3rd Generation Specific (1993-2002) 1993-2002 Discussion including performance modifications and Technical Support Sections.
Sponsored by:

worried about my motor

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 03-08-08, 06:32 PM
  #1  
Certified Rotorhead

Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
turBRO240's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Glendale (SoCal)
Posts: 978
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
worried about my motor

Thinking that it may be running on one rotor.

I was boosting... nothing crazy, 16psi on Kan's tune, let off the gas, idle dropped to 750 and vacum was around 250

basically the car sounds like a V8 with .600 lift cams.


any ideas on symptoms or anything?
Old 03-08-08, 07:03 PM
  #2  
Original Gangster/Rotary!


iTrader: (213)
 
GoodfellaFD3S's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: FL-->NJ/NYC again!
Posts: 30,529
Received 539 Likes on 326 Posts
-250 on the pfc commander? that's horrendous vacuum, like 10 inches.

You were running 16 psi on 91 octane, no water inj etc?

Do you have a boost gauge? If your idle is constant, does the needle rhythmically tick in vacuum?
Old 03-09-08, 03:37 PM
  #3  
Certified Rotorhead

Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
turBRO240's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Glendale (SoCal)
Posts: 978
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Yes 16 on 91.

16 is my "B" setting and "A" is 14. The off setting is 12(wastegate spring). It was tunned by Steve Kan. This was using a AVCR

When everything was normal, the idle was about 1100 and vacuum around 450-500

i made a quick video of startup and number on the AVCR

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...arch&plindex=0
Old 03-09-08, 05:20 PM
  #4  
Will work for horsepower

 
Busted7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Springfield, MO
Posts: 1,865
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
It didnt sound like a totally dead rotor to me. But a compression test will tell the tail. What does it sound like reved up a little and does it shake? I hope its something simple good luck!
Old 03-09-08, 05:31 PM
  #5  
Needs more seat time

iTrader: (5)
 
ihavetwins's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 1,939
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 1 Post
yea if your car has the shakes busted7 is right dead rotor. good look man.
Old 03-09-08, 09:48 PM
  #6  
Certified Rotorhead

Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
turBRO240's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Glendale (SoCal)
Posts: 978
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
The motor shakes like a person on too much crack.

ill get a video of it
Old 03-09-08, 10:26 PM
  #7  
Turn up the boost
RX7Club Vendor
iTrader: (12)
 
Turblown's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Twin Cities, MN
Posts: 7,067
Received 91 Likes on 77 Posts
Originally Posted by turBRO240

basically the car sounds like a V8 with .600 lift cams.

Thats the sound of a blown engine.
Old 03-09-08, 10:31 PM
  #8  
Will work for horsepower

 
Busted7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Springfield, MO
Posts: 1,865
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
damn!
Old 03-10-08, 12:09 AM
  #9  
It's dark like Poe.
 
DarkLikePoe's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: California
Posts: 359
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Is your MAP sensor plugged in? Just hoping for the easy fix.
Old 03-10-08, 08:33 AM
  #10  
Mr. Links

iTrader: (1)
 
Mahjik's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Kansas City, MO
Posts: 27,595
Received 40 Likes on 26 Posts
Just get a cheapy compression tester and check it. It takes only a few minutes and you would have already had an idea of the condition by now.
Old 03-10-08, 10:38 PM
  #11  
Original Gangster/Rotary!


iTrader: (213)
 
GoodfellaFD3S's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: FL-->NJ/NYC again!
Posts: 30,529
Received 539 Likes on 326 Posts
That's better vacuum (500 at 1100 rpm) then my motor pulls

Honestly (and there are those who will disagree of course) I think you were running too much boost on pump gas, did Steve tune it to that level knowing you were running 91? He's always tuned on the safe side in my experience.
Old 03-11-08, 12:20 AM
  #12  
Will work for horsepower

 
Busted7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Springfield, MO
Posts: 1,865
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Originally Posted by GoodfellaFD3S
That's better vacuum (500 at 1100 rpm) then my motor pulls

Honestly (and there are those who will disagree of course) I think you were running too much boost on pump gas, did Steve tune it to that level knowing you were running 91? He's always tuned on the safe side in my experience.
Thats what i thought as well!
Old 03-11-08, 12:29 AM
  #13  
Always Under Construction

iTrader: (9)
 
twomucboost4u's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: San Jose
Posts: 2,294
Received 20 Likes on 11 Posts
Doesnt mean he couldnt have lost a little fuel pressure!!! Check the compression.

