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Just a thought on coils causing engine failure...

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Old Sep 2, 2009 | 08:38 PM
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Just a thought on coils causing engine failure...

After reading MazdaManiac mention that his EGT runs a bit high since he purposely runs short dwell times on his coils, it got me wondering:

When the stock coils are going bad, causing the spark to be weak and leading to higher EGT, is it possible that at least in some instances this had been a big factor in destroying the seals (the side seals in particular)? And since we know the stock coils are pretty much crap, it leaves one wonder if this had accounted for a number of dead renesis rotaries.
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Old Sep 2, 2009 | 09:08 PM
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carbon is the main cause of dead renesi
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Old Sep 2, 2009 | 09:39 PM
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Originally Posted by madcows
After reading MazdaManiac mention that his EGT runs a bit high since he purposely runs short dwell times on his coils,
Could you point me in the direction of that quote?

Coil failures cause engine failures through detonation induced by a leading misfire.
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Old Sep 3, 2009 | 09:13 AM
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Originally Posted by MazdaManiac
Could you point me in the direction of that quote?

Coil failures cause engine failures through detonation induced by a leading misfire.

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...Ts#post2993351
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Old Sep 3, 2009 | 10:43 AM
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I think you didn't understand what I was saying there.
I experimented with the dwell set very low to see what it would do. I wouldn't actually drive the car that way.
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Old Sep 3, 2009 | 10:46 AM
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Originally Posted by madcows
after reading mazdamaniac mention that his egt runs a bit high since he purposely runs short dwell times on his coils, it got me wondering:

When the stock coils are going bad, causing the spark to be weak and leading to higher egt, is it possible that at least in some instances this had been a big factor in destroying the seals (the side seals in particular)? and since we know the stock coils are pretty much crap, it leaves one wonder if this had accounted for a number of dead renesis rotaries.
No.
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Old Sep 3, 2009 | 10:46 AM
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is the failure rate of the oem coils because of the high rpm's this engine makes? If the redline was lowered to 7.5 for example would the oem coils be ok?
OD
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Old Sep 3, 2009 | 11:43 AM
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^ That wouldn't be much fun
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Old Sep 3, 2009 | 11:51 AM
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And the leading cause of carbon is gas right? With this engine I am trying to stay with a good gas (Shell 93) only. Well, I'm gonna try anyway.
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Old Sep 3, 2009 | 01:53 PM
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From: Under my car
Originally Posted by olddragger
is the failure rate of the oem coils because of the high rpm's this engine makes?
Not really. They aren't firing any faster than any other OE arrangement that uses wasted spark (like the Miata did forever).

Originally Posted by 9krpmrx8
And the leading cause of carbon is gas right?
Exactly. Don't put gas in your car and you'll be fine.
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Old Sep 3, 2009 | 03:17 PM
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Originally Posted by MazdaManiac

Exactly. Don't put gas in your car and you'll be fine.

E85 all the way - could be mothers milk for the rotary
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Old Sep 3, 2009 | 05:03 PM
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Exactly. Don't put gas in your car and you'll be fine.



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Old Sep 3, 2009 | 05:03 PM
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Originally Posted by MazdaManiac
Exactly. Don't put gas in your car and you'll be fine.
Oh damn that's funny! I've always said that gasoline is the dirtiest thing you can put in your car. Keep it clean. Keep gas out of it!
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Old Sep 3, 2009 | 08:59 PM
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Maybe I'm mistaking, but it I think I've read at least several stories that at the same time significant compression was lost, and the motor replaced, it was determined that some of the coils were bad as well.

MM, whether or not your tune is set up for low dwell was not the point of my comment. It just struck me as a curiosity, which I then did a bit of research on to determine why weak spark would increase EGTs. From the little that I know the renesis, it sounds as if exhaust temps REALLY need to be kept in check, or damage can quickly occur. Which brings up another point, aren't a lot of the cat failures attributed to being soaked in fuel due to no/poor spark, leading to excessive backpressure - in turn destroying one seal or another?

I'm by no means a rotary expert, nor do I pretend to be - I'm just genuinely curious, and that's why I'm asking it among professionals.
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Old Sep 3, 2009 | 09:03 PM
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Originally Posted by olddragger
is the failure rate of the oem coils because of the high rpm's this engine makes? If the redline was lowered to 7.5 for example would the oem coils be ok?
OD
Since high RPMs require lower dwell times, which in turn prevents the coils from saturating, and thus overheating; it would seem that the high rate of ignition cycles wouldn't have much to do with it.

However, is it possible that it's related to high amounts of heat under the hood?
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