ROTORATZ

HEY GUYS i know im gonna cop some slack here but i just recently bought an immaculate series 1.2003 rx8 at a decent price it has 19in nice mags extraxtors aftermarket bodykit full chrome exhaust all the way through perfect paint interior not a mark on it, really too good to be true, anyway i go to buy and the seller tells me it needed a new starter motor as the one in it was a 17kw and it needed a 2.7kw as it has troubles starting whilst hot and goes on to say but it will clutch no worries, alarm bells sort of rang but silly me looked at the car and it was immaculate other than that, anyway i ordered a 2,7kw starter motor and utube confirmed that the starter in the series 1 was rubbish, so i took the guy on face value and decided to purchase the ca it drove well and didnt seem like anything wrong with it. and mind you im not mechanically minded other than i love rotarys to the death, anyway a mate dropped over has a look at the car and goes on and on about how good of a car this nthat great buy, then he checks the oil in the dip stick and to my dismay he goes the engines f@c#ed theres water in there, so i feel like a total idiot but still this car is and looks great other than this nightmare im still kind of happy, now what im begging for from you guys instead of going to a mechanics and saying fix it and no doubt be ripped off again, what should i do or go from here to obtain parts and how or who should i lay my trust in to get this baby fixed please help guys im desoerate any suggestions thank you Matt please be genuine im needing help

sonicsdaman

iTrader: (3)

ROTORATZ

sorry mate i am new and desperate.

sonicsdaman

iTrader: (3)

First, try making sentences and paragraphs so it's legible.
Second, start by reading the new owners thread, Then read about 12 more times.No really, read this!
Third, personal attacks are not welcome here.
Fourth, all the issues you have are covered in the thread I listed above.

ROTORATZ

K lets start again thanks for the thread im new and dont know my way round and yes i have found many solutidamanns or answers to my concerns i honestly never wanted to start off on a bad foot its just its been stressing me for days and after finding this site i just jumped straight into my issues without looking round your links you sent are a god send so my sincere apologies sonicsdaman

sonicsdaman

iTrader: (3)

You still gotta work on that sentencing thing. Anyway, you'll find that you attract more ants with sugar than you do vinegar.

Word of advice, if you do make another "help me" thread, don't make the title generic like this one. Also list as much info on the car as possible. Year, transmission, engine and chassis mileage, any and all mods. But most importantly use the search feature here or on google before you make a thread. 99.9% of the time there are multiple threads on the topic at hand already.

ROTORATZ

i kmow just realising this now i have almost got my answers on others with the same stuff goin on. im just not real tech savvy. i will learn though its a great site

CaymanRotary

Sounds like from what I could gather is you have a coolant seal failure on the engine. You should do an oil change and see if you still get coolant in the oil. If you end up getting that mixture there is no real way to fix it without removing and dismantling the engine.

However, if you are planning on doing an engine swap, or just selling it, you could try a radiator seal product. These are not guaranteed to work but I have heard anecdotal evidence from people that it does work when used correctly. Either Bar's leaks or Alumiseal are good. Its 50/50 whether it will work or not but it's worth a shot if you have no interest in doing a rebuild. MAKE SURE YOU FULLY READ AND FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS!!!

Loki

iTrader: (1)

To me it sounds like he has the usual frothy disptick problem, which is just condensation in the dipstick tube, not water in the oil.

Unless your friend has worked on rotaries, I would take anything he says with many grains of salt. Piston engine knowledge doesn't always apply here.

CaymanRotary

Yes, definitely do the oil change and confirm if it's actually a coolant leak first.

ROTORATZ

no he is a piston engine man. what about the refuse to start after a 10 minute drive unless clutched? do you think the starter motor the new 2,7kw will make any difference? i look at it as if the starter in it starts it cold why would a little hotter make all the difference

sonicsdaman

iTrader: (3)

The upgraded starter is normally used as a bandaid for low compression.

low comp. = harder hot starts

ROTORATZ

so im looking at a full engine rebuild then if thats the case or just apex seals going to cost a fortune isnt it

CaymanRotary

Once the engine heats up, the metal expands and makes it more difficult to maintain a seal if there is damage to the housings or seals. Your used oil will tell the story. If its brown, it's likely contaminated with coolant and running the engine in this state will destroy it pretty quickly. If its black then you dont have a coolant leak. If you have access to a compression tester for rotary engines or can get someone knowledgable to test it for you that is the best way forward. You do not want to spend money swapping parts on a broken engine.

ROTORATZ

apart from the frothy dipstick when i wipe it off and check again the oil is dark, but when i went out and looked in the radiator plastic box thin the water wasnt green it was a light brown very light actually

Loki

iTrader: (1)

Diagnose the problem, don't jump to conclusions. If you can get a compression test, you'll know where you stand and can make decisions from there. If the test comes back below spec, plan for your rebuild (a full rebuild, there is no such thing as apex seals only). If it's above spec, your problem is elsewhere (slow started, poor ignition, failing fuel pump, etc).

Loki

iTrader: (1)

That sounds like rust because someone has been running water and not coolant. Poor car.
Pictures would help.

CaymanRotary

If you end up diagnosing the engine is low compression and the engine is definitely damaged there is a cheaper way to do it. You would want to source a known good 2nd hand engine preferably with a 6 month warranty. These can be found under $2k then it is just a matter of performing an engine swap. A rebuild can cost more than double that if the engine is in bad shape. You wont know until the engine is out and taken apart.

ROTORATZ

does low compression mean new engine or rebuild?

200.mph

iTrader: (9)

yes. you either need to get it rebuilt, a reman from mazda (usually cheaper) or get a used engine which is usually the worst option

CaymanRotary

Had one installed in a 2004 RX8 auto with bad engine. Used engine compression tested high 7's, low 8's. Engine block purchased from Puerto Rico and installed under $2,500 US parts and labor and came with a 6 month warranty if installed by a reputable licensed mechanic. Still going strong.

ROTORATZ

hey sonic can you give me a tip or advice on what oil i should put into my car when filling up petrol please? and the ratio. please mind you im in australia i have been looking everywhere on the site and am struggling to find my way round, and any sarcasm is fine, i will take it on board also, thanks mate if you can give any advice, by the way i changed the starter motor today she winds over a lot faster but still wont start when hot so im pretty sure its them seal things you said low compression, i have decided to sell it now as its way out of my league, a lot of fun but tooooo much for me to maintain, maybe a guy said that alumiseal might get me out of trouble for a while to sell it, anyway thanks heaps, i think a fast road bike will fix my adrenaline now

ROTORATZ

i will get a comp test and get back to you ok cheers

ROTORATZ

im gonna get the comp test then if its low im gonna do the alumiseal and sell i think as i put new starter it winds over and starts much easier but still wont start again till cold i will also dget a oil change, im in australia can you tell me what oil to mix with the petrol when filling up please i been reccomennded MOTUL 2 stroke but dont know the ratio or the 10/50 or 20/40 or however it goes please let me know bro if you can you been a great help cheers mate

CaymanRotary

The alumiseal is ONLY if you have a confirmed coolant seal failure. This sounds more like just regular low compression.