Anyone ever owned one?

I was reading up on them (through boredom really ) and the're certainly an interesting idea. Just wondered has anybody ever owned a car with one?

Good points? Bad points? From what I gather, they're thirsty engines and need toppin up with oil more frequently than normal engines but any other points?

I can certainly think of one big plus point...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKLhJWPLMpw&sns=em

 

A load of shite! Next.

 

Don't hold back mate

 

wouldnt say a load of shite, very clever engines which cut down on the number of moving parts needed compared with a piston engine,

 

From what I gather they need more regular rebuilds

 

the seal tips of the rotors need replacing, on the flip side they work in a (sort of) circular motion rather than up and down, this means they rev easier and can rev higher (iirc)

 

http://youtu.be/oGrD7FTFLJc

 

Aye never really caught on the old wanklers .. Stick with the old 4 stroke

Next generation of piston engines are gonna be parasitic load free

 

That's a good video Didn't really give any disadvantages that would effect a second hand one over here though, still good nonetheless

 

we use Karl at hayward rotary he builds his own tips and are very reliable
heres one of his cars

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7e1ME...feature=relmfu

 

^^^ Very nice!

 

My mate had a 500bhp rx7 drag and drift car, he got sick of rebuilding and replacing the engine every time it went bang. He just finishing off fitting his 4.0L lexus quad cam V8 with a GT500 supercharger.

The problem with rotary engine has always been the tips of the rotors, they snap off at the very first sign of det and wear badly. I don't think the rx8 lump was as bad due to carbon/diamond tipped rotors.

 

It's Mazda's territory really, RX7, RX8 etc.

The above and they also have a higher power output for a equivalent four stoke engine.

So yes they have advantages, but as with every advantage there are always disadvantage(s) the oil consumption being one of them, I believe the fuel consumption isn't brilliant either.

Martin

 

Not much torque either tbh.

 

they have a higher hp output for a given cc. trouble is how do you mesaure the capacity? theres conflicting theories on how they should be measured. very high performance unit though. i urge you to check youtube for vids of the rotary norton against full factory yamaha owo1's, rc 30's ect at snetterton race of aces. in a straight line they were immense at a claimed 588cc compared to the 4t been 750's. they were banned a season or 2 later. the first norton race projects were aircooled ex police bikes with carb/ignition and special exhaust along with port work. power went from about 80hp to 140hp ish!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBg86bjr8l0

 

Remember going to Cadwell to see the JPS Nortons race in the late 80s/early 90s - awesome to see the blue flames as they shut off for Hall bends

 

A tutor at college said in his RX8 if it was hot and he turned the engine off, it wouldn't let you start it back up for a few minutes. Unless you blip the throttle then turn the key off at the same time or some trick like that.

 

Thats just one of their little foibles. They are a pain in the arse. I have dealt with 2x 2004 rx8's recently, one got sold for Ł900 because the engine needed a rebuild/coilpacks etc. , and the other put the engine check light on due to detecting a misfire, after it had upgraded coilpacks/plugs/leads/ blah blah blah. It was put up for sale a week later.
Really nice car the rx8, the engine is wank(el) though!

 

Bloody hell, that bad?

So for all it's advantages, the Wankel engine isn't a good alterntive to a "proper" one.

 

Great for spooling turbo's and then you dont have to worry about the torque

 

This ones currently the fastest in the country (afaik), 771 at the hubs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0um037uVkZM

Street car too

 

that is fookin savage, awesome

 

My Bother has a '78 Toyota Corolla with a J Ported Rotary - about 250bhp if I remember correctly.

It's stored in my Dad's garage in New Zealand at the moment........

A lot of fun, and that's what it's all about.