I was just wanting to know how long a rotary engines life is on average? I see so many that have rebuild motors at 100K so I just wanted to know if they last long? My older one did, but I had it used so I really don't know. Also what is a rebuild for a rotary, is it just replacing the gaskets and Apex seals? How hard is it? I know these things are small, so just wanting to know?

 

Why don't you try searching, rather than ask a question that has already been covered many times.

 

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^ they last this long

 

i heard the more you abuse a motor the longer it lasts... like redlining every gear is good for carbon removal...lolz

 

i herd the same thing lol

 

N/A motors last quite a while. However, it depends on how picky you are about performance. As expected, the longer the motor goes, the lower the compression gets. i.e. the less power you will make. I've seen motors go 200k in N/A fashion. Now, I'm sure those motors were down quite a bit on power, but they were just used as an everyday cars. They weren't "drag racing" or track cars.

Nope, it's a more than that. Every internal part needs to be examined for wear. Any part which doesn't fit the allowable tolerances needs to be replaced. Generally, you just go ahead and replace all the seals as it doesn't make much sense to try to reuse seals if the motor had a lot of miles on it. But housings and such may or may not be reusable, need to check rotors and bearings, etc.

 

Why dont people just try to help instead of tearing everyone down

I have personally seen a 12-a stock engine with 275000 on it it was still running like new.!! change your oil drive it hard every once in a while to blow out the carbon keep it cool the cooler the engine runs the longer it last in most cases and keep it in tune this helps a lot good luck

 

For a 'full' rebuild on an FD this is what I replace (figure a high mileage motor):

apex, side, corner seals and springs
oil control o-rings, inner/outer
coolant o-rings, inner/outer
dowel pin o-rings
rear main seal and rear stat gear o-ring
front cover seal and double o-ring
metal front cover gasket
rotor and stat gear bearings
few other misc gaskets/o-rings

I've seen FD motors last as long as 125k-150k miles, but those are outliers on the bell curve.

 

i think that typically a n/a lasts about 200k although some make it to 300k or more

and that a stock t2 lasts about 70 to 80k and most make it too 100k but have problems

and then your mild to wild boosted motors last about 50 or 60k and are usually rebuilt before they even get close to being worn out . but even at daily driving it takes along time to get to 60k and these cars arnt dd mostly and its easy to put back 50 or 100 from every paycheck so when rebuild time comes u have it already

 

mine is at 190400 and counting

 

One of my 12a's made it to 226,xxx roughly. Another only made it to about 87k(bought it like this) before front rotor loss compression. Depends on maintence and how much you beat on it i'd say.

 

Don't just post made up numbers. TII motors will last well over 100k if they're not overboosted or otherwise mistreated. My TII had 135k on the original motor, and ran very strong. Plenty of other people have put many more miles than that on theirs. Do you really think mazda would have produced a car that would last only 70k miles out the door? That's rediculous. Chalk up the cars that lose compression early to people abusing them.

 

Yeah, I agree. My 87 TII lasted till 130K, so just shy of yours by a hand. But it was properly maintained and not beaten on. I'd redline it now and again to prevent carbon building but that was it. Complete DD.

 

Thanks guys for the answers. Mine did last a good while, I just have seen so many in the papers that say rebuilt engine or needs an engine with good miles on them. Around 120000 so I just wanted to ask. Thank to everyone now my knowledge has grown more.

 

Currently have 1 RX7 1988 that has 453,000 and still running great.

I also have 1 GTU 145,000 running strong.

My friend has 88 T2 198,000 just ran 13.6 quarter mile...

Most rebuilds don't last, because most shops do not re apply the finish on the housings.

 

So it IS good to redline. I read Aaron's guide on 2nd gen's and he said it is, but then a lot of people on a certain thread were like no it isn't good to redline the engine...

 

of course its fine to redline the engine... it reduce carbon build up... at least thats what i think i've heard...

 

Treat your car like it is a part of you(well at least if you treat yourself well) and the engine will last 100k or so for FDs, tho I have heard of some lasting longer, and 200k+ as mentioned above for the older FC N/A models(which I would love to have as a daily driver to my FD)

 

Depending on how well you take care of the car / motor, it can last quite a while. I have a 1988 GTU with over 226k miles. Yea, probably not exactly like new, but still pretty strong, compared to its original performance. If the motor were to "break down," I'd rebuild it in a heartbeat.

I purchased it new in 1988 and it was the daily driver until late 2002. I've done lots of club drives through the mountains and deserts of San Diego, backroads trips around the west and even a cross-country trip or two through many backroads. Earlier days saw a little bit of auto-X, but nothing really serious. She even has somewhere in the neighborhood of 40 open track / HPDE days. Not that that is a great amount, but I did not start until somewhere about the 150k mile mark. Yep, the 2nd gen (FC) NA was never know for an abundance of power. Would have been nice to have had at least 30-40 more ponies. We'll see what the future holds.

Early on the oil was Castrol GTX 20W-50, but the last number of years it has been Valvoline VR1 Racing 20W-50. Guess I'll see how clean things are at the tear-down.

I have a few electrical problems of late, but that is expected with an older car. Other than that, she is pretty sound and a hell of a lot of fun to drive!


- John
A couple of shots follow ...
http://where-yat.net/sdrxc/MyCar/htm...linic9912g.htm
http://where-yat.net/sdrxc/RenoFern0..._G3D8632-a.htm
http://where-yat.net/sdrxc/Lyons0105..._JohnL1aSS.htm

 

a month, then build another one, LOL

 

I had about 189k on mine before it went, but it had a blown oil control seal as a present from the previous owner, so it might have lasted longer had they taken better care of it. Still drove the same after the seal went out, although it pissed my neighbors off something fierce.

My other N/A had about 179k before I wrecked it. Ran like a champ to the last second.

 

mine usually last a year or so

 

yea ive got a 93 and mine just went out at 163000, im doing a rebuild on it right now, ran strong till it went out, take care of em and they take care of u

 

Typically 2000 miles without searching first.

 

I have a 93 that just went out at 191000 miles but it ran strong to the end for now Im looking to get it rebuilt....... but like everyone says take care of your car and it will take care of you