Engine Blown in RX-8
 

Well, I purchased an 05 RX-8 for under $1K and I did assume that the engine was blown. However, I was not expecting to have an apex seal go missing from the front rotor. I have not opened up the motor yet but I was able to see the damage with what little I can see through the spark plug hole.

Not sure what the plan for the car is at this point as I was hoping that I would might be able to rebuild the engine that was in it. I do know that this is the cars second engine. This engine is the reman that was put in under warranty by a previous owner.

I figure that it is safe to assume that the front iron, housing and one side of the middle iron is trash.

Below are the few pics I have so far through the lower spark plug hole.


https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...75bfd2c0e7.jpg


https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...7bc25d891a.jpg


https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...73d7f60154.jpg

Doesn't look too good :(

That an NA motor? Hard to smash the seals without boost??

Yep, this motor is NA with no forced induction modifications. It did have an upgraded air intake and gutted cat but that was about it.

Been some time since I've seen that on a naturally aspirated rotary. Usually when the apex seal comes out of the rotor it will lodge itself somewhere in between the rotor and the housing and can seize the engine. I had an 85 RX-7 with a locked up engine and upon disassembly found the apex seal lodged between the rotor's side face and the iron. It was safe to say a lot was ruined.

I see scoring on your rotor indicating that the apex seal could have been ground in a spot, throwing metal flakes before being kicked out of the exhaust port. If the engine is still spinning freely, I bet what's left of the apex seal was in fact tossed into the exhaust port.

hi guys. I am new on the forum and want to ask a few question abaut problem i have. an rx8 turned off while i was driving and the check engine light turned on. then when i turned it on it smokes white and the engine has no much power what could be ? a coolat leaking or some thing not that catastrophic?? =) somebody have that problem before ?
thanx everybody for help

I did expect to find some of the apex seal but so far I have not found anything. I suppose I may find some of it once I take the engine apart.

Now it is just a matter of deciding if I want to find another RX-8 engine or just put my LS3 in it and be done. I really did want to enjoy the car as a rotary but not sure right now.

Honestly, when this engine gave it did that same thing. It was running fine then TONS of white smoke. Yours could be a flooding issue but you won't know until you can have it properly diagnosed. A compression check would tell you a lot.

My vote is find another rotary, these cars are fun with them. Coincidentally my other car is an LS3 camaro and of course it's fun in its own way, but I can't imagine having that motor in the rx8 any more than I can imagine it the other way around...

I have an 05 RX8 with approx 117K miles on it. I bought it new and at about 70K the compression failed and the dealership replaced the apex seals and other stuff(they said they replaced the engine). I believe that was in 2011 or 2012. Here today at about 40K miles on the "new engine" I am having the same issue but now the engine is blown and will not start. I like my car and want to keep it but what are my options--what can I really do to make my car work again? I live in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and would like to know if anyone know of any good rotary engine certified mechanics in my area. Please advise.

Please start your own thread in the new members section.
If the engine is truly blown, you will need a new engine, there aren't really 2 ways around it.
When you start your own thread ;), can you describe what leads you to believe that it is blown? There are other possibilities : ignition coil failure, fuel pump failure, etc. Be very specific with symptoms.

I bought my RX8 engine from Engine World Inc in Houston. It's been running well since then.

If you only spent 1K on the car, a new engine wouldnt be a bad idea. These cars, in good running condition, go for 7 to 8K still, so if your willing to spend 5K on a new engine its not really going to cost you in resale value.

A 2007-2008 may go for 7-8k, but not anything older. My buddy has a 2006 Shinka in great condition with a fresh rebuild in it that he has not been able to get rid of at even 6k. A local member here had her 2007 GT (rare sand leather interior, fresh Mazda reman with less than 10k, and Stormy Blue) for sale at 8k and ended up taking $6500.00.

Oh you are probably talking Canadian dollars.

Yeah I was talking in CAD oops. Yeah, 5K USD would be max you could get I would imagine. Still, you got the car for real cheap so it would be worth it IMO, if you had the cash to burn on a reman engine

Yeah my buddy flips Rx-8's and rebuilds the engines. He has not paid more than 2k for any of the RX-8's he has bought including the last 2008 that was still under factory warranty.

Rx8
 

Is your friend still buying rx8s
x

He’s not around much any more. Whachagot?

2010 rx8
 

2010 rx8 automatic 115k miles. Everything top notch except engine just came back as bad compression and car will no longer start

Did you get a rotary specific compression test and written test result?
2 sets of 3 numbers for each rotor face.

For what you would pay for a rebuild you could probably find a running automatic RX8.
The autos are dirt cheap right now.
Maybe even a 6 speed with a good engine.