Chris
Old 03-11-08, 07:43 AM
  #14  
Original Gangster/Rotary!


iTrader: (213)
 
GoodfellaFD3S's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: FL-->NJ/NYC again!
Posts: 30,529
Received 539 Likes on 326 Posts
Could be a chipped seal. It would be 'barely' blown, not sure that'll make you feel better.

Just watched the vid, sounds blown to me. Notice how the vacuum value fluctuates rapidly? also, is that a wideband mounted over your steering wheel? do you have any AFR readings from the time surrounding when it blew?
Old 03-11-08, 10:20 AM
  #15  
Certified Rotorhead

Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
turBRO240's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Glendale (SoCal)
Posts: 978
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Checked the compression... blew a apex seal on the rear rotor.

And yes, I let Steve know that it was 91... and quite frankly im kind of pissed off because since hes a concervative tuner, I thought I would be safe... but im the second person who blew his motor from that same tune last month.


At this point... Ive dumped every cent Ive had into this car, around 26k, and im only 17. Its getting quite ridiculous. It was a Pettit rebuilt engine too.

Goodbye cruel, cruel rotary world. Ive loved you since the begining, learned about your, read about you, wrote about you, praised you, raved about you, worked on you, rebuilt you, and faught for you.

You've stabbed me in the back and put me in debt for the next 6+years of college.... yet, I know in 20 years, I just might call you back, and we'l see how it goes from there.
Old 03-11-08, 11:22 AM
  #16  
Turn up the boost
RX7Club Vendor
iTrader: (12)
 
Turblown's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Twin Cities, MN
Posts: 7,067
Received 91 Likes on 77 Posts
Originally Posted by turBRO240
Checked the compression... blew a apex seal on the rear rotor.

And yes, I let Steve know that it was 91... and quite frankly im kind of pissed off because since hes a concervative tuner, I thought I would be safe... but im the second person who blew his motor from that same tune last month.


At this point... Ive dumped every cent Ive had into this car, around 26k, and im only 17. Its getting quite ridiculous. It was a Pettit rebuilt engine too.

Goodbye cruel, cruel rotary world. Ive loved you since the begining, learned about your, read about you, wrote about you, praised you, raved about you, worked on you, rebuilt you, and faught for you.

You've stabbed me in the back and put me in debt for the next 6+years of college.... yet, I know in 20 years, I just might call you back, and we'l see how it goes from there.
Can't always blame the tuner. Could be a ton of reasons why you're engine blew...
__________________
Rotary Performance Parts


Old 03-11-08, 12:50 PM
  #17  
Pic
Junior Member

iTrader: (1)
 
Pic's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Quebec
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
It's sad to hear.

It's not the first time I hear that a Steve Kan tuned single turbo engine blow but is it the tuning or a fuel system that didn't work properly...

But don't forget it is not the rotary engine that put you in debt for the next years...

Are you really gonna sell it?? Take your time and think about it
Old 03-11-08, 01:26 PM
  #18  
Original Gangster/Rotary!


iTrader: (213)
 
GoodfellaFD3S's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: FL-->NJ/NYC again!
Posts: 30,529
Received 539 Likes on 326 Posts
Originally Posted by turBRO240
Checked the compression... blew a apex seal on the rear rotor.

And yes, I let Steve know that it was 91... and quite frankly im kind of pissed off because since hes a concervative tuner, I thought I would be safe... but im the second person who blew his motor from that same tune last month.


At this point... Ive dumped every cent Ive had into this car, around 26k, and im only 17. Its getting quite ridiculous. It was a Pettit rebuilt engine too.

Goodbye cruel, cruel rotary world. Ive loved you since the begining, learned about your, read about you, wrote about you, praised you, raved about you, worked on you, rebuilt you, and faught for you.

You've stabbed me in the back and put me in debt for the next 6+years of college.... yet, I know in 20 years, I just might call you back, and we'l see how it goes from there.
Well, please take this as constructive---

You didn't do enough research. Running that boost level on straight 91 octane pump fuel is asking for a blown engine, as you found out the hard way

Also, I don't think you can blame the tuner.....there are many variables as to what could have happened.
Old 03-11-08, 06:41 PM
  #19  
Certified Rotorhead

Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
turBRO240's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Glendale (SoCal)
Posts: 978
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Wait no... im not blaming the tuner, I rave about Steve.

Im just disappointed in it all together, I was unsure about the motor anyway.


