Infamous leaky dowel pin?
03-13-03, 11:36 PM
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Infamous leaky dowel pin?
Hi,
I am thinking about buying a 83' GSL with the 12A motor. The guy says it has "the infamous dowel pin oil leak, due to an o-ring that has aged and become hard. It runs well and always starts, but it does leak oil. The engine needs to be rebuilt or replaced" Can anyone help explain what this is and how much work is it to fix. Would I really need to rebuild the whole motor? What other common problems should I check out before buying this car. Thanks for any help you guys can offer.
Max
I am thinking about buying a 83' GSL with the 12A motor. The guy says it has "the infamous dowel pin oil leak, due to an o-ring that has aged and become hard. It runs well and always starts, but it does leak oil. The engine needs to be rebuilt or replaced" Can anyone help explain what this is and how much work is it to fix. Would I really need to rebuild the whole motor? What other common problems should I check out before buying this car. Thanks for any help you guys can offer.
Max
03-13-03, 11:57 PM
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Don't think J-b wield will do anything. Oil will seep out were ever theres pressure causing the oil to get by in the first place. The o-rings in the rotor housings groove need replacement. The reason, because its service life was with the water-oil cooler, or more infamously known as the oil-heater. 
The oil is too hot and causes rubber to become brittle, I'm sure this engine has leaky o-rings under the oil-water cooler too.
Its a less then optimal design Mazda decided to try for a few years before returning to the front mount design. I have never seen that leak on any front mount cool'd rotary. I have seen griming 79-82's, but they had other leaks.
The oil is too hot and causes rubber to become brittle, I'm sure this engine has leaky o-rings under the oil-water cooler too. Its a less then optimal design Mazda decided to try for a few years before returning to the front mount design. I have never seen that leak on any front mount cool'd rotary. I have seen griming 79-82's, but they had other leaks.
03-14-03, 01:56 AM
#4
Banned. I got OWNED!!!
jb weld will definatly NOT work!! it will seap around the JB weld!
If you are looking for a cheap fix,,,,listen up. first take out the tranny, clutch and flywheel.
now Re torque the engine tention bolts to around 120 foot pounds(or until you feel the bolt stretching). only do the four bolts by the dowel area, if you do the whole motor that tight it might not turn(its happened to me)
then put everything back, if it dosnt stop the leak it will definatly slow it by half.
this is not the right way to fix it but will cost much less !!!(good for the cheapos!!)
If you are looking for a cheap fix,,,,listen up. first take out the tranny, clutch and flywheel.
now Re torque the engine tention bolts to around 120 foot pounds(or until you feel the bolt stretching). only do the four bolts by the dowel area, if you do the whole motor that tight it might not turn(its happened to me)
then put everything back, if it dosnt stop the leak it will definatly slow it by half.
this is not the right way to fix it but will cost much less !!!(good for the cheapos!!)
03-14-03, 02:37 AM
#5
Old [Sch|F]ool
I'd be worrying about crushing the rotor housings going to 120lb-ft. (Esp. considering spec is, what, 23-28 or so?)
The problem is the O-rings have turned from nice pliable rubber into a kind of hard, brittle plastic, and usually come out in 4 or 5 pieces.
The problem is the O-rings have turned from nice pliable rubber into a kind of hard, brittle plastic, and usually come out in 4 or 5 pieces.
03-14-03, 02:41 AM
#6
Banned. I got OWNED!!!
Originally posted by peejay
I'd be worrying about crushing the rotor housings going to 120lb-ft. (Esp. considering spec is, what, 23-28 or so?)
The problem is the O-rings have turned from nice pliable rubber into a kind of hard, brittle plastic, and usually come out in 4 or 5 pieces.
I'd be worrying about crushing the rotor housings going to 120lb-ft. (Esp. considering spec is, what, 23-28 or so?)
The problem is the O-rings have turned from nice pliable rubber into a kind of hard, brittle plastic, and usually come out in 4 or 5 pieces.
rotary engines are alot stronger than people think!!
03-14-03, 11:12 AM
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Just to play Devil's advocate, Robert, how many cheapo $$$ did you charge to do all that? <<<sigh>>> I find I may have to have it done since I don't have the time nor lift and hoists to try it at home.... 
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