Alright, if any of you remember me, I posted last month that I was buying a 10AE with 12,000 miles on it and the motor. My dad has been worrying lately (we're going to pick up the car this Thursday) that the engine is in bad shape. The guy that I'm buying it off of has garaged the car during the winter, but started it up two or three times every month. My dad called a guy at our local Mazda dealer on Friday and asked his opinion and the guy basically said that it was unhealthy for a rotary engine to sit over long periods of time. I'm aware of this point, but the engine has been started twice or thrice every month it was not on the roads. Should the engine be alright or is the guy at Mazda right? Many opinions requested, muchas gracias.

Michael

 

as long as its two or three times a month, and the engine only has 12k miles, I would assume its still ok. Have you driven the car? Does it smoke alot?

 

The car is in Kansas, and the guy said it has started up strong every time and has never smoked.

 

Anybody else?

 

I think what the mechanic was worried about was the carbon build up.
I guess rotary engines like to be reved alot to get rid of that build up. So if all he does is idle it, then there might be more than usual build up.

 

I would say drive it and have a compression test done.

 

Thanks you two, anybody else?

Michael

 

C'mon, running out of time.

 

dude, even if there is a bit of carbon build up... it's a tenth ann with only 12k miles.. If you dont get it, I will sell my kidneys and buy it instead. It's worth a rebuild, but I doubt that'll be the case.

 

Where can I get a compression test done? I know mazda dealers can give them, but can any dealership do them?

 

Crap if it starts its fine. IMO of course.

Still i agree that u should take it for a ride...thats the only way to know whether or not the car feels healthy.

 

Your kidney's full of diamonds?

 

I'm with you man, a rebuild or swap would be the worst in order - it sounds as if the car is pristine, and the worst bit would be to have an engine rebuild. The stock interior is still good?..

Get some pics!

 

I have a running 10th ann RX7 and would be more then happy to trade you mine if it does have a blown engine hehe Yeah it is bad for them to sit like that and with 12,000 miles on it, its most definately had its sitting time. Just have its compression checked out and if thats good then your all good.

 

The car looks lik it has just come off the assembly line, no joke. But even though it's had it's sitting time, it's been ran quite a bit, would that matter any? Thanks for all your advice, I'm going to have the guy get a compression test done for me before I go and pick it up on Friday.

 

where at in KS? If it's local, I could take a look at it for you.... honestly not interested in it myself -- I have my own project... Wouldn't mind taking a T2 for a test drive tho.

but I'd try to be as objective as possible. PM me offline if you're interested.

 

It's in St. John Kansas, just south of Great Bend. I'll PM you. Anybody else got any things to warn me/tell me about?

 

Good lord, a 10AE with 12k on it? How much does he want for it if you don't mind me asking? I'm jealous as HELL now. I've got an 87 GXL with almost 200k on it. How the hell does everyone else find the good ones.

I say buy it and don't look back even if it needs a new damn motor. (which it won't)

 

Need more.

 

You can do a compression test yourself.. just get a compression tester thingy and pull the plugs and crank it over. watch the fun little bounces

 

Yea, he just got them back and they are both perfect. Looks like I'm probably getting the car afterall! Hey cloead, you ever get yours back up and running?

 

It takes a LONG time for the motor to go bad just by sitting there. I let my TII sit for a whole year... In the beginning I was religious about starting it once a week, but after a few months, it was once every three months or so. Motor started strong on the first time when I swapped it into the donor chassis.

Steve

 

pfft, my cars sat for 6 months without being started (before i had it) and it still runs like a dime

Drive it around for a bit, keep the revs low.... get er all warmed up...then start to dip into the revs... get some of that carbon broken up (provided there is any)

 

Thanks you two! That low revving and getting all the carbon out sounds like a logical idea, thanks a lot!

When he gave me the compression results, he gave me numbers like 8.5 8.3 8.7 with a low of like 7.9. He said Mazda checked it all out and it said it was in perfect condition. Maybe he was telling me the boost being run? Any ideas there?

 

Those are the compression numbers in Bar(metric). And those are great numbers. You should be very happy. =)

Steve