Hi guys,

I purchased my FD with what the PO claimed was a rebuilt engine. I noticed what looks like a laser etched or stamped marking in each of the housings (see attached photos). I understand this is done by Mazda on all Renesis housings - is this also added to their re-manufactured REW engines? Does anyone know if it's possible to trace the code to gather more information on the engine? Any knowledge is appreciated.

 

I don't know any specific info on those markings. It's possible that the engine was indeed rebuilt with brand new housings. It's just not a reman engine.

 

late reman engines had them too, all new housings have those markings also.

 

Good to know. Thanks for the responses.

I'm imagining you would have to have access to Mazda's software where the housings were produced to look any information up on them. But at any rate, it's good to know that this car has indeed had the engine replaced.

 

Well it may seem like splitting hairs but not as likely 'replaced' as 'rebuilt' And that might not be a bad thing. Quality of Mazda remans has not always been the best. And it looks like the PO at least sprung for new housings, which would suggest he did it (or had it done) right.

 

You're right - it seems to be just as likely that new housings were used on rebuilding the original engine rather than it being replaced entirely. I wonder if I could locate the engine number and trace that back to the VIN to see if it is indeed original to the chassis.

It really would be nice to have some paperwork on the engine just to know what all has been done with it. The owner that I purchased the car from said it was the guy he purchased it from (the PPO to me, lol) that had all the work done, but didn't have any papers to provide. I know that if I had personally saw to an engine rebuild, I would have kept the documentation to provide to the next owner!

 

sure looks like a mazda reman or mazda new assembly, most builders tend to paint the irons at least in order to cover up any rust since these engines are so old now. but yeah, those markings indicate that the engine is definitely not original.

 

That's a good observation about the irons - I wasn't even thinking about that. They are pretty clean (no visible surface rust).

 

New(er) housings but nothing in pics that I see to suggest reman over rebuilt.

IIRC there is a number stamped on the front housing below the front engine hook/eye but not sure it's cross- referenced anywhere with the car's VIN. Additionally the rotary engine design is a sandwich affair, not like a piston engine block. So in addition to being a pita to get to, that stamped number is only real good at identifying the front iron. The other irons, like housings, could have been changed sometime in the cars past.
Also as I recall, if it IS a reman they attach a metal tag to that engine eyelet.

 

I've heard about a metal tag being placed on remaned engines. I wasn't sure where it's usually placed though. I haven't seen anything like that on this engine.

 

Pull the intake elbow, crossover and associated hoses. Then pull the alternator and possibly the vacuum tank to see it. IIRC it'll be at the base of the engine eyelet in the picture...

 

I pulled off the UIM (and obviously all associated parts with that job) when I swapped in the viton check vales a couple of months ago. Haven't had a reason to pull off the alternator (yet). When I do though, I'll see if I can find something.

 

the mazda reman tag would be under the vacuum canister attached to the front cover, on the big flat spot next to where the crank position sensors are.

 

housings with that etching are made after the start of Rx8 production. Mazda does not remanufacture rotor housings, they were inspected, and either reused, or replaced.

the engines from about the last 5 years or so have just been 100% new, for the FD.

 

if you want to know if it was remanufactured vs new it will have this label in the spot i mentioned.

at the end of the serial number is the date it was rebuilt.

even if that tag isn't there it might be rebuilt by a different company that used new housings, however that silicone job sure appears to be how the mazda reman sublet company did them. mazda only builds the brand new engines, the remans were pawned off to the lowest bidder in the US, i don't know if they still do that with the RX8 renesis though, but it is how they did it with the older rotaries. wasn't feasable to send the engines all the way back to japan and then back to the US after being rebuilt.