Should have kept it under 1bar


Currently taking offers on the car. Posted in FS section. I calculated it today and I have over 15k in just parts alone in the car not including labor etc. Just need someone to take it off my hands now.
Old 03-11-08, 11:39 PM
  #20  
Rotary Freak

 
pluto's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: fort worth, tx, usa
Posts: 1,926
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
that's weird... If I remembered correctly, you were the one that had the turbo compressor wheel nut came off during the tune? I recalled tuning your car to around 10.5-10.7 a/f to give a little margin for the turbo eff difference. Did you get a new tank of gas when the car blew?



Originally Posted by turBRO240
Wait no... im not blaming the tuner, I rave about Steve.

Im just disappointed in it all together, I was unsure about the motor anyway.


Should have kept it under 1bar


Currently taking offers on the car. Posted in FS section. I calculated it today and I have over 15k in just parts alone in the car not including labor etc. Just need someone to take it off my hands now.
Old 03-12-08, 12:02 AM
  #21  
Certified Rotorhead

Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
turBRO240's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Glendale (SoCal)
Posts: 978
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Well... the turbo, turned out to be Garrett's fault and they replaced it for free. The nut was threaded the opposite way the turbine spinned which cause it to come loose.

Yes, it was a new tank of gas. 91, highest we get here.

I was on the "B" setting, 2nd pull up to 6.5k and when i let off, vacuum went to **** and idle dropped to 750rpm.

After the tune, it was running really lean up to 3k, around 14.68, before it was around 12.2.

I think it leaned out.
Old 03-12-08, 09:29 AM
  #22  
Will work for horsepower

 
Busted7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Springfield, MO
Posts: 1,865
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
That has nothing to do with the afrs at 6500 rpms they change as the tune changes, boost level and so on! I wouldnt think 14.6 would be of at 3000. rpms. But im sure Steve can explain better.
Old 03-12-08, 01:13 PM
  #23  
Rotary Freak

 
pluto's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: fort worth, tx, usa
Posts: 1,926
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
at 3k rpm, your crusing a/f ratio should be in the high 14's to low 15's. This is the area where I lean it out to give the best fuel economy for cruising. Once you are at boost, it will richen up as the psi started to build.

Did you say that it was a brand new tank of gas when the engine let go? I have seen many times where the gas station accidently put in 87 octane to replace preimum gas (happens to me at least 4 times) and causes the engine to detonate. I usually don't even get on it if the car was spuddering on a tank of gas (which is usually an indication of bad gas).

From my experience, 87 octane is only good for 10psi (at most) w/o breaking the engine. Anything more will detonate the engine due to its fast burning properties.




Originally Posted by turBRO240
Well... the turbo, turned out to be Garrett's fault and they replaced it for free. The nut was threaded the opposite way the turbine spinned which cause it to come loose.

Yes, it was a new tank of gas. 91, highest we get here.

I was on the "B" setting, 2nd pull up to 6.5k and when i let off, vacuum went to **** and idle dropped to 750rpm.

After the tune, it was running really lean up to 3k, around 14.68, before it was around 12.2.

I think it leaned out.
Old 03-12-08, 02:10 PM
  #24  
T O R Q U E!

iTrader: (24)
 
mdpalmer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: far far away
Posts: 2,034
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Question

Originally Posted by pluto
at 3k rpm, your crusing a/f ratio should be in the high 14's to low 15's. This is the area where I lean it out to give the best fuel economy for cruising. Once you are at boost, it will richen up as the psi started to build.

Did you say that it was a brand new tank of gas when the engine let go? I have seen many times where the gas station accidently put in 87 octane to replace preimum gas (happens to me at least 4 times) and causes the engine to detonate. I usually don't even get on it if the car was spuddering on a tank of gas (which is usually an indication of bad gas).

From my experience, 87 octane is only good for 10psi (at most) w/o breaking the engine. Anything more will detonate the engine due to its fast burning properties.
^^ Interesting. Is there any other simple way (aside from a spuddering car) to tell what the octane rating of the gas is? How did you know that the gas station used the wrong gas (did you see the truck pull up, chemical test afterwards, etc.)? Do you feel that the 10 psi limit is turbo dependent? Sorry if I'm off topic
Old 03-12-08, 02:58 PM
  #25  
Full Member

iTrader: (1)
 
samad's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: islamabad, pakistan
Posts: 158
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
damn man all u guys have me shitting bricks now!...i have the same kind of idle and shaking!....although i did a compression check( during the unflooding procedure)...the compression was 84 on the back rotor and 87 in the front. im guessing it was low cuz of the flooding! oh and the car is still pretty fast...which im guessing shudnt be if i were on one rotor?


Quick Reply: worried about my motor



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:15 AM.