Hello again!
Well, i have put about 6000 miles on my RX-7 since I bought it. I was just reading the post about the newbies and general maintainance, and realized ive never had to put oil into my car except for the oil changes (2 thus far) I am about ready to do another change, but i am still on the full mark on the dipstick, and have driven it all winter on this change. What should i look for? the car runs great, no smoke except on choke, lots of power. anybody got any ideas?

 

You could check to make sure your oil metering pump works OK. But everything is probably fine. Depending on how much high RPM driving you do, oil consumption can be very small.

 

wow, could i really be that lucky?!?!

 

Make sure the OMP is in working order, and if in doubt, premix oil in the gas until such a time that you can verify the OMP is actually working. Oil is cheap, a new engine is not.
I have drove about 850 miles in my car since the last oil change, and have added about 8oz oil to the system. While I have not driven hard, I haven't just putted around either.

 

My 12a never seemed to use any oil. I ran it for 130,000 miles and I think it's still going 5 years after that. Just make sure the OMP is OK and you'll be fine. The procedure for checking it is in the workshop manual.

 

Smell the oil. If it smells only a little like gas, you're ok. If it's really strong, that's why your oil level is maintaining its full position. As the OMP meters oil into the engine, the small amount of gas that becomes mixed into the oil during normal combustion will replace it at a roughly equal amount. Some instances show the oil level increase. I think peejay had that problem once.

 

What is normal oil consumption on a 12A rotary? Is it about a quart every 3000 miles?

 

Depends on how it is driven. Higher RPM driving, or a heavier foot during acceleration, will use more oil than light acceleration and lower RPM.
The farther the throttle is open, the more the OMP will inject, as it has a manual linkage from the carb to the OMP.
1 quart every 3000 miles would be a good average, for most drivers.

 

A good suggestion. But if it does smell like gas, you've probably got an oil control ring problem. I would hope it doesn't smell like gas at all.

 

Oil o-ring and seal issues aside, a street port will always smell more like gas more than a stock port.

 

Tell me about it. I assumed he's got a stock port car, maybe I should have asked.

 

Yes, all internals are stock. 136,000 and counting, as far as i can tell, the OMP is working. just to clarify, are the oil lines that come up the front and are clear the OMP lines on an 81? These lines are full of oil, and gradually get darker right before an oil change. so it must be pumping. the oil does smell like gas a little (eek!!). oh well if i have to rebuild this summer, early christmas!! anybody in CO thats rebuilt a Rotary? I was hoping to wait for next semester, when we get into engine performance and rebuild whatever 2 engines we want, and i get extra credit for doing a rotary He he he!!