ok, the engine oil. What does it provde protection to? There isnt a crank that sits in it- so what does? I know oil is injected into the gas to lubricate the seals, but why does 6 quarts sit in the pan?

 

Oil flows throught the eccentric shaft and comes out through little holes. It lubricates the stationary gear, and the inner gear of the rotor.

 

I think it's more like 4.5 quarts in the pan.. maybe 6 in the full system (cooler, lines, filter, etc..)

Pretty much *ANYTHING* that is in contact with anything else that moves gets oiled.. All the bearings and gears. The eccentric shaft is essentially a crank, and anything it touches needs oil. True, it doesn't "sit" in oil, but oil is pumped thru it. Oil is also responsible for something like 35% of the cooling on a rotary engine. It goes all over inside the rotors and stuff. This is why low oil is sooooooo bad--less volume to dissipate all that heat.

-Tesla

 

How does the oil return to the pan after it gets to the eccentric, rotors, etc? The rotor chamber is sealed, so where is the path for the oil to return?

 

There are oil squirters in the eccentric shaft and the rotors are hollow. There are also 'windows' in the stationary gears that let oil flow from one end of the engine to the other.

It's weird in a way.

 

About like this:

 

I bet there is a quart just in the oil cooler, and another half quart in the filter.

 

it is CRAZY !!!

 

I just replaced the oil lines engine-oil cooler. While I was doing that, I drained the oil cooler. I then replaced the oil filter, and drained the oil. It took 4 quarts to bring the oil level to the full mark. Then, I started the engine. No leaks. I then checked the oil, it was way down. 1 and 3/4 quarts were required to bring the oil level up to full.

Irv, Keith's dad

PS this is on an 87 TII!

 

Yeah, I usually drain the oil in the cooler when I change the oil. I put 5 quarts in then start it up and let it run until warm. It takes about 1/2 quart to fill it up. Changing the oil in the cooler keeps the oil looking clean for longer. I think to keep from wearing out the aluminum threads in the cooler header, you could change the oil in it every other time you change the oil in the pan.

Ren

 

There is. I tipped mine over when I had t off the car once

 

What would be cool, is if there was some sort of fitting that could come off of the oil cooler return line, that would drain it.. Anyone ever hear of a hose that has a fitting like this? Something like the schrader valve in the a/c system...only, bigger, probably, since it won't be under pressure while off.

-Tesla