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Racing Beat seems to have expanded their rotary tech tips section. I see some new material there. http://www.racingbeat.com/FRrotary.htm

Their turbo/supercharging section is interesting.

 

I like what was mentioned here.....The most common mistake made by rotary enthusiasts intent on supercharging their engines is to supercharge a stock, unmodified non-turbo engine. Unless you are content to use the power gain only occasionally, and even then only briefly, you run the very serious risk of catastrophic engine failure. Sustained use generally brings failure, and the more common failures include broken apex seals and flattened apex seal springs. On occasion a stationary gear breaks, or a rotor gear moves away from the rotor and jams against a side housing, or a bearing fails due to overheating. With any of these failures, a complete engine rebuild is required.

The causes of these problems, and others, are many. Superchargers generate heat loads well in excess of what a stock engine can handle: the stock water and oil cooling systems are overwhelmed and simply cannot carry away the excess heat fast enough.

Additionally, the compression ratio commonly found in non-turbo engines is not low enough for supercharger applications. Depending on horsepower requirements, a compression ratio as low as 7.5:1 may be in order for reliable operation. The higher the boost level you desire to run, the greater the likelihood you will need to address the issue of a lowered compression ratio. In our experience, we have found that 5 psi., approximately, is the threshold above which the stock, non-turbo compression ratio is no longer appropriate.

As the above comments would suggest, we do not recommend supercharging an otherwise stock, “non-turbo-based” unmodified engine. When you weigh the anticipated power gains against the very real likelihood of a premature, and costly, engine failure it's likely not worth the headaches.
If you are willing to build an engine that is capable of handling the increased heat loads that superchargers develop, the following tips will prove beneficial, increasing the likelihood of a long-life engine.


I wonder if the guys who Turbo/Supercharged there RX-8 did any internal upgrades?
I don't think rotaries are too diffrent from there piston counterparts in this area. Just like the guys who slap on turbos to there N/A piston cars and don't modify the internals in the engine, the engine goes BOOM!

 

this looks like whats been in their catalogs for years now

 

I see. Sorry, I haven't seen their paper catalogs yet.

 

yeah I think that in part it is true but then again a lot of people have been running superchargers and turbos in their cars with 0 problems so far. I think tis just to scare off the people that are not willing to deal with engine problems that may occur.

 

the catalog is easier to put things into perspective... its a growing compilation of knowledge that they add to every few years.

Some sections were written pre-RX8 and not edited since then or if it has only adding an RX-8 blurb at the end.... so you really have to do some weeding in terms of what applies to our engine and what doesn't.

 

nice.. i love threads like these..