Think it's a coolant seal failure. I got 3 sessions in before this happened monday afternoon. I got it fired up in the garage today, it runs for about 2 minutes before getting really rough then finally just stalling out with a loud backfire. Oil looks like pea soup.

Vid of the action

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNbEVVrgDwg


Oh well, it's lasted me 6 years and 5 years of hard track use, guess I can't complain too much. I'll be driving the wife's RX8 for the rest of the season so at least I have a car.

 

Sorry to see you go down Monday, I wondered what happened to you. Didn't have time to come over and say the other day.

Good luck with the rebuild or V8 swap.

-Patrick

 

Sorry to hear that. VIR got the best of the engine in my silver car a couple of weeks ago as well so I feel your pain. Best of luck with your project.

What camera are you using btw? Video looks great!

Brent

 

yeah, my student only signed on for 1 day so i packed it up Monday and headed home. i didn't even know you were there, sorry man!

Thanks man, I may be asking you questions if you don't mind since you're almost done with your V8 project- although i'm not going as far as you did on that beast

Camera is a Flip HD I got for xmas, first time using it in the car. I just mounted it up to my I/O Port roll bar mount. I think in the future i would put tape over the mic, but it did a decent job of dealing with the wind noise.

 

I was there terrorizing people in the red Porsche. Apparently, someone in intermediate group complained that I shouldn't be out in their run group. I only ran one session tuesday before I corded my rear tires.

 

If you got five years of track use out of this one, why not just put another one in?

 

Agreed. You have all the parts to keep the Wankel.

 

I love the rotary, but I just want to do the V8 I guess. I know it would be more economical to just drop in another reman but I've been thinking about doing the swap for awhile now when the engine died - I just didn't expect it to go this year.

 

Welcome to the dark side. We have cookies.

 

why V8? Sounds like you have a great opportunity to throw a 20B in

 

Sorry to hear about your motor Joe. Seems like a bad rash of FD failures at VIR lately -- that's where my coolant seal started failing last fall as well. I'm giving the rotary another shot and should have it finished in a few weeks. Good luck with however you decide to fix it. Hope to see you on-track this summer!

 

First outing this year at VIR. I ended up cording my drivers side rear tire AGAIN this trip. Here's the best lap I got video of- 2:12. According to my Traqmate two laps later I hit a 2:11.866, but the camera batt died.

http://vimeo.com/9902811

Enjoy, feedback welcome.

 

If you do go to the dark side, don't forget the accusump.

Sorry for your luck.

 

Ask away, I'm happy to help any way I can.

That's good to know about the camera. It's another cheaper HD solution which has great resolution. What format does it record in? What program are you editing your video with?

I understand. That being said, I'm actually more scared of my LS1 than I am of the rotary when it comes to track use. It may just be fear of the unknown. I know alot of corvette track guys down here ranging from club racers to TTer's to DE drivers. They've blown alot of engines, mostly due to oil starve. I'm running the Improved Racing trap door oil pan baffle and an accusump, but I'm still paranoid. I'll find out soon enough though If it holds up, I'll have to come up with some new excuses on why I'm still getting beat by the Corvette guys. That's what we do at "Almost" Racing.

 

Very nice, smooth as glass w/ some crisp heel and toe sprinkled on top

That late braking into t1

 

Hey Joe,
Sorry to hear about the FD but if you decide to stay rotary I have nice engine for you

BTW watching that vid I can't tell what the hell happened. Look like you shifted from 3rd to 4th at 8k and then it died. If it's a coolant seal that's kinda strange.

Anywho best of luck w/ whatever route you take and look forward to seeing you in the 8.

 

Nothing against a V8, i'd love to test drive one. But, and V8 conversion is a process. You could have a new rotary in there and theoretically be good for another five years in just a couple weeks for alot less money.

If this were the fall, I'd be with you, but with a full track season ahead? Pay a visit to Fritz, and join us at VIR in May.

 

It records in MP4 format. I just used the flip software to trim the vids and then uploaded directly to youtube.

If I do go V8 (more below in reply) I will try to do everything I can to prevent oil starving - i was reading about your baffle and accusump earlier. I can't see being as paranoid as I was about the rotary though.

Thanks Fritz - I still haven't decided 100% to do the V8 swap, but I am leaning that way. I'm in a decent position to actually buy all the bits right now, but there's a lot to be said for just spending $2300 on a new rotary and dropping that in. Balancing it out though is that I still have an RX8 to drive on track while i do the work, granted it's completely stock and on street tires.

RE: the 8k shift - the main reason I'm thinking it's a coolant seal is the way my oil looks. I need to take a picture of this bottle i drained from my catch can. I can get her started in the garage, but she runs for about 2 minutes before sputtering out with a loud back fire after 45 seconds of really rough idling.

yeah, see above...still not sure. I'm planning on doing VIR with Audi in april, Shenendoah with Trackdaze in May, and Grandeast with mazda in June. Who is doing the may VIR event?

 

Me, Fritz, and Brent and the least... I think a few others.

 

Sorry, i meant what Group is running the event :o

 

Here's a pic of the oil. this was fresh 20w-50 on Saturday.

 

I would strongly advise on driving an LSX RX7 first before proceeding. Sitting in the driver's seat doesn't count. Of all the things that bothered me about the conversion the tranmission was the biggest. The RX7 shifter, throw mechanism, and feel is just awesome. Putting in a T56 tranny is like putting in a school bus shift kit. I was never sure I was going to get the right gear. No quick flick of the wrist. Must manhandle the shifter. Throw took forever. And yes, get an accusump, electric powersteering pump and upgraded radiator. My $.02. I speak from experience.

 

strange looking oil, looks aerated and full of condensation(not quite coolant, straight water).

 

Porsche Club, First Settlers Region.

 

That looks like normal catch can oil to me

I'd check the compession and if that's good you probably just have some sort of ignition issue.