I reset NVRAM and KAM, as per Resetting the ECU

Went for a 20 minute rip and then hooked up to live data. At 800rpm idle, am now seeing a lower MAF reading - 4.5 to 4.6 and still a very high LTFT, at 20.31%. AFR is good, hovering around Lambda=1 (dropping down to .99 and up to 1.01, so well within the 4% +- error "allowance"). No vacuum leak (at least at the UIM), so I'm stumped.

 

I purchased a rotary compression tester and tested compression today. Sad readings and somewhat unbelievable - see attached...

Can the vehicle even run with one rotor at 3.7, 3.4 and 3.6 - I've never heard of readings that low? I mean, the other rotor is indicating an imminent rebuild at high 5's, but mid 3's...?!

I tested twice, just to be sure the sensor was screwed in properly and the o ring seated the first time. Pretty similar readings each time.

 

That's a bit hard to believe. You should have hot start issues with those numbers. Can you test rotor 2 with a regular tester to make sure? Those numbers mean all faces are basically equal, so if a regular tester shows a higher peak value, we van dig further. If it shows a peak around 3.7, I guess stick a fork in it.

 

Yeah, I have difficulty believing those numbers too, especially given that I don't have hot-start issues, it idles just fine and seems to have adequate power (although this is the only RX8 I've ever driven, so don't have anything to compare to really)! Will plug my regular tester in on the weekend and see what it says.

 

50 psi max on a regular piston engine compression tester, at 238 rpm, so "volume" corrected to 250rpm works out at around 52.5 psi. Guess I'll be sticking a fork in it! It's hard to believe that it's even running!

 

I'm trying to decide what to do with this vehicle/engine. I'm thinking that the engine may be a decent candidate for a rebuild, given that it's still running reasonably well. I can get a rebuild kit from Atkins Rotary for around $US1,500. Problem is if rotor housings are shot, then the price tag goes up quite a bit and I also don't really have the right space to do the rebuild myself (my garage is my wood shop).

I could explore a rebuilt engine from Derwin Performance (starting at $CAD3,500 - shipping to Salt Spring Island, BC, might break the bank though). I could also get a rotary specialist company (Eunos?) to do the rebuild for me. Or try and find someone a little closer in to Victoria/Vancouver who could take it on.

Any thoughts from anyone? Rebuild existing or buy a rebuilt? If rebuild existing, any recommendations on who? I like what I see on Derwin's website - just wish they were in BC, not QC.

 

Try looking up Rotary Steve on the Facebook. He’s got a great reputation amongst local people in the Lower Mainland. Saltspring Island is only a lottery ticket (on the ferry website/sailing schedule) away. I think he’s around Abbottsford.

 

Derwin is local to me, they're very good. If my time comes one day, that's where I'll go .
Shipping an engine isn't cheap, but it's not the end of the world. I recall there was another good rebuilder in Alberta, but can't recall the name.

 

Hmm, road trip to Montreal.... sounds like fun, but perhaps better in an 8 with decent compression... ;-)

 

I will tell you the fuel pump is going out, has the pump ever been replaced?
My car did the same things as yours with sudden loss of power, misfire codes and such and was so random but new pump took care of it.

 

It's possible that the sudden power loss was fuel pump related. Loki also suggested that, but I never followed through with testing that theory. Unfortunately that's not causing the low compression that I'm seeing (although that would be spectacular if I could replace the fuel pump and get compression back ;-) After I rebuild, if there's still a power loss issue, then I'll go down the fuel system rabbit hole! Thanks for weighing in.