mazda.junkie

I have an 87 n/a RX-7. I have had the car for 5 years. The car has been well maintained and driven right. Over the years the car has seen plenty of spirited driving, but never abused or neglected. Roughly 200,000 miles on the original engine. I cant say how it was treated before my aquisiton, but it was clean inside and out, and so where all the fluids. I put A Non DOT approved header and full exhaust, disabling the OMP and went to premix ages ago. The car has always pulled, idles, and start perfect consistantly. With all the miles its still 80% as fast as my friends 07 Si.

*The issue: Pulled into my friends driveway today, was backing up to make more room (slight incline) and in the process stalled the car. So, I said nevermind and just got out and went inside. Please bear in mind that I know this vehicle like a lifelong friend. I might have stalled it 5 times in 5 years. Well, a few hours later I go to leave and it wont turn over. Like maybe the startermotor isnt turning but the celonoid is coming out. So I turn the wheels and roll a little down the driveway and pop the clutch. Slides....then roll some more in 2nd. Nothing, wheels lock. Well, I attempt to turn the engine by hand using the accessory belts. There not moving. Seing as how this car has alot of mies, the compression is slightly low I think. Usually on a decent incline, the car will roll w/o the ebrake. So, I put the car in 3rd gear. The car wont budge. Somehow the engine is locked up. It was fine when I stalled it, and in fact the car has been solid all day.

Could Stalling the engine under load fold an apex seal? Or could a peice of carbon from one of the Rotor faces possibley have wedged itsself somehow?

I'm really at a loss. Nothing out of the ordinary took place, other than the fact I stalled it and didnt restart. I dont think it swallowed a seal, because I would have heard something. Tommorow, I plan to turn the eccentric shaft with a breaker bar in counter clockwise to see if I can get it to turn, and maybe realign a seal or dislodge any carbon. Obviously, if I hear something grind, I'll know its compromised. But, I dont see how it could have been siezed at such a minimal rpm, without "the dreaded hollow swallow sound".

I know this is a lengthy post, but hopefully someone has a little insight as to the culprite. I dont think its carbon locked, because it sees 6500 to 7000 rpms at least twice a day. I do run a ration or 1oz 2-stroke per gallon. I also understand that by nature that creates carbon as well. But I do run the car enough to burn it out In my mind.

I'm not a noob, a teenager, or someone without knowledge of these engines. I dont want to right it off just yet, but I also fear the worst.

Please give me some possible cenerios of how to reverse this assuming its not a folded Seal.

Thanks, Elijah

mazda.junkie

Well guy's, thanx for nothing. Any other time everyone would have posted facts, opinions, or something. I guess this is something that is out of you guys league.

I guess go back to flaming noobs as usual.

Aaron Cake

iTrader: (1)

It's been less then a day. Grow some patience.

Against my better judgement, I'm going to answer your question.

It sounds to me like the top part of an apex seal rolled out of the groove, and has jammed the engine. This is a failure in high mileage engines due to the stupid three piece seal design. The top section wears to the point it pops out, and then gets wedged.

Don't try to put a breaker bar on the engine. You'll just damage the rotor and housing. Then again, both may be dead already so it's you choice.

Carbon lock almost never happens. If you are hoping for carbon lock, first fill the engine with something that dissolves carbon. Carb cleaner, diesel fuel or some solvents will do the job. ATF will not. Then let it sit a few days and slowly try to rock the engine back and forth.

quasar

I'm with Aaron, best bet is to just get a salvage yard engine that is known to smoke because it's an easy fix and probably is a good base line for a rebuild, get new seals, install the engine and run it for another 200k miles.