I was just looking at the production model of the Mazda RX-8 and finally got to see how the Rotary Engine works. Seems kinda weird in its operation compared to the conventional engine.



And the Movie of the engine in action.
http://www.mazdarx8.co.uk/sycomax/uploadpool/documents_UK/video/engine_300k.mov

Tom

Yeah the way those things work are crazy. Only one moving part..


Jeremy

It defiantely baffled me the first time i saw one.

That is amazing.. definite "outside of the box" thinking on that one.. thats just kickass

Hell yeah to the rotary! Much, much, much simpler design!! Too bad Mazda's got the patent rights...

Yeah with the real simple design you got less stuff to worry about breaking. I mean these things practically last forever. Now if only they could be used in other cars besides the rx7 and what ever else they are used in..

Jeremy

It's odd though, cause although they are very small in displacement(usually a 1.3 liter), they still don't get too good gas mileage.

But they also get a pretty decent amount of hourse power out of that small displacement.

Jeremy

I was reading in Motor Trend that Mazda is going to offer some refunds to people who bought the RX-8's because the advertised horsepower doesn't match the actual horsepower in both models. There are 2 rotaries available, one is regular and the other is hi-output, but both fall short about 8-10 ponies. Also, Mazda had a new RX-7 2-door concept but plans have been put on hold for that, too. Finally, a lot of major auto companies did experiment with the rotary engine. I believe Chevy had a Corvette concept with a 4-rotary engine back in the 70's. However, Mazda was the only one to actually put the Wankel-rotary engine into production with their cars. I'm pretty sure the RX-7 isn't the only car with the rotary but, when it was introduced, Mazda put it in, at least as an option, in some of their other cars in the late 70's/ early 80's. Too bad the rotary doesn't have much torque. If it did, it would be a serious contender for the C5.

Screw mazda for over rating.. They should know that the best way to go is under rating.. That is what chevy and ford do.. Come on now get with the program...

Jeremy

Hey all decided it was time to reply to some stuff.
Everyone can talk up the rotary and say how such a small engine can produce so much horse power, but there is a downside to this design like jeremy said, alot can go wrong......and if not imaculately maintained it will.
Think about it, yea mazda does own the patent, but if anyother company really wanted to make one they could. THERES A REASON THEY DONT.
ok thats all

good point, i agree %100

It is a simple design but over time the teflon on the tips of the "triangle" wears down and it will start burning oil and producing less power. Also I don't think it has the revving capabilities of a traditional engine

they actually rev very high..there red line is at 7500 rpm's...i used to work at koons and i drove a bunch of them and they are slow untill 5000rpm and then there only ok