Seeking difinitive reason to "redline"
10-21-04, 11:22 AM
#26
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Posts: 596
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Syonyk, I agree with your comments about a heat sink and "heat the engine internals up" I admitted that in my initial thread comments. But would you agree that the increase is momentary (less than a parsec? LOL) unless you keep it at redline several seconds?
For what it's worth, I have pushed all 3 '90s. It (they) frequently visits 5 - 6 K especially downshifting around turns/corners. So, they were not babied they actually seemed to enjoy themselves a lot.
For what it's worth, I have pushed all 3 '90s. It (they) frequently visits 5 - 6 K especially downshifting around turns/corners. So, they were not babied they actually seemed to enjoy themselves a lot.
Last edited by Jodoolin; 10-21-04 at 11:24 AM.
10-21-04, 12:33 PM
#27
i've had two rx-7s. one '83 gsl with the 12a and a '84 gsl-se with the 13b.
both of which i redlined repeatedly, every time i drove 'em. i sold the '83 with 181k mi on it after daily driving it for 40k mi. the gsl-se died at 215k mi due to coolant seal failure.
no problems with the apex seals at all.
both of which i redlined repeatedly, every time i drove 'em. i sold the '83 with 181k mi on it after daily driving it for 40k mi. the gsl-se died at 215k mi due to coolant seal failure.
no problems with the apex seals at all.
10-21-04, 01:13 PM
#28
Well, I think the general idea behind "redlining it" isn't to just blip it to 7000+ for half a second, but to actually drive it hard for a while up above 5000.
Interestingly, my "babied for most of it's life" '7 chewed up the rear rotor at 120k miles. People who drive them hard seem to end up with some of the most insane engine life...
-=Russ=-
Interestingly, my "babied for most of it's life" '7 chewed up the rear rotor at 120k miles. People who drive them hard seem to end up with some of the most insane engine life...
-=Russ=-
10-21-04, 01:40 PM
#31
Rotary Father
Originally Posted by FD3S LIGHTNING
I just recently had the auto to mt swap done but I have still have the auto tac with the 7k redline? With the mt is the redline the same or higher? Probably a stupid question but wanted to ask anyway.
The lower redline on the tach of the auto is for the protection of the auto tranny. After you swap to a 5-speed you can safely rev it to well beyond 8K. It seems a little weird since the buzzer starts howling at you so soon, but just keep your foot down and watch it climb past 8K. If that bothers you too much, you could swap out the cluster for a manual one. I kept my auto cluster and I don't mind listening to the buzzer when I "super-redline" it's kinda fun when a passanger thinks you are about to rip your engine apart by going "so far into the red". Also I like how the little red R comes on when I throw it in reverse
10-21-04, 01:44 PM
#32
vac leak
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Rutgers
Posts: 1,247
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by beefhole
Absolutely. A carbond chunk large enough could break off and make a nice mess inside.
ok..im not asking COULD IT....im asking WAS IT....meaning did u take the engine apart and see....
10-21-04, 02:32 PM
#34
#1 Certified Cone Killer
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Battle Creek, MI
Posts: 936
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Kevin Landers should post. He's ripped apart every kind of conditioned engine and probably has some valuable insight to add to this.
I personally rev it up all the time. I have a TII with 130,000 miles with good compression if that means anything. I think the best reason we have for redlining the engine is the life of people's cars that have treated them so. People that drive their rx7's hard generally have high miles before they need a rebuild. Its a odity and it may not make sense, but such is the essense of the car and even moreso, the engine that powers it.
I personally rev it up all the time. I have a TII with 130,000 miles with good compression if that means anything. I think the best reason we have for redlining the engine is the life of people's cars that have treated them so. People that drive their rx7's hard generally have high miles before they need a rebuild. Its a odity and it may not make sense, but such is the essense of the car and even moreso, the engine that powers it.
10-21-04, 02:39 PM
#35
Originally Posted by torean
ok..im not asking COULD IT....im asking WAS IT....meaning did u take the engine apart and see....
Those were my rotors (one on the left is obviously the one that blew).
I don't know how bad they are in terms of other rotors, but in scraping the carbon off, there was a good thick layer in some areas. Likely more than enough to do some damage if it fell off.
This was an engine with 120k miles and the 6th ports totally seized up - it obviously never saw high RPMs.
Anyone have pictures of rotors of similar mileage (or higher) engines driven hard?
-=Russ=-
10-21-04, 03:03 PM
#36
24 yrs driving 2nd Gen RX
Join Date: May 2002
Location: A Mile Closer to God (Denver)
Posts: 525
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by PureSephiroth
... I think the best reason we have for redlining the engine is the life of people's cars that have treated them so. People that drive their rx7's hard generally have high miles before they need a rebuild. ...
I'd like to support that through personal experience. I bought my first RX in '88 new from a Mazda dealer in Phoenix.
