jpoisson9

im looking into buying an FC (ill have one no matter what) but all i hear are horror storys about the rotory engine? whats the truth behind it.. im addicted to boost (ive had an 05 evo mr and fozzie sti) and everyone tells me boost goes in apex seals come out.... how can i preserve the rotory or whats an easy turbo engine swap?

iamthetougemonster

I was warned off from buying a rotary by every car guy I know before I bought mine. I ended up with an 89 FC.

I'm glad I'm hard headed, these cars are fun.

Here's what I was told by some rotary shops I've hung around since buying.

Keep it running cool. If you overheat the engine, it's toast. If you ever see the temperature getting dangerously high, pull over and let it cool off...never overheat this engine.

Keep up on the oil. The engine has oil injection. Squirting dirty oil into the combustion chamber isn't good on seals. The rotors also practically float on a cushion of oil on their sides...again, dirty oil will wear those seals out and oil starvation will destroy them. Make sure the oil is kept up and clean.

The problem with turbos is people don't tune properly. These cars need to run rich and slapping a turbo messes with that a lot. I've been told that any major change to the induction system requires a look into air/fuel ratio and most likely a new tune.

Honestly, I've had some issues with my car since I bought it. But none of them have been engine related. I have a big aluminum radiator with a massive electric fan. I keep a very close eye on oil level and quality. (I also use full synthetic, some folks swear by it, others swear it ruins rotaries. there's an almost unlimited number of threads arguing this point and people get heated on the topic of oil sometimes). I have a piggyback ECU and wideband so I always know where my air fuel ratio is and can mess with it if needed. If you leave your car stock and do regular maintenance, that last bit will be unnecessary, but it sound like you will be modifying.

With maintenance, a rotary will take you 200k+ miles before a rebuild. But it isn't a Civic you just jump in and go. It needs looking after. You can't get cheap on engine care or maintenance.

Hope this helps, hopefully one of the older guys around this forum can hop in and add to my wall of text.

Evil Aviator

The turbo FC was last produced 22 years ago. Since boost blows them up, there are none left for you to buy. Sorry, look for another car.

diabolical1

iTrader: (3)

that's funny because i'm just the opposite because I always wanted an Evolution, but someone told me that the crank walks when boosted. yep ... boost it, park it overnight and when you wake up in the morning, the crank is just gone ... just little lobe-prints and a trail of oil leading away from the car. no note or anything.

... and that's why I had to settle for Rx-7s.

diabolical1

iTrader: (3)

okay ... welcome to the board.

see what I did there? the stuff about rotaries is just as ridiculous and senseless when taken out of context. do turbo rotaries blow up? of course they do, but just like the 4G63 crank-walk stuff, there's usually a set of fatal circumstances that accompany it. there are more turbo rotaries running just fine than the ones that have grenade though.

you need to become familiar with rotaries (or at least be closely aligned with someone that is) before you go off and start throwing on huge turbos and cranking up the boost toward the stratosphere. detonation is hard on ANY engine, but rotaries are infamously intolerant of it - to the point of lore. you just have to know that there are a few different rules to the game.

my only note to your "wall of text" is just to point out that "rich" is relative (to reciprocating engines) so one needs to keep that in mind.

I like your Civic metaphor.

you're simply highlighting a point that myself and many others have tried to assert, it's really all about what should be common sense. maintenance is key and needs to be adjusted to what you've done to your engine.

jpoisson9

thanks guys, this makes me feel way better about buying one. If anyone has anymore information feel free to post more, you guys are great.

Warren Duke III

I just bought my 90 vert 13b n/a a week ago and despite the alternator problem I am currently dealing with the time I have driven this car has been a blast. They are very different beasts altogether but well worth the extra effort of up keep on one.

taylor177

The only real weak point of the engine, unless you are being crazy and uncaring with it, are the apex seals. That being said you can get yourself a set of high performance apex seals and never have a problem. In comparison with a traditional engine the rebuild is WAY easier. They are a little higher maintance, however, it will probably be the funnest car to drive you have ever owned.

KansasTom

I have had four of these cars, no problems, keep clean fluids and always use a fuel lubrication additive.

cubandrifter

The horror stories mainly come from the non-rotary owners....and the source of the stories they hear are from the owners that happen to be idiots and don't take care of their car....in turn is why their RX-7 blew up. Just do what KansasTom said.

Papa Doc

iTrader: (1)

Hate when people lie about things they dont know about. Such as non-rotary owners.

R0t0rH34d

My car was a total mess when I got it. My car club members all had newer cars like the STI, Lancer, Mazdaspeed6, etc. Guess whose car lasted the longest lol.

hekso

I agree there is so much fabled lore from non rotary owners I am on number 5 in my life so far the cars are a blast only one I ever blew up or had trouble with is my 79 12a that I threw a turbo on and completely melted just threw a turbo on a all stock 12a for fun and had no idead what I was doing LOL