2006-10-11 04:40:53 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Other - Cars & Transportation
- Actually, Mazda learned how to make the rotary engine feasible by 1983. prior to that, the sealing gaskets, and the "seals" used at the tips of the rotors were problematic. the downside to the rotary is that it isn't as fuel efficient as a standard four cylinder engine. the upside is the power created by this engine - either in it's 1100cc or 1300cc size exceeds anything else of similar size.
- also Mazda owns the rights to this engine after buying them from nus - a German company - in the mid 1960's
- .Mazda spent considerable time trying to perfect the rotor tip seals. plenty of time in the trial and error mode until the right alloy was created.
- the current engine in the Rx8 is what the rotary is all about. high horse power with out using a turbo charger..
- gm tried to make a rotary corvette in the sixties but that didn't get to far.
2006-10-11 05:00:20 · answer #1 · answered by 34pict3 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the rotary engine, also called the Wankel, after its inventor Dr. Wankel , was developed when he worked at N.S.U. in the 60's ,yes it was first used on motorcycles and until Toyo Kogo (Mazda) perfected the apex seals they were notorious oil burners,the combustion chamber was also of a poor shape for low emissions, however the latest rotary has the inlet /outlet ports on the side of the housing allowing them to optimize the combustion shape for better emissions, a bit of trivia for you , the A.M.C. Pacer was designed to use the rotary that G.M. never made so they had to stuff their 6 cylinder engine into it , making #6 plug changes almost impossible, as to why nobody else uses it ? ego perhaps?
2006-10-14 20:49:56 · answer #2 · answered by sterling m 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The website Green Car Congress has had several articles on the pros/cons of rotary engines. I searched. I shared with you.
http://www.google.com/search?ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=rotary+engine&btnG=Search&domains=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.greencarcongress.com&sitesearch=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.greencarcongress.com
Read the stories and the comments. These folks know engineering.
2006-10-11 11:50:37 · answer #3 · answered by nobody 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Rotary engines aren't very fuel efficent and were originally designed for a motor cycle it was called a wankel.
2006-10-11 12:58:53 · answer #4 · answered by Tommy G 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I dont think anyone except Mazda found out how to make them reliable.
2006-10-11 11:45:29 · answer #5 · answered by frigon_p 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They tend to suck valve gaskets - not as reliable, higher maintenance
2006-10-11 11:48:52 · answer #6 · answered by Tom S 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