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View Poll Results: What caused your engine to fail?
Apex seal broke due to detonation
13
33.33%
Apex seal worn out due to high miles
3
7.69%
Apex seal rotor groove worn out due to miles
2
5.13%
Side seal failure
0
0%
Coolant seal failure
15
38.46%
Other?
6
15.38%
Voters: 39. You may not vote on this poll

What's the real cause of engine failure?

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Old 05-01-04, 08:45 PM
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What's the real cause of engine failure?

As the title says, what's the real cause.

I'd like experienced people to answer this, the ones that have had the engine replaced.

Please refrain to vote based on "I heard" or "I read", I'd like real experiences.

Thanks a lot!

Note:
Please excuse me if this is a repost, I've been reading in the forums and searched but didn't see something like this.
Old 05-01-04, 08:55 PM
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There is no "Real" cause. Engines fail for different reasons. Its just a matter of what happens to break or wear out first.
Old 05-01-04, 08:58 PM
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I agree, but I want to see via this poll what usually breaks or gets worn first
Old 05-01-04, 11:03 PM
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edit...
Old 05-01-04, 11:14 PM
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Coolant seal failure due to overheating on first RX-7 owned - no failures on others since.
Old 05-02-04, 12:15 AM
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detonation while tuning caused apex seal to break and take rotor/rotor housing along with it
Old 05-02-04, 05:07 PM
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detonation while tuning caused apex seal to break and take rotor/rotor housing along with it


what about ur turbos?? r they alive?
Old 05-02-04, 06:05 PM
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What is the purpose of this poll?

I am calling this what it is, a stupid n00b poll that makes absolutely no sense. All of the above are causes for engine failure, not one partiular thing. This poll will not tell you what part wears out first.

Use this, its your friend. https://www.rx7club.com/search.php

Last edited by FormerPorscheGuy; 05-02-04 at 06:07 PM.
Old 05-02-04, 10:00 PM
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If you don't like it don't read it...

I'm no newbie, don't be fooled by my low post count, I just read more than I post. I've owned rotaries since I started driving and have studied them throughly since before buying my first car (1st gen), I know more than most would think. I believe this poll is very useful and it is a great tool to get some statistics about engine failures. Thanks

Last edited by neit_jnf; 05-02-04 at 10:02 PM.
Old 05-02-04, 11:50 PM
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I like this poll because I am also interested in 1st hand accounts of why peoples motors blew. We all know the different reasons why it could go but to see which reasons are most popular is interesting,
Old 05-02-04, 11:53 PM
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tahmid...yea my 99 spec twins survived =)!!! Seem to be pulling harder now then ever before. Or maybe just feels like that now because my compression is back to where it should be....
Old 05-02-04, 11:55 PM
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tamid...yep, 99 spec twins survived =)!!!
Old 05-03-04, 05:24 AM
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My fuel atomizers broke off and dropped down into the engine and took out 4 seals. So if it wasn’t for Mazda using plastic fuel atomizers I would probably still be on my first engine and turbos.

Last edited by Drifter93; 05-03-04 at 05:27 AM.
Old 05-03-04, 12:13 PM
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its all over boosting or not tune correctly...
not enough air and fuel while at full boost will cause Apex seal flying.
hopefully that's not what just happen to me...
Old 05-03-04, 12:14 PM
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One good ping and apex seal.
Old 05-03-04, 03:39 PM
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I find the results interesting so far... Almost even between detonation and coolant seals as I thought it would be. So just keep your cooling system in good condition and tune the fuel right. I'm sure everyone here already knew that. I voted for worn apex seal rotor grooves as this is what happened to my car, it was stock and lasted a little over 120k miles.
The bad news was that one month after the rebuild I was rear-ended and "sandwiched" while waiting behind a pick-up truck for the light to turn green. Totalled, and sold the remains.

Last edited by neit_jnf; 05-03-04 at 03:42 PM.
Old 05-03-04, 05:57 PM
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I think it was just worded wrong. How about "Survey: How did your motor go?" I don't think their is one real reason either but there are plenty of false rumors such as oil failure (whatever that means). I would imagine the o-ring would be first followed by detonation but we'll see how it turns out.

oh, I should reword mine as well as I think the o-ring failure would be #1 running the twins and detonation would be #1 for single turbo 3rd gen's because of bad or no tuning.

Last edited by GoRacer; 05-03-04 at 06:03 PM.
Old 05-05-04, 01:24 AM
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bump... Any more voters?
Old 05-05-04, 10:30 AM
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coolant seals
Old 05-05-04, 10:42 AM
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The poll could really fall into two categories.
Detonation or Coolant Seal Failure.
Old 05-05-04, 01:18 PM
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Cool

main cause - "poor mans way of gaining boost/hp"... lack of fuel and air causes either apex or coolant seal to go out first.


see ya,

car 53
Old 05-06-04, 09:45 AM
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There is no choice for "The idiot doing the work on the car?"
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