Hey guys, I've been thinking the past while. My car has a shitty idle, doesn't start normally (have to try to start once or twice, de-flood and it will start),
and low compression on ONE of the rear rotor faces. The Mazda tech said it was an apex seal and that's what I automatically assumed it would be when
it happened. But if it only has bad compression on one rotor face, then shouldn't it be a side seal?

What are the hazards of driving with a "cracked" side seal? What could have caused it? I've done searching but the only problems I ever find people
have a with apex seals.

Car is an S5 T2.

 

If it was an apex seal, it indeed would be low compression on two faces. You can drive with blown seals as long as you like, but keep in mind that it needs to be rebuilt and simply putting the rebuild off makes the rebuild more expensive in the future.

 

Yeah I know, that's why I realized it couldn't be an apex seal. I know putting it off can lead to future problems, but how much driving could cause it to become a bigger problem? I'm putting it in the garage Monday, and rebuilding it myself over winter. Would just the intermediate housing become damaged? It's not like the seal is gone, because I do have compression.