What kind of milage can you get out of a 85 FB, 12A (I know driving dependany, rough figure ok) before you need to start worrying about the apex seals going on the engine?

 

You can easliy exceed 300k miles if well taken care of. Normally with the usual WOT a few times a week I'd give it until about 150k to 200k

 

What does "WOT" mean exactly?

I don't drive too hard, but those seals will really last 150k miles?

 

WOT= Wide Open Throttle

A redline a week should get rid opf the carbon build up though so that's a plus.

 

I've seen 12A's go well over 200k and mine has 130k and still runs strong

 

204,000 miles on mine. Redline a couple of dozen times per day. I believe that this is why it has lasted so long. They need their exercise...

 

My first one lasted 149,000 miles. I'm told I have a heavy foot.

 

Personally, I do not subscribe to the "redline often" line of thinking. I drive mine like a sane person most of the time. Seldom do I take it over 6K, even at the track. Sure, at 6K, the rotors are only spinning 2K, which doesn't sound like much, till you consider the fact they weight 9-10LBS each, dry. Add the weight of the oil inside them, and they are a little heavier.
12a's are known to last well over 200K with average care, and not getting them hot.
Good quality oil, changed at regular intervals, goes a long way towards keeping one alive for an extended period of time.
I do not know the history of my car prior to my purchasing it, but thats the breaks of buying one from an impound auction. I know it has had some kind of engine work done in the past. Whether it has any porting, is a mystery. It runs good, and I plan to keep it as long as possible.

 

Alright, thanks for the info on that, definately good to hear.

I've always been a fan of the rx7 just because the idea of how simple the engine is, but now that I have one, I think it's for life. I just love driving mine.

 

With my experience right now, its not even the apex seals you have to worry about. If its been grandma'd too much, and not warmed up before shutting down, you'll be as mad as me, trying to get the side seals off the rotor. When theres alot of carbon, everything sticks. The apex seals have plenty of life, but are now junk do to the carbon.

 

I usually let it warm up right and it never gets driven to the point where it won't be warm by the time I shut it down.

I love to get on it though coming on the highway, so grandma driving is not a problem. It's been a completely different car as well since I got the secondarys put back on. I've got myself up around 6k without realizing it because the engine is so smooth compared to my other car. I'm going to get a ticket in this car but I just don't care.

 

150K has been the norm for me. Had 3 enignes die in the 130 to 170 range.

 

I just bought one with 208k miles. besides being slow as hell it runs every bit as good as my other FB with 2k miles on an Atkins rebuild.

 

Rotaries like high RPMs,but there is a mechanical limit on the stock engines.Apex seal chatter will set in near redline and that can really kill seal life and housings.
Ive never met a rotary that didnt love running along at 4-5K for extended periods.They actually seem to rev and run better after coming off a long,high RPM cruise...they beg for more,kinda like a small displacement sportbike.But hitting 8K RPMS all the time and driving WOT all the time, is considered abuse in my book.....

 

i just bought a 79 with the original unrebuilt 90,000mile engine. not a lot of miles, but when the water pump and ALL of the coolant hoses (even the one under the oil filter) are 28 years old, that says something....

engine doesnt make seal noise, doesnt smoke, fires right up, i'm a happy camper

 

Let me clarify a little here. When I say that I frequently take mine to the redline, I mean to the redline and no farther. I do not take it over 7500 even during races. Apex seal chatter (which seems to occur once you pass 7500 rpm) is not something that you want to subject your beloved to... Sticky apex seals will lead to chatter at lower rpms too, so I run a can of Seafoam through the tank every few months just to be safe. Can't say for sure that my theories hold water, but I've got 204,000 miles that suggest I'm right.

 

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