Reliability experiences with fuel-injected 13B rotary
01-26-08, 08:42 PM
#1
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Reliability experiences with fuel-injected 13B rotary
Hey I just bought a 1984 Mazda RX-7 GSL-SE and I was looking to race it in the SCCA autocross (SOLO) but I wanted to see what you guys thought about reliability, trouble spots (engine rebuild mileage, etc.), parts I should keep lying around, and anything I should know (can't turn off engine before fully warmed up, etc.)? Anything will help, thanks!
01-27-08, 08:34 PM
#2
FB+FC=F-ME
Naturally aspirated rotaries in general, are well known for being reliable.
The GSL-SE is equipped right......straight from the factory.It has the superior air/oil cooler that the later 12A's lacked,it has the large surface area radiator,the 4 hose oil metering system,a relatively reliable EFI system and the best brakes of the 1st gen models. 200K miles and more are common on N/A rotaries with no rebuilds and no running issues,but previous owner care plays a big factor there.Regular oil changes and NEVER overheating are the biggies when it comes to long rotary engine life.
Basic 25 year old car maintenence stuff applies to any SE you might come across.If the engine is hard to start,its time to pull the 2 injectors and have them cleaned and balanced.This is fairly common on SE's,and with a rotary it can make them very hard to start if the injectors are leaking.Cheap and easy job.
The EFI has its shares of quirks,but they usually are due to age and deterioration of hoses and plastic parts.The metered air EFI lends itself well to mods and its usually reliable,although many people have a time trying to get a low smooth idle out of the SE,though thats hardly an issue with a racecar.The lack of a check engine light or modern EFI diagnostics system makes the SE and S4 cars a pain to troubleshoot,but it can be done with the right knowledge.The non-turbo trannies tend to get loose and rumbly after 150K miles or so.The SE is no exception,so check/change the tranny oil and listen carefully for abnormal sounds.
The SE is also the heaviest 1st gen,so be ready to start stripping various luxury and uneeded items from the car if your making a dedicated racer.
The GSL-SE is equipped right......straight from the factory.It has the superior air/oil cooler that the later 12A's lacked,it has the large surface area radiator,the 4 hose oil metering system,a relatively reliable EFI system and the best brakes of the 1st gen models. 200K miles and more are common on N/A rotaries with no rebuilds and no running issues,but previous owner care plays a big factor there.Regular oil changes and NEVER overheating are the biggies when it comes to long rotary engine life.
Basic 25 year old car maintenence stuff applies to any SE you might come across.If the engine is hard to start,its time to pull the 2 injectors and have them cleaned and balanced.This is fairly common on SE's,and with a rotary it can make them very hard to start if the injectors are leaking.Cheap and easy job.
The EFI has its shares of quirks,but they usually are due to age and deterioration of hoses and plastic parts.The metered air EFI lends itself well to mods and its usually reliable,although many people have a time trying to get a low smooth idle out of the SE,though thats hardly an issue with a racecar.The lack of a check engine light or modern EFI diagnostics system makes the SE and S4 cars a pain to troubleshoot,but it can be done with the right knowledge.The non-turbo trannies tend to get loose and rumbly after 150K miles or so.The SE is no exception,so check/change the tranny oil and listen carefully for abnormal sounds.
The SE is also the heaviest 1st gen,so be ready to start stripping various luxury and uneeded items from the car if your making a dedicated racer.
01-27-08, 10:03 PM
#3
Steve has covered most everything very well. The only things I can add are regular oil changes at least every 3k, more often if racing and be prepared to do a full renewal/upgrade on the brakes and suspension to be competitive.
In my sig line are links to the online FSMs, and other rotary related reading, enjoy.
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In my sig line are links to the online FSMs, and other rotary related reading, enjoy.
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