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How does a rotary engine sound like?

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Old Oct 26, 2005 | 04:10 PM
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How does a rotary engine sound like?

As a first time rotary car owner (89 FC3 Vert), I had no idea what a rotary sounds like. I don't even know if my car's making the right sound either. When I rev it up, engine makes a whining noise at the end, it's like a propeller whining sound. Is this normal???
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Old Oct 26, 2005 | 04:24 PM
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The OEM exhaust sounds a bit "tinny/quiet to me." I like the HKS exhaust personally as it's nice & throaty and has a distinctive rotary high RPM sound that's NOT buzzy, tinny, or "hole in exhaust" sound like most cheap 4 cylinder exhaust systems. It sounds really really good and is a thrill to hear/experience.

The Racing Beat system has a nice note as well, but is a bit quieter.

Besides exhaust you'll hear the air-pump (emissions) venting above 4500RPMS I think (that wooshing sound) and you'll notice the tone change when the VDI (variable duct intake) system opens up ~3600RPMS I think and again at 6500RPMS. (can't remember why the sound changes at that RPM offhand.

Last edited by vaughnc; Oct 26, 2005 at 04:26 PM.
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Old Oct 26, 2005 | 04:24 PM
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sounds like a chainsaw... rofl
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Old Oct 26, 2005 | 05:09 PM
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BRAAAAAAAAAAAAAP BRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAP *throttle off* pm pm pm

that made sense to me...

but when you let of the throttle it makes tiny backfire-like noises which used to scare me but its normal.
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Old Oct 26, 2005 | 05:22 PM
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A piston goes *boingy boingy boingy boingy*
but a mazda goes "MMMMMMMMMMMM"
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Old Oct 26, 2005 | 05:30 PM
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Why it changes tone above 6k rpm is because the 5th and 6th ports are open. So Chainsaw massacure (spelling?)
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Old Oct 26, 2005 | 05:49 PM
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Originally Posted by 2slow4stock
Why it changes tone above 6k rpm is because the 5th and 6th ports are open. So Chainsaw massacure (spelling?)
No, that is the VDI... there isnt much of an audible change with the auxilliary ports, but the VDI makes a big difference in sound.
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Old Oct 26, 2005 | 05:50 PM
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braaaaap braaaap BOOM
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Old Oct 26, 2005 | 06:11 PM
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Originally Posted by jamesc760
As a first time rotary car owner (89 FC3 Vert), I had no idea what a rotary sounds like. I don't even know if my car's making the right sound either. When I rev it up, engine makes a whining noise at the end, it's like a propeller whining sound. Is this normal???
Sounds about right, lol. Could be tranny though... (maybe?)
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Old Oct 26, 2005 | 06:12 PM
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it goes zoom zooom zooooom
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Old Oct 26, 2005 | 08:25 PM
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Originally Posted by theone81
it goes zoom zooom zooooom

ya zoom zoom zoom??
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Old Oct 26, 2005 | 09:53 PM
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Once I left my Maz idling outside of a bank so I could draw money from an ATM, and this woman came outside the bank and said "Where's that chopper I can hear?" I said, "that Aint no chopper, It's my turbo RX7!" She just went "oh!", and walked back inside!
I love the sound of the car starting, when It sits on about 1500rpm during warmup.
I have a home-made, straight through, twin 3" system from the downpipe, with two humungous "Rota-flo" (Aussie icon) Stainless packed mufflers! ($400 each AUD). My only problem now is that the boost cut takes all my fun away when I floor it!
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Old Oct 26, 2005 | 11:04 PM
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Originally Posted by slpin
ya zoom zoom zoom??
hells yeah!

kid in commercial *whispers* "zooom zooooom..."
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Old Nov 7, 2005 | 12:01 PM
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at least it doesn't go VA,VA,Vooooom...
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Old Nov 7, 2005 | 01:11 PM
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Originally Posted by vaughnc
Besides exhaust you'll hear the air-pump (emissions) venting above 4500RPMS I think (that wooshing sound) and you'll notice the tone change when the VDI (variable duct intake) system opens up ~3600RPMS I think and again at 6500RPMS. (can't remember why the sound changes at that RPM offhand.
At around 3600 the VDI (Variable Dynamic Intake) doesnt open, that is when the AUX ports open.

VDI opens around 6500RPM
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Old Nov 7, 2005 | 01:40 PM
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lets just say rotary engines sound like a lawnmower
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Old Nov 7, 2005 | 01:43 PM
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umm...its sounds pissed.
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Old Nov 15, 2005 | 03:00 PM
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it sounds like a pissed off bumble bee! oh i love the sound of the rotary, it's so addictive the best high ever!
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Old Nov 17, 2005 | 02:19 AM
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Friends told me my '84 GSL sounded like a Hoover vacuum cleaner (stock)

best description I've heard is a weedwhacker on crack.

I dunno, when I've been behind them they have a strong "metallic" sound, if that means anything.
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Old Mar 19, 2019 | 03:33 PM
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to me it sounds like an elegant 2 cycle lol
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Old Mar 19, 2019 | 04:52 PM
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You just necroed the most retarded thread i have ever seen in my life
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Old Mar 19, 2019 | 08:34 PM
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Originally Posted by WANKfactor
You just necroed the most retarded thread i have ever seen in my life
sad
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Old Mar 19, 2019 | 11:15 PM
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that member hasn't been on here since '07. why bump these old threads when there's plenty of recent ones to post in.
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Old Mar 22, 2019 | 02:42 PM
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I'm glad this thread was necroed, it contains some valuable information that we all need to be reminded of.
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Old Mar 22, 2019 | 03:05 PM
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Originally Posted by Tom93R1
I'm glad this thread was necroed, it contains some valuable information that we all need to be reminded of.
yeah i know right. Broom broom, zoom zoom, chugga chugga . Its invaluable.
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