I drove it hard for several years - I'm either standin' on the gas or standin' on the brake. And, yes I heard the redline buzzer regularly. (I'll digress a bit: I *was* scared one time when I stood on it around a corner, hit redline plus a bunch and with the warning buzzer howling, suddenly all the warning lights came on at once and stayed on. turned out I ran it so fast that the alternator belt exploded)
I retired it at 180,000 miles in Dallas when a moron blew through a light and ripped the front end off. Otherwise, it was still going strong. Started every time, used a reasonable amount of gas - never failed or let me down. The only maintainence I did outside the usual was to replace brake pads and rotors several times - for obvious reasons.
After the wreck, I replaced my car with an RX TII with 75,000 miles. I continued my habit of driving the **** out of it, have just passed 185,000 and it still runs like new. Starts every time and outruns any other car I've owned except my original RX.
I've done a few things beyond basic maintainence, but haven't torn into the engine beyond removing the UIM and other stuff on top to replace old rubber and the MOP lines. Oh, and I replaced the spark plugs - first time since I've had it.
My experience says that regular redline in no way shortens the life of the engine.
- k -
10-21-04, 04:05 PM
#37
i really dont think there is a "concrete" answer to this question! yes, rotarys were designed to be "rev happy".. but ive read most years owners manuals, and have never heard them say to rev it to redline! the rx8's owners manual on the other hand does say this! i happen to drive the crap out of mine, and she loves every minute of it! i would agree to drive it hard enough to open up the 6-ports so they dont sieze.... and carbon build up does happen, but i dont think it has to be redlined to remove it!! id say, onece a week, give it a good workout through the gears (maybe while getting on the freeway).. take it to like 6000-6500... and you should be good!
10-24-04, 01:39 PM
#40
Clogged cat
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Orange County, CA
Posts: 2,000
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Jodoolin
Now have a '90 mint vert with only 2,100 on an Atkins re-build. I dare not redline.
Then you can rev all you want!
10-24-04, 04:13 PM
#41
I R SAD PANDA W/O BAW
I just hit 1k miles on my reman. I took out the plugs and there was alot of carbon build up on them not revving over 4k rpm. This is reason enough for me to redline my car every day once it is fully broken in.
10-25-04, 12:24 AM
#44
Rotary Enthusiast
Join Date: May 2004
Location: SoCal
Posts: 1,325
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
158k on my engine, nothing went wrong with it but it ran unusually great... except for some heat troubles because of the radiator sucking.
But I decided it was a good time to rebuild it, I want a daily driver, not something that might blow up at any minute and require new irons and a rotors...
And the first owner of the car that had it for like 10 years kept VERY good service records of when he took it in for servicing... which isn't very much like a good mechanical person.. so sure enough, I don't think that owner used the throttle at all...
I drove it for about a month... and I drive hard, redlining at least once if not five or six times a day.
I also ran it couple of times... which is like 3 minutes straight of keeping the revs always above 5k and either full braking or full acceleration up through the redline... so the buildup that WAS on there was REALLY on there.
--Gary
But I decided it was a good time to rebuild it, I want a daily driver, not something that might blow up at any minute and require new irons and a rotors...
And the first owner of the car that had it for like 10 years kept VERY good service records of when he took it in for servicing... which isn't very much like a good mechanical person.. so sure enough, I don't think that owner used the throttle at all...
I drove it for about a month... and I drive hard, redlining at least once if not five or six times a day.
I also ran it couple of times... which is like 3 minutes straight of keeping the revs always above 5k and either full braking or full acceleration up through the redline... so the buildup that WAS on there was REALLY on there.--Gary
10-25-04, 12:36 AM
#45
Originally Posted by 3rdWrldRcr
A lil insight,
The RX-8 owner's manual states in black and white that prior to shutting down the engine rev it to redline. Dont quote me on the wording.
Performance cars are made for performance drivers. The rotary motor is a hi-rev motor made for high revs. If not driven as such the quality of the car itself will decline.
Keep those revs up.
Rabbit
The RX-8 owner's manual states in black and white that prior to shutting down the engine rev it to redline. Dont quote me on the wording.
Performance cars are made for performance drivers. The rotary motor is a hi-rev motor made for high revs. If not driven as such the quality of the car itself will decline.
Keep those revs up.
Rabbit
edit: and I'm really doubting the 28,000 RPM bit... That'd be pushing beyond the abilities of the ignition system I'd think.
Last edited by digitalsolo; 10-25-04 at 12:38 AM.
10-25-04, 02:00 AM
#48
Rotary Enthusiast
Join Date: May 2004
Location: SoCal
Posts: 1,325
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by digitalsolo
edit: and I'm really doubting the 28,000 RPM bit... That'd be pushing beyond the abilities of the ignition system I'd think.
--Gary
10-25-04, 12:56 PM
#50
Rotary Enthusiast
Join Date: May 2004
Location: SoCal
Posts: 1,325
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by PureSephiroth
i'd like to see a clutch that wouldn't explode into pieces at 28,000 rpm.
that's gonna be giving out around 15k.... at 28k it would be like someone set off a shrapnel bomb.
--Gary