1st Generation Specific (1979-1985) 1979-1985 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections

Save the Rotary Engine!

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Old 11-19-13, 09:47 PM
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Save the Rotary Engine!

Save the Rotary Engine
Show Your Support! Save the rotary engine we so deeply enjoy! Then spread the word to your fellow rotary owners! Save the Rotary!

Save The Rotary Campaign
Old 11-20-13, 03:53 AM
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If mazda didn't totally screw up and instead designed a reliable, fuel efficient, powerful renesis rotary engine for their rx-8, then the rx-8 would have been as wildly successful as the initial legendary rx-7.

the rx-8 handles really well, so well that it was Top Gear's three best sportscars.
Old 11-20-13, 08:47 AM
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I signed the form, lets see more rotarheads do it to, and add this page to the other gen forums too
Old 11-20-13, 06:05 PM
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Added my little story to the collection, hope it helps!
Old 11-21-13, 07:56 AM
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I heard that Mazda is supposed to release a new rotary engine sports car for the 2017 model year.
Old 11-21-13, 08:20 AM
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Originally Posted by midnight mechanic
If mazda didn't totally screw up and instead designed a reliable, fuel efficient, powerful renesis rotary engine for their rx-8, then the rx-8 would have been as wildly successful as the initial legendary rx-7.

the rx-8 handles really well, so well that it was Top Gear's three best sportscars.
I think the Renesis was supposed to meet those goals... The rotary no matter how you slice it isnt efficient, so getting power AND fuel economy from one is rather tough.


I could see how possibly smaller, multiple rotors could be tuned and made efficient, but as far as the current design, I think they did what they could.. albeit some otherwise seemingly silly port design...
Old 11-21-13, 02:01 PM
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12A direct injection efi is the only way to go as far as a new rotary. Reliable, long lasting, and with efi probably 25 mpg.
Old 11-21-13, 02:23 PM
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Originally Posted by NCross
12A direct injection efi is the only way to go as far as a new rotary. Reliable, long lasting, and with efi probably 25 mpg.
You just want fresh stock of 12a housings, haha.
Old 11-22-13, 04:01 PM
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Originally Posted by justinfox
I heard that Mazda is supposed to release a new rotary engine sports car for the 2017 model year.
I've been reading a lot, and that is old news. The current president has set a pretty high bar for Mazda R&D to reach. They also need to expect 100,000 units per year to be sold.
Old 11-22-13, 04:03 PM
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Originally Posted by wankel=awesome
I think the Renesis was supposed to meet those goals... The rotary no matter how you slice it isnt efficient, so getting power AND fuel economy from one is rather tough.


I could see how possibly smaller, multiple rotors could be tuned and made efficient, but as far as the current design, I think they did what they could.. albeit some otherwise seemingly silly port design...
A big reason cars today get higher gas mileage and higher horsepower is improved ECU efficiency. In other words, simply working smarter.
Old 11-22-13, 11:08 PM
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Originally Posted by JedisonsDad

You just want fresh stock of 12a housings, haha.
Amen! Nothing wrong with that...lol
Old 11-23-13, 03:51 AM
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Originally Posted by Tui
A big reason cars today get higher gas mileage and higher horsepower is improved ECU efficiency. In other words, simply working smarter.
Hence smaller multiple rotors with the ability to shut some off at cruise...

Could be done, and is the only way to "save" the rotary imho.

Although, a simple injected 12A in an MX-5 chassis could do the trick too...
Old 11-24-13, 12:28 PM
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I sent my story... May not help save the rotary, but who knows
Old 11-26-13, 06:28 PM
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I also sent my story.
Old 11-26-13, 09:59 PM
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there was a picture of a mazda2 they were using a rotor to power a generator for electreic.
Old 11-29-13, 01:44 AM
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Honestly, thus motor has untouched potential on airboats. I would've liked to build one later in life with a rotary, but now i see no point. 6000rpm take off with no vibration, youd be gliding on water.
Old 11-29-13, 08:08 AM
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That makes zero sense. What does the cancelation of the Renesis have to do with an airboat you wanted to build? The Renesis sucks. They always go bad. Every RX-8 on the road will experience engine failure at some point. Mazda screwed up. Avoid the Renesis. Use an older 13B in your project and you've got it made.
Old 11-30-13, 02:46 AM
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Originally Posted by Jeff20B
That makes zero sense. What does the cancelation of the Renesis have to do with an airboat you wanted to build? The Renesis sucks. They always go bad. Every RX-8 on the road will experience engine failure at some point. Mazda screwed up. Avoid the Renesis. Use an older 13B in your project and you've got it made.
by time im at the age i can comfortably afford one there will be no early 13b irons left. Thats the point i was trying to make.........
Old 11-30-13, 06:37 AM
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Originally Posted by Jeff20B
That makes zero sense. What does the cancelation of the Renesis have to do with an airboat you wanted to build? The Renesis sucks. They always go bad. Every RX-8 on the road will experience engine failure at some point. Mazda screwed up. Avoid the Renesis. Use an older 13B in your project and you've got it made.
I was at dealership last night looking at a minty 2004 rx-8, guy came out trying to sell it to me. After a sit down and dealer tech history it was revealed at 113k miles it was on dealer engine #3.
Old 11-30-13, 02:33 PM
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Originally Posted by wankel=awesome
I was at dealership last night looking at a minty 2004 rx-8, guy came out trying to sell it to me. After a sit down and dealer tech history it was revealed at 113k miles it was on dealer engine #3.
OMG!! 40K per engine? wait less than that because the 3rd engine blew at less than 113K OMG!!
Old 12-01-13, 12:35 AM
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Mazda could help fuel economy with the idea that was used on the 787b's 4 rotor engine. The engine used 3 spark plug rotor housings that eliminated the ingnition flame squish problem. Which in turn helped both fuel economy and emissions.

The issue with that is the up keep of 6 spark plugs on a 2 rotor engine, But didnt they talk about using a laser igniton system on the Mazda 16X rotary engine?

The big problem with rotary's and fuel economy is the intake track.. Their path the fuel/air mixture has to follow is so long that fuel condenses into liquid on the cooler metal sides. And of course gasoline will not burn in liquid form.

Mazda can help with this issue buy using the direct fuel injection system used on the Mazda 16X.

I hope the rotary will make a big comeback with a release of a pure sports car sporting a 16X under the hood in 2017.
Old 12-01-13, 06:38 AM
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Originally Posted by midnight mechanic
OMG!! 40K per engine? wait less than that because the 3rd engine blew at less than 113K OMG!!
No, it was on engine #3 at 113k. So it had 2 previous engines replaced at that point. The car had already had 3 owners, but they assured me the last engine was driven by a little old lady lol
Old 12-02-13, 10:48 AM
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Was the little old lady from Pasadena?
Old 12-03-13, 06:11 PM
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Originally Posted by Tui
I've been reading a lot, and that is old news. The current president has set a pretty high bar for Mazda R&D to reach. They also need to expect 100,000 units per year to be sold.
And the most rotaries sold in one year was 56,203 in 1986 so yeah, the motor is effectively dead.

Under their current CEO's reign that is.

I have a feeling we'll have to wait for both the next CEO to be a rotorhead, and a visionary, and the next economic bubble to inflate at the same times.
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