Rotary vs Honda engines

[DNieves]

Originally Posted by sheek360

wtf is so efficient about the rotary?!? they waste tons of gas and oil. whats so efficient about that? how often do they have to be rebuilt? etc. rotaries are only alive because of its fans, and not many are left because of the rx8.

The efficiency is in the fact that rotaries produce a lot of power (not low end) have less moving parts in it and they're small too. Rotaries only have two rotors and an eccentric shaft spinning around (perfect circular motion) compared to the energy wasting recipricating motion of a typical banger. Think of the (intake & exhaust) valves, pistons, rockers, connecting rods, rod bearings, and the crankshaft all going at the same time. Rotaries don't even need a timing belt! After having a RX7 with a 13B engine I was under the impression the RX8's Renesis rotary was supposed to be God's gift to the Rotary engine... seems like it may not be (or might be because Mazda wants the RX8 to be a slow sporty car like the newer Eclipses or worse yet, Ford screwed that up too?).

[DNieves]

Originally Posted by KingMarineM16a4

Then why do barely any mechanics know how to work on them?

Because most mechanics are trained only on piston engines because they're universal. The rotaries (in the 80's until now) exist only in Mazda RX7/8's. There aren't that many out there to make it worthwhile to learn (ever notice there aren't that many older Japanese sports cars compared to American?). If it weren't for the oil crisis in the 70's (and not being able to figure out how to make a proper apex seal) GM would've had the Rotary in the Corvette and that could've spread to other models (but this is GM, given the chance they would've messed that up too). To be honest with you, I'm leary of taking my cars (especially the Si) to a mechanic (aside from mechanical part failures) because a lot of them aren't experienced with such complex cars nowadays.

[The Shishpanik]

MY girlfriends mom just got an RX-8 because it had high consumer ratings. I'm kinda scared that it's gonna be in the shop more then she'll be able to drive it. Her brother also got a Cadillac CTS... Hopefully they have good luck w/ their cars....

[DNieves]

Originally Posted by Tom1222

I was basing my review on the RX7 that I owned and which worked very well without problems for many years until I had to put Nitrous on it and kill the motor. The RX 8 seems to blow hard and they should've stuck with a good thing and with the RX7

The problem with the RX7 is that auto companies didn't think there was a market for one, which is kinda their fault, they kept increasing performanice but the increased prices faster and higher. In the good old days (early 80's) a Datsun/Nissan 280Z was in the mid teens to early 20's $$ (ditto for the RX7/Supra) then by the nineties they doubled in price. It's cool Nissan brought back the Z but they're made in limited quantities to ensure dealers aren't stuck with unsellable inventory (people still like sedans and SUVs). The Supra and RX7 have not seen the light of day since '96 (in the US), the Camaro & Firebird not since 2000. But the near future should be good (rumblings about the Supra & RX7 and the Camaro concept abound).

What's the story with the last Celica (I think that car was so cool) was it killed off because the Scion brand was coming out and it was still cooler looking than the Scion Tc?

[Bleached]

Originally Posted by BATANG CITY JAIL

i like rotaries when the are in the 1944 tora-tora.. (japanese kamikaze)

The old WWII prop planes used radial engines, not rotary. Radial engines are internal combustion engines like ours, but shaped in a circular pattern. Off topic, just thought I'd throw that in there.

[caveman74]

Originally Posted by The Shishpanik

MY girlfriends mom just got an RX-8 because it had high consumer ratings. I'm kinda scared that it's gonna be in the shop more then she'll be able to drive it. Her brother also got a Cadillac CTS... Hopefully they have good luck w/ their cars....

Gotta watch the RX-8. need to let the fully warm up before shutting them off.
They wont start back up and the engine gets screwed up. Hopefully Mazda fixed the problem. I think there was a recall .

[jameslewis178]

you all do know honda makes rotary engines now right? and there bad ass

[jameslewis178]

actually the last supra in the us was 98 and it was still built for a couple more years in japan and same goes for the rx7 i think the last year for both were 02. not sure but if im wrong someone can shed some light.

[civsnake]

Originally Posted by Bleached

The old WWII prop planes used radial engines, not rotary. Radial engines are internal combustion engines like ours, but shaped in a circular pattern. Off topic, just thought I'd throw that in there.

What he said.

[sheek360]

Originally Posted by DNieves

The efficiency is in the fact that rotaries produce a lot of power (not low end) have less moving parts in it and they're small too.

its efficient due to its minimal parts and its rebuilds arent costly at all, but not making enough power downlow is what hurts the rotary in the gas mileage department. In fact, any stock rotary engine dyno, rather it be twin turbo or N/A, shows a not so linear TQ line. You really got to wind it up on the dyno and eventually you'll see its power show. Thats what kills there gas mileage. Nothing efficient about that. Its not an efficient engine IMO, but I love there concept. I love the popping sound, and i love what they sound like at 12k rpm sitting in an old RWD corolla. But lets face it, that engine isnt practicle<SP?> nor efficient. To me an efficient engine is an engine that can make awesome power <stock> and return excellent gas mileage, like the SI for instance.

[tcel127]

N/A 4rotors!!!! sound like cammed v8s at idle, can spin in upwards of 20krpm, sound like formula1 cars when at WOT and will push a 3rd gen rx7 to a 9second 1/4 mile. 900hp all motor 4 rotor. amazing stuff

http://videos.streetfire.net/search/...8171762fe4.htm

http://videos.streetfire.net/search/...8028c68809.htm
this is the video pertaining to my description above