[DML] Re: Wankel Rotary

["Sean" <rx7@xxxx>]

>Regarding the Wankel Rotary engine although small and light I have heard
>that the reliability was not as strong as 'regular; engines and certainly a
>little bit more thirsty on the jungle juice.
>
>Am I right about the above points???
>
>Christopher M. Hawes
>DMD (Delorean Model Dealership)
>


My 1st gen rx7's usually got around 20-25mpg during normal town driving, so
it's safe to say it isn't that good. As for reliability, the rotary is such
a simple engine that you need not do much more than change the oil
religiously to keep it running smoothly. Most engine deaths are caused by
overheating - rotary engines already run much hotter than a conventional
piston engine. Pop a heater hose, lose your fluid, and you could have a
dead engine in a matter of minutes. It's not uncommon for a semi-clogged
catalytic converter to glow bright red when it's hooked up to a rotary.
Rotaries also burn a small amount of oil during operation, by design. You
have to top up the oil about every 1000 miles or you'll be running low by
the time your oil change comes around. I can't think of anything better
than a Delorean with a turbo'd rotary in it. Nothing like going 80 in third
gear, without being at redline. Since everything is turning in one
direction, your RPM limit is really constrained by your belt driven parts,
such as alternator and water pump. In the racing world, rotaries are
driven continuously at 10-15,000 rpm! The lighter weight of the engines
(only about 250lbs with all the accessories off) would probably help even
the Delorean's weight distribution out a bit.