Salty

iTrader: (14)

I've been watching the History of engines on Modern Marvels, a History Channel series, and want to understand the rotary better. I've read a few articles on it's pioneers but am clueless on how it actually works. RX guys fill me in on how they work and the pros/cons when compared to the old piston engine please. I've been pondering an rx-7 for awhile now.



Thanks,
ERIC

Kostamojen

iTrader: (2)

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/channe...under-the-hood Bookmark this page.

Salty

iTrader: (14)

Ok i read that but it still does nothing for me on the pros/cons. I need Billy Bob Redneck to explain it to me as straight forward as possible...

Nick Koan

iTrader: (3)

Pros:
*Supposed reduction in vibration. The car aparently vibrates as much a 1k rpm as 7k.
*Smaller size/weight. Weight distrubition is usually really good in rotary cars.
*Um... being different

Cons:
*Horrid mileage
*Seems to be prone to catching on fire/blowing up (but that could be just Mazda's implementation of the rotary).


Thats all I know about the pro's and con's of rotaries. I've never driven a rotary and I'm by no means an expert on the subject.

Wingless Wonder

iTrader: (7)

They are considered free-revving or higher-revving engines because there are fewer reciprocating parts (no pistons, connecting rods, etc.). In practice, rotary street engines don't rev any higher than Honda's VTEC.

If I see activity on this thread when I get home this afternoon, it'll remind me to dig up magazine issues on the RX-8 engine and the improvements that were made.

OT - in the late '80s or 1990, I saw an IMSA GTP race at Laguna Seca with a one-off drive by Arie Luyendyk behind the wheel of a Mazda rotary prototype with a 4-rotor engine. It sounded like an F1 engine and could be heard from the other side of the racetrack when at speed (don't know how they got around the sound requirement).

--
0==WW==0
"…axles of evil…" - george w. bush

Ben

Mazda 787B

BlingBlingBlue

The 787B is a badass car to own in Gran Turismo 3.

As stated above, the rotary engines prime mover spins in a circle as opposed to a traditional engines cylinder moving up and down. In theory this should yield higher rpm's...piston engines are able to rev extremely high these days. A rotary engine should be smoother...

Wingless Wonder

iTrader: (7)

I checked the magazine articles that I have and there's not much information except for the engineering changes made to the RX-8 Renesis rotary. The Road and Track article does say that the rotory is smoother (regarding NVH) than a conventional engine as it winds through its RPM range, though.

I don't have any other information on the rotary in the RX-7 but a friend of mine had one until last year and the thing developed some sort of oil leak that the dealer refused or couldn't fix (even for money!). I think the last-generation RX-7 was a beautiful car, though.

--
0==WW==0
"…axles of evil…" - george w. bush

Nick Koan

iTrader: (3)

It still amazes me how good the FD looks. even to this day. It doesn't even look like it was made in the early 90s. It still can hold its own, stylewise, with most modern cars.

Ug, love the looks of that car (but wary of the motor).

I guess its similar to how the last gen Supra still looks pretty decent, even though its almost a decade old.

Kevin M

iTrader: (12)

Sport Compact Car had a good article about how rotaries work a while back. If I can dig it up, I'll bring it out for you to read Eric.

Wingless Wonder

iTrader: (7)

I didn't think of that, Kev. Here are are some links to articles in Sport Compact Car magazine.

--
0==WW==0
"…axles of evil…" - george w. bush

Kevin M

iTrader: (12)

http://www.sportcompactcarweb.com/ed...ble/index.html

http://www.sportcompactcarweb.com/ed...ble/index.html

Those are the ones I had in mind specifically. Dave is my hero.

Nick Koan

iTrader: (3)

Dave rules. He seems to be the only worthwhile writer left at that place...