here is the "million dollar" question:
with blown front rotor(apex seal), will the car still start and run, or just won't start?

what about with blown rear rotor(apex seal)?

thanks

 

Sure... It's a bitch though. If you loose all 3 apex seals on one rotor, the car will not run without you keeping your foot on the gas. Below 2000 RPM and it stalls. There is barely enough power in one rotor to move a car around in the driveway.

If you loose two apex seals, it will start easier but never get above 45 MPH.

If you loose one side seal, the car will idle rough but be driveable.

 

does matter which rotor? I heard one of the rotor play more major role at start?

also, in the situation of losing 3 apex seals, I guess no compression as all. if it is the front, can we still start the car and run with one rotor? what about if the rear one is gone? once, I was able to start a 7, and ran with one bad rotor. but I forgot which one.

also, (I think) at atkins site, they have engine runs with one rotor. and the horse is less than 100. so, I think that is enough to move the car, but just not fast with one bad rotor(all 3 apex gone)

correct me if i am wrong.

 

As far as I know, it shouldn't matter which rotor is dead.

Your comparison to the Atkins engine is flawed. A two rotor engine with a bad rotor has to move all the dead weight of the other rotor. This takes a substantal amount of HP. I had to move a 3rd gen a couple of weeks ago with one rotor dead. (3 apex seals gone on rear rotor) I could barely get the engine to rev above 4000 RPM. There wasn't enough power to move the car up the driveway.

 

are you saying that we can still start the car with one rotor in good compression?

I have seen several motor wouldn't start with one rotor.
also, I just tried to start a motor with both rotor in good compression(I felt that with my fingers at the spark plug hole), but I failed, even I tried the unflood procedure many times. and then my friend who is rx7 expert, he told me that the front rotor has one broken apex seal.

also, I vaguely remember he told me that one of the two rotors play more important role to start the car. once it fails, it won't start. but if the other one fails, you still can start it, but no power.

don't know.

 

That is what he is saying an looks like you owe him a million . . .

I have to ask why the concern on starting with blown seals. If you suspect one just get a compression test done.

 

before i rebuilt my TII all 3 seals were cracked on the rear rotor. I could drive it, very low on power, especially low end, but it would drive and easily get up to speed. i think this was due to the seals actually staying in place...they were only cracked, had not fallen out yet.
just my .02