Rotary Engines

[Striker94]

Here's a interesting question...

If Rotary engines are more powerful and make the car more fun to drive, why aren't they in all cars?

They are apparently still powerful, rev harder, and are much smaller, yet produce similar amounts of power to 'normal' engines.

Is this true? Are there any disadvantages?

[viper16]

the disadvantages are they dont like alot of boost and the apex seals need to be replaaced every 60K miles. also horrendous gas mileage. good thing is a 10K+ red line

[xHaZxMaTx]

Mazda's got rights, methinks. Plus what that guy before me said.

[boganbusman]

the disadvantages are they dont like alot of boost and the apex seals need to be replaaced every 60K miles. also horrendous gas mileage. good thing is a 10K+ red line

If you boost a rotary you'll be doing the apex seals much sooner than 60K miles.

[baumaxx1]

Apex seals, gas mileage, noise, and the hard tuned ones are hard to drive on the street are their main disadvantages... hence light tuned ones only being in sports cars, and the hard tuned reserved for race only and drags.

[Striker94]

hmmm, thanks a lot!

I hear that rotary engines are again allowed in Le Mans! This is the reason Mazda is re-entering Le Mans in 2009.

And again, thanks a lot, but why have all the other companies given up on the design??? A Evo with a rotary would be very interesting...

[powerof1000]

I think that the RX-8 uses lots of oil too.

[Striker94]

To tell you guys the truth, I have no idea what the difference is between a rotary and the 'normal' engine...

In the aspect of internal workings, engine parts, etc., I have no clue whatsoever with rotaries. Could bogan/any other engineers/tuners/people who know a lot about cars hellp me?

[boganbusman]

http://www.howstuffworks.com/rotary-engine.htm

[PSZeTa]

And again, thanks a lot, but why have all the other companies given up on the design??? A Evo with a rotary would be very interesting...

Obviously, it isn't always about high-revving engines, light weight and performance per litre. Think further then just that. such as the disadvantages stated above.

[Grez~Supra_RZ-S]

The main problem these days is that people are 'lazy' when it comes to car maintenance, and they expect more for their money. Few people want to spend their weekends tinkering with little niggles, topping up with oil and so on, and the few that do just buy an older car instead.

[TheStig]

Couldn't this just as well go to the tech talk topic??

In other words:

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