Last night a friend of mine with a 93 RX-7, was over at my house helping me install some parts. When we left to do a test run. We did a highway run at top speed for a couple of miles probably 5 or so. He stopped to get gas, and when he was leaving the gas station,(I was following). I noticed a glow from under the front of his car. I imediatly called him, but he didn't hear the phone because RX-7s are so damn loud with any exhaust setup. Well to cut the story down he sped up and went through a light and when we caught up to him he was pulling over just to pop his hood. And the biggest fricken fireball I've ever seen shot out. I went to a gas station imediatly that was right up the street for a fire extinguisher. By the time I got back a guy was blasting it already. It nearly melted the whole front of the car.

It's funny because he always said that a lot of guys say when you have a RX-7 you are supposed to carry an extinguisher on board. Has anyone ever seen or come across this. It basically futher endorses my extream hatetread toward Wankel rotory engines.

 

Crazy story, glad your friends alright. I didn't know RX-7s had a history for this, what is he runnin thats causing fires? LOL

 

i heard they run hot but i guess that's an understatement... glad he's okay

 

actually they have a tsb about this. its a problem with the pulsation dampner on the fuel rail. the screw backs out and leaks fuel. if its not checked every once in a while then this can and dose happen. the rotary is a beautifull engine! can be a pain for those that dont know much about it. read up on it more. rx-7's are kinda like wrx's either you like them or you dont. personally have owned 3 and still own the 3rd.

 

yeah he's fine, he just baught it. So we are thinking that they didn't inspect it properly before selling it to him. Car was fast as hell, and ran great, untill it burst into flames. We were getting ready to do all the vaccume lines and check everything, but just like I said he just got it and it was just inspected.

 

def. priority with any RX is to check out the engine and its condition.. this ain't the first story i've heard where Wankels have caught fire, glad to hear he's ok!

 

if your going to do the vacuum lines then check the pulsation dampner and make sure its not leaking. 99 or 100 fires are caused by this. also replace all teh rubber fuel hose under hood. this will save you from any mishaps later on.

 

RX-7s kick ***. I had a '93 for four years. I checked TSBs through as soon as I bought it. They run hot because it is a very small lump of metal producing a large amount of power (255bhp stock). They rely both on water and significant oil cooling to keep everything happy. There were three recalls for the early models IIRC: one for potential engine fire, one for the cooling system, and one for oil circulation after engine shutdown for turbo health.

Saying wankels catch fire easily is like saying boxers destroy transmissions easily. The engine fire has nothing to do with it being a rotary. Furthermore, WRXs also have a TSB about leaking fuel rails (although not a recall yet) and mine has already been in for maintennance due to a fuel leak under the inlet manifold !!