Changing oil often must help.
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 1,825
Likes: 4
From: alberta, canada
Changing oil often must help.
Let me start by saying that I have done my share of
rebuilds, from motors that have detonated doing
some spectacular damage to 3 20b which failed from
age and wear.
I have come to expect certain things when opening
a motor based on the milage on it.
Most motors with 100 to 150,000 miles I expect to
see some wear on the side housings, apex seals that
are ready to fail and oil control rings that are ready
for replacement.
Well tonight I opened a 88 motor with 120,000 mile
on it, this motor was in good running order and was
removed only because the car received a TII motor.
To my surprise the inside of this motor is in exceptional
condition for the milage!
I mean the side housings show almost no wear at all,
if I didn't know what the milage was, I would have guessed
it to have been no more than 50,000 miles.
The oil control rings show very little wear as well, I have not
measured how much is left but I have did check to see if they
were near the wear limit and they are not even close, I would
guess that they have 50% left, the same goes for the side seals
they measure like new.
Now the same cant be said for the apex seals they measure
on the wear limit and would have failed very soon in
my opinion.
The rotor housings are in fair condition but not nearly as good
as the rest of the parts, which is a little puzzling to me, It almost
looks like the rotor housings are from another motor, but it
has never been apart.
I know the history of this motor and have all the records from the
first and second owner, which show that the oil was changed
religiously, I guess changing the oil really does make a difference
in how long these motors will last!
What I want to know is why the rotor housings look so much more
worn than any of the rest of the parts in the motor?
Was this one maintained well but reved harder making more wear
on the rotor housings?
I am starting to think that it might have something to do with
the fact that the 2nd owner put a k&n filter on it about 90,000 miles
ago, and that this filter might be letting more dirt pass causing the
increase in wear on the rotor housings and apex seals?
My 2 cents
matt
rebuilds, from motors that have detonated doing
some spectacular damage to 3 20b which failed from
age and wear.
I have come to expect certain things when opening
a motor based on the milage on it.
Most motors with 100 to 150,000 miles I expect to
see some wear on the side housings, apex seals that
are ready to fail and oil control rings that are ready
for replacement.
Well tonight I opened a 88 motor with 120,000 mile
on it, this motor was in good running order and was
removed only because the car received a TII motor.
To my surprise the inside of this motor is in exceptional
condition for the milage!
I mean the side housings show almost no wear at all,
if I didn't know what the milage was, I would have guessed
it to have been no more than 50,000 miles.
The oil control rings show very little wear as well, I have not
measured how much is left but I have did check to see if they
were near the wear limit and they are not even close, I would
guess that they have 50% left, the same goes for the side seals
they measure like new.
Now the same cant be said for the apex seals they measure
on the wear limit and would have failed very soon in
my opinion.
The rotor housings are in fair condition but not nearly as good
as the rest of the parts, which is a little puzzling to me, It almost
looks like the rotor housings are from another motor, but it
has never been apart.
I know the history of this motor and have all the records from the
first and second owner, which show that the oil was changed
religiously, I guess changing the oil really does make a difference
in how long these motors will last!
What I want to know is why the rotor housings look so much more
worn than any of the rest of the parts in the motor?
Was this one maintained well but reved harder making more wear
on the rotor housings?
I am starting to think that it might have something to do with
the fact that the 2nd owner put a k&n filter on it about 90,000 miles
ago, and that this filter might be letting more dirt pass causing the
increase in wear on the rotor housings and apex seals?
My 2 cents
matt
Former Moderator. RIP Icemark.
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 25,896
Likes: 24
From: Rohnert Park CA
yeah I would be looking at OMP and quality of gas (including filter replacement intervales).
I would also look at driving style... on the 84-88 13B, the oil was injected more heavily based on throttle position. If the owner ***** footed the car, it might not get even a third of the oil injected than someone that really drove the car.
I would also look at driving style... on the 84-88 13B, the oil was injected more heavily based on throttle position. If the owner ***** footed the car, it might not get even a third of the oil injected than someone that really drove the car.
Last edited by Icemark; Jan 26, 2003 at 01:06 AM.
Full Member
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 170
Likes: 0
From: Erie,pa 16503
A Great Majority of Recent engine Problems with the Rx-7 (2nd gen.) relates somewhat to in it being a reasonably cheap sports car to buy , that is bought and beat up by its owner durring there fustrating experimental stage, and in a lot of cases in not having a lot of bucks to play, so we complain about being a bad motor , and then theirs the fact that normally you can't take it to the corner garage and talk a friend into fixing it today and doit cheaper, cause I ain't got a lot of money , also we also are in the machanical learning stage . sounds long haired , but reaility ... ive had 455' ,rat motors 427, 426 hemi's , blueprinted vettes ,a gas coupe's . ect ...
Fact
The more you Wanta Play ! The more your gona' Pay !!!!
Although Life would be a real friggin bore without all that good fustration .. Right on ....
Fact
The more you Wanta Play ! The more your gona' Pay !!!!
Although Life would be a real friggin bore without all that good fustration .. Right on ....
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 1,825
Likes: 4
From: alberta, canada
I went on a couple rides in the car with the 2nd owner
before buying the car, and I did notice that he ran it
at higher revs at all times, 4000 being the average
around town, but I am not sure if he wasn't doing this
so I wouldn't hear the trani making noise under that
I will be sure to check the oil injectors and metering pump.
as for the air filter it looked clean and the last owner
had the cleaning kit so I am assuming that he might
have used it
the only thing out of the ordinary was a higher moisture
content in the oil and some foaming inside the front cover.
matt
before buying the car, and I did notice that he ran it
at higher revs at all times, 4000 being the average
around town, but I am not sure if he wasn't doing this
so I wouldn't hear the trani making noise under that
I will be sure to check the oil injectors and metering pump.
as for the air filter it looked clean and the last owner
had the cleaning kit so I am assuming that he might
have used it
the only thing out of the ordinary was a higher moisture
content in the oil and some foaming inside the front cover.
matt
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 1,825
Likes: 4
From: alberta, canada
well I checked the oil injectors tonight and they flow
great.
I also measured the apex seals and found them to
be past the wear limit by about 30% I am really surprised
that they didn't flip out of the rotors!
anyone know what a apex seal measures when they
flip out?
matt
great.
I also measured the apex seals and found them to
be past the wear limit by about 30% I am really surprised
that they didn't flip out of the rotors!
anyone know what a apex seal measures when they
flip out?
matt
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