Hi,
i bought a 2004 RX8 with an engine that would not start due to low compression in July.
I removed the engine and yesterday disassembled it.
It was getting late and wife impatient so I put all the seals together thinking I'll change them anyways.
Now after seeing the price of a kit that includes side seals, I am thinking that I will change only the apex seals and measure the side seals. The question is, since I did not note where the side seals came from and if they are in spec, can I install them anywhere if clearences are OK?

I am waiting on my Mazdatrix video that I ordered today but since I live in Canada it might take a while.

 

Put them back in there, I don't think it will matter one way or the other.

If you cant afford side seals then you might want to cut your losses now.

 

Thanks for the reply,
​​​​Yes, that is one option that I might consider if after inspecting all parts the price of the parts gets over the limit.
​​​​​
But if I can reuse the side seals, I'd rather put that money on upgrading the coolant system, OMP mines, etc.

But if the rebuild adds up to 5-6k I might definitely cut my losses now.

 

How acceptable is it for you to do this work all over again? If you don't mind, by all means put it back together. If you'd rather not, go by the book and use new seals and measure/replace big parts like irons and housings. Or just buy a rebuilt known-good engine, that might be cheaper.

Also the side seals might be where that compression was lost.. apex seals get the bad rep, but side seals are responsible for a much longer perimeter and are subject to more severe conditions in the engine AND don't have their own pretty little oil injectors like the apex seals. So.. you know.. leaving them in may not fix the problem.

 

Thanks for your replies.
Cutting my losses might very well be the solution if the cost of all the parts gets over the budget (4000 cad but that should incluse clucth, OMP lines and coolant system upgrades).
So that's why I want to make sure if I can or cannot reuse these seals. Some seem to say it's OK.

But as Loki mentions, intuitively I would have thought that there would be more wear on the side seal area because of the way that they scrape.

Anyways, thanks again I will clean everything up and inspect everything. Hopefully I can use that granite table at work that nobody uses.

 

The hard parts for a rebuild will be about $1500......if all you need are seals and gaskets.

Side seals are about 10% of that price

Still think it's worth reusing them?

 

1500 for seals and gaskets is OK with me. What I saw was 1700 only for the seals. Maybe I did not look at enough places.150 only for side seals? For that amount for sure it's not worth taking the chance.