View Poll Results: How many miles on your engine?
Original engine, under 60,000 miles
31
7.35%
Original engine, under 100,000 miles
79
18.72%
Original engine, under 150,000 miles
112
26.54%
Original engine, more than 150,000 miles
132
31.28%
Replacement engine, under 60,000 miles
41
9.72%
Replacement engine, under 100,000 miles
6
1.42%
Replacement engine, under 150,000 miles
6
1.42%
Replacement engine, more than 150,000 miles
15
3.55%
Voters: 422. You may not vote on this poll
(OTHER) How many miles on your engine?
02-12-02, 11:03 PM
#2
Right near Malloy
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I'm gonna say it's original cause the engine mounts are crumbly and I can move the engine around with my hand. 175K miles baby!!! Still got compression. 
Couldn't start it over the winter due to bad ignitor though. 
Couldn't start it over the winter due to bad ignitor though.
02-12-02, 11:21 PM
#3
Old [Sch|F]ool
Which car? 
'80 had 119,216 on the original engine before I pulled it because stock port suck.
'85 has 149,600 on it... I can't tell if the engine's been replaced or not. For one thing, the hood has obviously been off at one point because some of the hardware is incorrect and it was misaligned. Also, the top of the engine is VERY clean... I'd think that after 150k with the crappy water/oil cooler the dowel O-rings would be HOSING. (I bought a similar engine with 60k on it and the whole top of the engine, the transmission, flywheel, and clutch were caked with oil from the leaky dowel O-rings) But on the other hand, all of the original vacuum hoses and coolant hoses are in place and it looks/feels like they've never been off. Well, 95% of all the coolant hoses, had to replace part of the long heater hose after part of it burst (oil soaked from the leaky O-rings under the cooler) Also it smokes a little blue on cold start, not a nuisance or anything yet. HMMM.
- PJ (12As are the Energizer Bunnies of rotary - they just keep going, and going, and going...)
'80 had 119,216 on the original engine before I pulled it because stock port suck.
'85 has 149,600 on it... I can't tell if the engine's been replaced or not. For one thing, the hood has obviously been off at one point because some of the hardware is incorrect and it was misaligned. Also, the top of the engine is VERY clean... I'd think that after 150k with the crappy water/oil cooler the dowel O-rings would be HOSING. (I bought a similar engine with 60k on it and the whole top of the engine, the transmission, flywheel, and clutch were caked with oil from the leaky dowel O-rings) But on the other hand, all of the original vacuum hoses and coolant hoses are in place and it looks/feels like they've never been off. Well, 95% of all the coolant hoses, had to replace part of the long heater hose after part of it burst (oil soaked from the leaky O-rings under the cooler) Also it smokes a little blue on cold start, not a nuisance or anything yet. HMMM.
- PJ (12As are the Energizer Bunnies of rotary - they just keep going, and going, and going...)
02-12-02, 11:21 PM
#4
The 85 died at 224k... Not sure about its life, but according to the body, interior etc when I got it, id say an oil change about every 2 years was just about average...
I forget the exact mileage on the 80 when I stripped it apart, I took it apart cuz 3 of the 4 o rings that go between the dowells were leaking. I put it back together with total junk and it has over 300,000 on it.
My 88 vert has 126k on it, looks like orginal motor but cant tell for sure...
I contribute my rotary success to a FULLY working OMP and about 2 oz per gallon oil to gas ratio. Id rather it smoke a little than pull the motor out
I forget the exact mileage on the 80 when I stripped it apart, I took it apart cuz 3 of the 4 o rings that go between the dowells were leaking. I put it back together with total junk and it has over 300,000 on it.
My 88 vert has 126k on it, looks like orginal motor but cant tell for sure...
I contribute my rotary success to a FULLY working OMP and about 2 oz per gallon oil to gas ratio. Id rather it smoke a little than pull the motor out
02-12-02, 11:32 PM
#6
standard combustion
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I've only had a 12a engine I purchased from a junkyard ever break on me. I kind of figured it wouldn't last long. But it ran perfect for two weeks then a apex seal broke and ran for a few days then when backing up into my driveway, the engine went from 2000-0rpm instantly! ..at least it was in my driveway! LOL! All my other engines come out because I'm bored with them or something else failed...like a damn thermostat in my last time overheated it before I could stop it, so it wasn't something internal!
02-13-02, 03:15 AM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2001
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when i got mine it showed 158000, but im the third ower, car fax showed 158000 when the first owner sold it, i got it from the second owner three years later and the speedo cable was broken, still showed 158000, so not sure what the real miles are, but no big problem with the engine that i can tell , runs strong....
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02-13-02, 03:21 AM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2001
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148,000 on original engine. Was track raced for a couple of years instead of a daily driver but it still runs strong. I'd say better than ever since it recently had a nice tune up.
02-13-02, 06:31 AM
#10
84 GSL-SE marathon runner original engine
I was wondering when someone would bring up this subject.
Some may disagree, but IMO, the 84-85 13b 6port is the most reliable rotory engine Mazda ever developed, as close to bullet proof as an old Chev straight six 235cu in. 
(and I'm old enough to know!)
196,6xxx miles daily driver (about half of them hiway miles)
Castrol 10-40, and MMO every 3k mi.
Coolant flush every 2yrs.
NGK plugs every third or fourth oil change
K&N intake cone cleaned yearly
lightweight flywheel
RB header, custom cat (smog legal), RB power pulse catback
2nd gen 70amp alt
illuminas, prokit springs
BFG siped all season tires
all A/C components removed
always allowed to reach normal operating temp before driven!
Some may disagree, but IMO, the 84-85 13b 6port is the most reliable rotory engine Mazda ever developed, as close to bullet proof as an old Chev straight six 235cu in. (and I'm old enough to know!)196,6xxx miles daily driver (about half of them hiway miles)
Castrol 10-40, and MMO every 3k mi.
Coolant flush every 2yrs.
NGK plugs every third or fourth oil change
K&N intake cone cleaned yearly
lightweight flywheel
RB header, custom cat (smog legal), RB power pulse catback
2nd gen 70amp alt
illuminas, prokit springs
BFG siped all season tires
all A/C components removed
always allowed to reach normal operating temp before driven!
02-13-02, 10:27 AM
#13
The AUTO DOCTOR
Join Date: Mar 2001
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on my 81 gsl i had 206 k when i pulled the motor... to put in a streetport my 83 l.e. had 124 when i pulled it to put in the ported motor. Both ran fine when i pulled them
my 83 l.e. had 124 when i pulled it to put in the ported motor. Both ran fine when i pulled them
02-13-02, 02:32 PM
#15
seniorchief
Miles
85 GSL-SE/13B (original motor) 110,000 and still humming!
02-13-02, 04:21 PM
#16
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Original 12a, 141,900 miles. That includes running leaded fuel in germany when we lived there. Dont remember much about it, car was new and i was like 2, lol. Anyways, orignal everything almost, oil change every 3,000 miles.
02-13-02, 07:59 PM
#21
hey, your car is on fire!
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got an '80 with 39k on it... it sat around for a while, put in a new battery and she fired right up. it has less miles than my 3rd gen lol. its still in the process of becoming road worthy again, but the engine runs smoothly.
02-13-02, 08:01 PM
#22
hey, your car is on fire!
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well, seeing as how I didnt own the car for its entire life, I guess it could be 139k, but it runs so well, I seriously doubt it has than many miles.
02-13-02, 08:30 PM
#25
Originally posted by WackyRotary
an '80 with just 39K? Thats means it was driven only 1,775miles per year!!
an '80 with just 39K? Thats means it was driven only 1,775miles per year!!