My Mazda reman was installed last summer 2016. It seems stronger than the original engine when I bought the car new in 2008. No numbers to be specific, but been driving rotaries a long time and it is definitely stronger. Probably got one of the better built remans. I have had the same two mechanics exclusively that have worked on my 2008 RX8 since new, and they concur that this reman engine feels stronger.

Thanks Paul for your posts !

No pitting to be found. Maybe dust or reflection?

Paul.

The Center Flat Housing is a major integral part of the 'block'. The center flat housing divides one rotor housing from another and provides a surface for the moving rotor to ride along with it's oil, corner and side seals separating functions. It contains cooling passages that meet other cooling passages in mating components (Rotor housings). Dowels pass through it creating strength and rigidity against twisting and Siamese exhaust ports are located in the center flat housing.

The flat housing we found in this engine was near enough to new, not showing much discernible wear. When you have enough wear, the oil, corner and side seals cannot do their job properly and it is a source of compression loss as well as blow by.

Paul.

Thanks for the response, now I understand.:)

This is what they were referring to on the outer iron sealing surface between the secondary port and e-shaft passage hole



https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...9348dd42c2.jpg

Good to know. Thanks to both Paul and gwilliams6. It's posts like these that'll help keep 8's running smooth and strong.

Synopsis
 

So, the verdict on this one:

With a Mazda reman you get practically a BRAND NEW ENGINE: New rotor housings, new rotors, new eccentric shaft, new main bearings, new counter weights, all new seals, new tension bolts, new water pump, new oil pan and often all new side housings. Front cover is usually used.

My criticism: They start these engines with water in them and do not drain the water properly. This results in a fair amount of rust in coolant passages and water pump,
I've encountered about 2 or 3 errors out of several dozen engines that I will not detail today.

We use them for installs at our shop and will also go through them for clients with the right budget, perhaps wanting some upgrades. They offer BY FAR the best bang for the buck, as Mazda seems to be subsidizing.

Paul.

I wonder if somebody at Mazda felt bad about how completely they screwed the pooch on the Renesis (and doubled-down with the first generation of rebuilds). Maybe this is their unspoken way of trying to make it up to us.

Thanks for this thread, it was very informative.

About the rust, if one of us should buy one of these, are there precautionary steps we could take to minimize it?

Not really, supposedly they dyno each engine, and that would explain them having coolant in them.

Well I guess I know what to do when this engine finally blows.

Well I would hardly call this conclusive, people have still gotten remans in the last couple of years that didn't last long. But if your plan is to buy one and then have it rebuilt, then that might be smart if they are all getting the new parts.

I understand what you're saying, 9k, but I think if I had the choice of spending $3k on a reman v.s. a $3k rebuild, I don't think it's unreasonable to go with the reman.

No, not if you are looking at a $3,000.00 rebuild. I'm just saying that new parts are great, but if the rebuild process is done half assed it won't matter much.

Well that explains the nastiness that came out of my cooling system when I did the first coolant flush on my re-man. Have you noticed any "excessive sealant on the water seals" issues that people have previously talked about?

As long as you're doing the installation yourself, or having a reputable shop do it, then the re-man does sound good on paper. Still wouldn't trust a dealer with the installation though.

I'm just spitballing here, but that got me thinking.
Maybe they're thinking about negating the potential impact of a future class action lawsuit?
Showing a good faith effort to try and remedy a serious issue?

You know lawyers.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...d75316df80.jpg

Paul, thanks for all the info, very helpful IMO.

Again thanks Paul. Now I have a good idea why this reman runs so strong.

I did a coolant flush on my Mazda reman when I upgraded and replaced my cooling system after about 4k miles on the reman, so that evidently was a good thing.

You're talking to a guy with a half-assed rebuild from a "reputable" rebuilder. I'd gladly go back in time 18 months and pay $3k for a reman instead.

Word. I'm coming up on a little over 40k on my Pineapple build, it was money well spent I'd say considering it's all boosted mileage.

You can't be that naive. They're doing this for now because it makes the most business sense. I love Mazda, but they're a company. They do things out of pragmatism, not obligation.

We're rotary owners. We're all pretty naive.

I was when I bought mine, and ignorant, I thought it was just a restyled RX7.
When I started researching it I had second thoughts, but 5 years and 50k miles later, even with a failing engine, I love it still.

team many members here have claimed that title over the years, just look at some swap threads. or ya can just look at 99% of posts by newbz. $2500 car nowadays doesnt attract smart adults

See my signature? I already have that record. Come on, get with the program.

Yeah, definitely not pitting. Oil and dust particles on the surface.

Paul

My issue is, I wish it was coolant. Seems to be straight water.

Paul.

So for how many more years do you all think that Mazda will continue to build these seemingly good remans? I ask because I figure I have about another 2-3 years left on my engine, and I am very interested in getting one of these (I'm surprised to say) GOOD(?) engines for mine. Keep in mind I daily mine and I cannot afford the time to rebuild the engine or get it rebuilt, so to me, buying a new-ish engine from Mazda with the possibility of a warranty seems like a remarkable opportunity that I do not want to miss out on.

Yah, fortunately you don't need a sense of humor to be an asset to the forum. I'm sure Mark's wealth of knowledge and willingness to help others with extreme prejudice more than make up for this.

I would assume for a few years after the SII RX-8's are out of the extended engine warranty range.

Right on BigCajun !!!

BC, it's clear that Mark doesn't see the problem with his behavior. Arguing with him isn't going to change that. Just let it go.

For a thread that started out as an informational look at the insides of a Current Mazda Reman......it has turned into a crapfest of whining and bad feelings

Get over it.....lets try and be adults and leave our "feelings" out of it.

And if you get worked up from reading comments on an internet forum...maybe you need to seek some help

Paul....If you would like I can clean up the info and put it in a new thread if you would like

paul,

as the owner of one of the first mazda remans, went in two weeks after they became available. the mileage on the motor that came out was about 50k miles. so it was about 07 is my guess.

the reman that has lasted me for 70k miles, and the last 5k were just to and from track and track.

it sits in my garage, swapped to 04greens pettit motor.. opportunity knocks you take it..

still hating i paid for an engman motor and never got to use it.. not your fault.

if you have interest it the inside of early remans, let me know. i really need an excuse to run RA.

beers :beer:

I will be buying a reman engine here this month or next. My engine finally gave way and it was as expected when I purchased the car with one rotor with low compression. Almost lasted me a season. This thread was great as I learned a lot about the part quality mazda uses in the reman engine and was a huge contributor in my decision in going this route besides rebuilding it myself.


Thanks guys. And the pricing on the remans are very good for the parts you are getting! WOOT.

I would not take this one thread to mean that anything is definitive, as plenty of recent well maintained Mazda remans have not lasted long. New parts are great but if it is assembled poorly it doesn't mean jack shit.

people who ass-u-me should leave me out of it ;)

Which us why they make great "cores" to build a really great engine 😎

I used a Mazda reman when I built a N/A motor. The side seal clearances sucked...but I was able to re-use all but 3 of the shortest ones...and bump the next longest ones down to get good clearances and then recut new full length seals for the longest grooves.

All in all it didn't require too much waste...a few gaskets and a bit of time to recut the rotor seals that weren't what I wanted

That motor had new rotors and housings and all new bearings. The plates had no noticeable wear on them. They could have been new as well. There was the traditional sludge in the coolant cgamblers and a bit of overzealous amounts of RTV

Yes, I would definitely use one as a basis for a rebuild and that was my plan for the next one. The amount of RTV used is insane, mine was dripped all into the oil pan on my last one that lasted 27k or so.