals....and you don't want to ask how much they cost 😎
For a FI engine build you have to look at other things that could kill the engine and make decisions on seals. Sometimes the aftermarket ones work well for that application where detonation strength is worth the risk of the downsides
#17
Smoking turbo yay
Like everyone said, they are supposedly very good but will cost you an arm and a leg.
Also, not sure how true this is, but I read that ceramic seals are superior in a lot of ways than the OEM steel ones(they will work well even when there is little lubrication). The only downside is that they are more prone to detonations(a bigger issue for the FI crowd), as they can shatter.
Also, not sure how true this is, but I read that ceramic seals are superior in a lot of ways than the OEM steel ones(they will work well even when there is little lubrication). The only downside is that they are more prone to detonations(a bigger issue for the FI crowd), as they can shatter.
#18
SARX Legend
iTrader: (46)
Yes, yes I am. It is literally run by a mom and pop. As for them knowing rotaries, I would say they do, but I would never let them rebuild any of my engines. My buddy was told that Mr. Atkins himself checked every seal himself and so there was no way it left the way it did. The engine was pulled, the faulty (scalloped) apex seals were identified, and they were replaced with OEM seals and the engine has been running for several years now.
#19
FULLY SEMI AUTOMATIC
iTrader: (9)
i dont see the big deal here, just replace the apex seals through the spark plugs holes when you change your oil like most people here do
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Reoze (06-20-2017)