canada5611

I've recently been looking into getting a new car and i really love the rx8 but have heard some things about how the rotary engine has a pretty low life when it comes to miles maybe around 70-80,000. I would be buying one wiath around 20-30,000 miles so i was wondering if anyone has any more facts or had any problems with theirs in the past. THanks

New Yorker

I've never heard that. With only 3 moving parts, I'd expect the opposite—for it to last longer.

Brettus

iTrader: (2)

like any engine - it depends on how you treat it . You can't baby these engines - they like to be reved .
Lots on here are at that mileage without issues .

Do a search

Ike

What a refreshing first post!

expo1

I guess I need to worry.

PDXMazdafan

If anything, as long as you get regular maintenance done, I would expect a rotary engine to last far longer than a piston engine. I bought my 2004 8 used with 35,000 miles on it. Luckily the previous owner took excellent care of the car. Aside from the mileage, the car was literally in brand new condition. He also had no major issues other than flooding it twice in two years.

I have now put 6000 miles on it since I have owned it, haven't flooded it once, and have only had a single issue. That was the check engine light coming on because my gas cap wasn't venting properly. Mazda replaced it for free and I have had no issue since. I love it.

puch96

The number of parts that the engine has probably contributes to the life expectancy, but it has no direct effect on it.

What really happens with the rotary is that it builds up more heat.... heat is what causes material degradation over time.... and high rpms don't help the matter either.


I think for the time being time will only tell as to how reliable this motor is. I don't think most of us had enough miles on the car to really be able to determine reliability because it is fairly a new car....

I have 7k miles on mine, so I could be of no help. So far, no problems...

CarAndDriver

I hear it blows up and disintegrates after the warranty runs out. What is up with these moronic posts lately?

Buy a Scion TC!

NoTears316

good job

billdo

My 88 GTU(rx7) had over 200k when I sold it and was running like a champ with no major problems. Now it has over 275,000 and is still running like a champ. (sold to a friend, only thing I changed was to put in a koyo)

I would think (and hope) with more modern technology(sp), that the 8 could last just as long if not longer. No motor is fool proof, but N/A rotaries have been pretty stout in my experience.

coastie08

Treat the car right, and it'll last as long as any piston engine. If anything, I wouldn't be surprised if transmissions fail before than the engine (due to possible abusive driving habits/styles).

DarkBrew

Welcome to the forum.
With a post like that I hope that you have a flame proof suit!
Please add location to your profile.

Figure out if the the RX8 suits your needs. Take it for a test drive. Buy it if you like it and can afford it. Take care of it. Don't worry about it breaking.

AdRoCK3217

Your wrong. Material degradation is caused by metal-on-metal contact. Simply putting a torch to an apex seal won't cause it to explode in fiery rage.

This is NOT A NEW MOTOR. It has a new intake design. It has lighter parts than before, but for the most part, this is the same engine used in all 13B engine cars.

If an apex seal or side seal doesn't eat itself with 10-20k miles, then it will not fail prematurely. The first couple thousand miles will tell you if the motor will be reliable in the long haul, as that is when the seals seat, become "self machined" to their surfaces textures, and such. The Renesis motor is, in theory, going to be MUCH more reliable than the older 13B's.

The new rotor housings are smooth all the way around -- the intake and the exhaust are now on the sides. Having always had the intakes on the side, Mazda has already discovered just how reliable the side seals are. Putting the exhaust there will be just like having the side seals sliding over an extra intake port -- no difference. If anything, the apex seals will last longer, no longer having to pass over the exhaust port on the rotor housing. Time has already told her story..

New Yorker

Also, I would imagine that no FI would, if anything, contribute to engine life.

mysql101

I don't think heat is a big issue. The engine gets to what? 400 degrees? The EGT are pretty high, but that really doesn't matter other than cat life.

Get a bigger radiator and a cooling fan mod, and you'll find the water temps sit at 180 - 190 degrees.

puch96

[QUOTE=AdRoCK3217]Your wrong. Material degradation is caused by metal-on-metal contact. Simply putting a torch to an apex seal won't cause it to explode in fiery rage.

QUOTE]


Temperature is a great contributor to the characteristic of materials....

As far as RPM's the higher, the more risk of something going wrong...just a thought.... look at F1 cars... they mostly all need an engine re-build at the end of each race....

I am not arguing here, I am somewhat new to the rotary world....just trying to understand better....

puch96

???? so what was happening down south in 100+ degree weather was cat failure causing in compression loss???
What was the "real" problem on that recall that we had (4206F if I recall?)

I thought heat was involved but I might be wrong...

1.3L

Only when it's out hitting the night clubs.

1.3L

Mugatu

iTrader: (1)

Please die. THanks

CarAndDriver

Location: Lame, West Virginia

mysql101

The compression loss stuff was resolved with a reflash. The reason for the problem is due to the lack of oil being injected by the OMP in some situations. It also seemed to happen more on automatics (lower redline, only one oil cooler).

9291150

What? The OP wants some facts, we should give it to him...

The great ting about the low engine life is the modability...forces you to get a new engine. And with the rotary only weighing, what 163 pounds, you can change it in five minutes. Mazda made it that way on purpose, they rule!

AdRoCK3217

9291150, your dry humor makes me want to keel over.

chickenwafer

iTrader: (9)

NA 1st and 2nd gen RX7's run like tops and truck for over 200,000 miles easy. I had an '89 NA FC that I bought used with 102,000 on the clock, sold it a few years later with 142,000, never had a single problem inbetween then expect for one flood but that was my own fault. Never smoked or had any leaks. I sold it to a friends brother who jut told me at last Christmas he has over 210,000 miles on it now and no rebuilds or major issues except he replaced the radiator and hoses and removed the AC.
The Renesis is stronger and better than the old 13b's in the FC and certainly better than the 12a's they had, so imagine an NA Renny could go a long-*** time before they require a rebuild.

ken-x8

That's because they're designed to do exactly that. Don't know if the two race per engine rule is still in effect, but when it was they lasted exactly two races. Anything more and they were wasting resources that could have gone to making the car go faster.

When NASCAR had no engine restrictions, teams had a qualifying engine that lasted two laps, and a race engine that lasted 500 miles. Now that it's one engine per weekend, they have engines that last exactly the weekend.

Race engines at top levels lasted one race even when they were 4 bangers turning 5k to 6k.

Ken