Iposted this in engine management but got no help can I get some one to help me from the NW forum? Any rotary home town heroes out there?!


On a gen 1 rx7 I intend to purchase, the guy says he is not very experienced in the rotary engine, but he parked his RX about 2 yrs ago and it ran at the time. He was told by sum1 w/ more knowledge that he shouldn't start it bcuz the (seals?) are dry and can be blown out. So I guess what I'm asking is what are these seals, I'm guessing apex. And are they difficult 2 change and if so is it expensive 2 have them changed? If their easy to change can a novice mechanic pull it off w/ no royary exp? Oh by the way what is the apex seal?

 

changeing the apex seals requires a full engine rebuild. It is not a simple job. If the guy selling the car is trying to tell you that it JUST needs new apex seals and its no big deal, hes probably trying to rip you off

Blown apex seals = blown motor

An apex seal is the piston engine equivelent to piston rings. Apex seals fit in the tip of the rotor. They tend to be the part that gives in a high milage rotary engine.

Id check the car out, and use a compression tester. Take the shrader valve out of the bottom of the tester, and crank the engine over. Look for 3 even spikes and record the number it spikes too. If you get one strong spike, and 2 dead spikes, youve got a blown apex seal.

IF the motor is blown your looking at anywhere from 1500-2000 dollars to have it rebuilt, as I wouldnt advise doing it unless you have alot of mechanical experience, which im guessing you dont.

If the motor is blown, dont offer any more than 500 for the car if its a first gen. However once that engine is rebuilt, it'll be good for at least a couple hundred thousand miles if maintained well

 

Thanks a million! That helps.

 

well, hornbm has the apex seals taken care of. but by the wording i'm guessing the guy that might be more knowledgable might actually not be...... i'd assume he is talking about the oil control rings. maybe he thinks they might have become brittle or something? i don't know.but i don't think that they will. i've pulled apart a motor that has been sitting for 5 years full of water and crap. the oil rings still were soft. so unless this guy knows something is wrong with the car and don't wanna tell you, or he really don't know. if it's here in oly area let me know, i can go check it out with you?
by the way.... there is no way anybody would say don't start the engine cause the apex seals are dry. once you put gas to it they are wet again.

 

awesome kettleman thanks again for your help. I can always count on u!

 

I agree with both of you. Take a little time at his house and try to get that thing running. You might want to make a deal with him first as a "non running vehicle". When he sees that you got it started he might want more...

My engine was carbon locked, and it just took a couple bottles of mmo and a little time.

Z