How old is my 12A?
 

Hi fellow rotary nuts:

Bear with me Iam a newbie! I have a 1984 white I think GSL with 235,000 miles on it and still going. Very little rust and in great body shape. Maybe a couple of light dings. I got it because a young lady that was dealing drugs got caught and her REX went to the impound yard from which I bought it. The question I have is how do I tell how old the 12A engine is? I was told that when the 12A got to about 100,000 miles or more it would develop that type of oil leak, but this engine does not leak on the driver's side front area like my previously owned 1983 one did (before it got impounded for me driving without a license and with expired tags Dammit!!),and this 12A seems overall much smoother in operation than the previous one. Any ideas?

TIA Rotaries forever and ever Amen

really, there is not much that you can really tell as being different other than the mazda logo on the housings. sharper font denotes an older rotary. the square font denots 79-85 style. excuse any misunderstanding. too much of a long night...

Thanks mazdaverks713b:

for your quick comeback. I know about those long night things LOL.
May all your blessings be rotary!!

Hey out there anybody else know how to determine the age of a rotary engine?

rotaries forever and ever hey seems like Sebring was won by a rotary(As if that is a surprise!) AMEN

Please come on. Anybody out there got anything else?

I would hazard a guess that your engine is actually as old as the odometer and age of the car say it is.

There are various spots for oil leaks. One is the pedestal that the oil filter sits on. Under that beehive-shaped cooler there are two (or four) rubber o-rings which after a time crack and leak. Other information about o-rings, oil leaks and a bunch of info can be found here at Felix' FAQ: http://members.ij.net/mrmazda/cfaqtext.html#ORINGS

If the engine has been taken care of, it doesn't necessarily *have* to develop oil leaks.

And 12As were extremely rare before the 1979 Rx7, so I'll almost GUARANTEE you that your motor is 1979-1985, unless that chick was a bigger rotary nut than I am and managed to track down an ub3r-rare 12a.

Jon

age ...
 

I don't think you will be able to see it. Think about it. a 235 000 mile engine that's never been beaten, always had it's oil changes, etc etc, will, of course, run smoother and not be as likely to leak whereas a100 000 mile engine that's always been redlined would be more likely too. Check and see if it's been rebuilt ( by seeing if it's cleaner then the engine bay lol (like mine till this summer ;) ) ... Other then that, there's no odometer on the engine ;) hehehe

hey ! it's jon ... on the same forum, and thread as me, living in the same city as me .. huh what a cooinkydink ;)
loll

Hey thanks
A few more things: one of my friends says the motor plate can tell you when it was built. is that right?

Also I used to check my engines strength in my old 1983 by sarting out in first and at ten MPH shifting through the gears to fifth still at tenMPH and with no hesitation. Is that good? If so my $200 1984 carbed GS? GSL? does the same.

One thing I have noticed I use Valvoline 20 W 50 for oil and after as little as 2000 miles the oil starts to go very dark almost black is that normal?

Hey thanks
A few more things: one of my friends says the motor plate can tell you when it was built. is that right?

Also I used to check my engines strength in my old 1983 by sarting out in first and at ten MPH shifting through the gears to fifth still at tenMPH and with no hesitation. Is that good? If so my $200 1984 carbed GS? GSL? does the same.

One thing I have noticed I use Valvoline 20 W 50 for oil and after as little as 2000 miles the oil starts to go very dark almost black is that normal?

Hey thanks
: one of my friends says the motor plate can tell you when it was built. is that right?

Also I used to check my engines strength in my old 1983 by sarting out in first and at ten MPH shifting through the gears to fifth still at tenMPH and with no hesitation. Is that good? If so my $200 1984 carbed GS? GSL? does the same.

One thing I have noticed I use Valvoline 20 W 50 for oil and after as little as 2000 miles the oil starts to go very dark almost black is that normal?

Hey thanks
A few more things: one of my friends says the motor plate can tell you when it was built. is that right?

Also I used to check my engines strength in my old 1983 by sarting out in first and at ten MPH shifting through the gears to fifth still at tenMPH and with no hesitation. Is that good? If so my $200 1984 carbed GS? GSL? does the same.

One thing I have noticed I use Valvoline 20 W 50 for oil and after as little as 2000 miles the oil starts to go very dark almost black is that normal?

Dammit now you know I am a newbie

Sorry for the quadruple post!!!

I think your oil should still look pretty good after 2000 miles... mine has 1800 and still looks golden. I dont know why your oil would be getting so dirty, maybe old seals?