I have a 70K mile ext warranty. 62K on car. Mazda wants to replace engine because front crank shaft oil seal is leaking. I noticed oil under car and upon further investigation, noticed oil all over front of engine. 2k miles ago I put in clutch combo from rx7store.net. Other than that I have RB screens and new battery + terminal.

They say oil seal cant be replaced? Major work like that is never done without scars!

Appreciate any feedback.

 

Its possible, but they *still* have to take the engine out, take it all apart, replace the bad parts, put it back together.

If Mazda going to replace it, let them do it.

 

Just be sure they warranty the new engine for you - if you search around you'll find that the reman's they stick in our cars are not always the best.

 

Mechanic said they torque the nut on so tight and they use lock tight on it, that they have no way of getting it off without taking the engine out. Its just a shame. I have one of the few engines with 60k+ miles on it. Any ideas why a seal goes bad like that. Will find out today what fidelity warranty says.

 

Does the front of your engine look like mine? I received the same diagnosis and the dealer wanted about $2,500 to pull the engine and while its out do ALL the seals. My engine however has 106,000 miles and the leak only happens during 20+ minute runs on race tracks. Driving on public roads it doesn't leak and runs fine, I think that is because I pre-mix. So for now I am going to give up track weekends. But depending on what the dealer quotes you you might want to spend a little more and get a Mazmart rebuilt and have someone else do the install. Pre-mixing might work for you, Get 2 bottles of Idemitsu Rotary Pre-mix and add about 6oz per tank and see if it still leaks.

 

Yep, exactly. Its actually dripping from the bottom of engine. I started smelling burned oil about 2 weeks ago. figured I spilled some when I added. Figured it out when I changed the plugs the other day. I have a 70k mile warranty by fidelity. Fidelity will only allow ase certified mechanics to do the work. Its at tyrone mazda. Theyve done all my work. Never a problem. Always a good experience. no questions asked....... I was kinda worried that somehow they might say the lightened flywheel and HD clutch might have caused it. Not sure how premix will help. I do use it once every 4 or 5th fillup.

 

bump

Well, a little phlorescent oil and a black light and a new engine. Rather a rebuilt. My compression is above spec. Simply a bad front oil seal. Funny I dont hear more about this. Maybe Im a fluke. Wonder if my balance was off.

 

i noticed a lil oil around my oil pan, i figure its the oil pan gasket...could it be the same problem as yours and the oil managed to make its way down there. The front of my engine under the alternator is kinda dirty and seems to be greasy...i have a steam shark and some degreaser, i think im going to clean the engine very well and just monitor it if the grease comes back. i jus crossed over to 70k and the car seems to be in great shape. keep us updated with your situation, i really hope i dont have a problem like this, im under aftermarket waranty but i really dont want to have a problem this large.

 

Mechanic confirmed the leak. Cleaned front of engine an used some die in oil. Dealer says main pulley is pressed on. They cant remove it and standard procedure is to replace engine. I just dont buy that. I dont want a new engine. rather a reman. At first insurance company said they would not cover it and now they say they will. I have a feeling this is going to be a long process.

Magikone, I would assume you have similar problem. Oil all over front of engine and under engine. Mechanic said it is a common problem.

 

maybe if insurance cover it, you can request a brand new engine

its about 6K , however

 

Insurance is gonna pay 6K for engine. Im sure its a rebuild.

Ive been around here for a while. Ive not heard of this happening, ever. My take on it is; you need to rev your engine to keep the compression but at the sacrifice of your seal, do to an inbalance problem that kills your seals. maybe its a oil pressure problem. 0w20 is my next oil.

 

on any rotary every part can be changed out. Dealerships use the factory way to fix problems which is harder on the owner and more profitable for the tech and dealer.

the pulley is torqued to around 900ft-lbs of torque and the flywheel is around 300-600ft-lbs so it is necessary to just remove the engine to replace the front and rear main seal. a huge (1") impact gun is needed for such a job.

the $2,500 for all that work is mostly labor as any other rotary shop can do it for around $1,000.

you guys should go to the RX7club forum and ask about this as well, as im sure im a bit inaccurate myself as i dont know much about the renesis as it is.


and if you're paying anywhere around $5k+ for another engine. it better be a brand new core from japan, not a reman for that amount of cash. a brand new motor will be around that same price plus it should be under warranty or you better get very irate to the dealer demanding such warranty on a new motor

 

Motor comes with a 12 month warranty. Dealer says motor is 3K$ plus 3K$ for labor.

Wish we had accurate oil pressure and temp gauges as Im sure most on here agree, ours are dummy gauges. For those who think using higher weight oil maybe justified, think again. I admit to using 10w30 on occassion when desperate at gas station. And i do max rev all the time but not in racing, just cuz I like to beep. Not sure but I suspect oil pressure blew the seal.

Hope this engine gets better gas mileage. 14mpg sucks. My 02 duramax 4x4 gets 16mpg and weighs almost 3x the rx8.

 

I am sorry but This is just wrong.
Front pulley is around 250/300ftlbs. I don't have the exact # in front of me.
Do you realize what it would take to obtain 900 ftlbs of torque?
And that bolt that holds the front pulley on is under 30mm. It would snap like a twig.

 

The Front Pulley aint torque at 900 lbs.

if you ever try that, Im pretty sure the bolt just gonna snap right off.

 

then its a reman. actually, if you order a reman from Mazda, its about 2.3-2.5 K Im not 100% sure, plus your core of course.

a new one is about 6K, in a box, brand new straight outa the RE production line in Mazda Japan's plant.

I get about 16 mpg. if I drive like a grandma I might be able to push it to about 18. if all highway, about 21-23

 

the other day when i was changing the plugs on my car i noticed that my oil pan gasket had oil on it. upon further inspection i noticed it was coming from the front crank seal just as you say. but mine is not on the ground though.my car is an 04 6spd with 55k on. this is its second engine though the original one was changed out at 30k. my car runs fine no problems or codes or anything...do yoou guys think i should take it in and have it looked at or should i just leave it as it is??

 

If you still have a warranty yes. If not it's your call. It never hurts to find out what's wrong.

 

You still have engine warranty so, of course bring it in.

Just dont tell them you were changing your plugs and stuff, All dealerships assume customers are moron and cant do their own maintence, then they will try to blame it on you whenever they find a chance.

 

ya i do have the powertrain warranty left for another 5k and i also have a comprhensive warranty until 75k so i think i will take it in to the dealer...that sucks though i didnt want a new engine i like this one. and plus if they have to replace the engine, thats alot of downtime and i dont have another car,do they still provide me with a rental? and yes i am palnning to tell the service writer that i want a new engine straight from wherever they come not a reman. oh and one more thing the only mod i have on my car is a rp super cat do you guys think i should put the stock one back on or just leave it on cuz its not like the exhaust has anything to do with the oil leak coming from the engine?

 

You better put the stock cat back on. Elsewise, they're probably going to charge you for a new replacement. They won't be able to let the car leave the shop without a working catalytic converter.

 

if possible, put the stock cat back on.

if they think your motor is bad, Mazda will pay for your Rental. So thats not really a problem.

You will get a Reman no matter what. Some people have Reman and its running just fine. it depends on your luck.

 

Definetly take it in. I would really like to know what they say. I thought since I am at 61K miles I beat the odds and got a good engine. gooo figure. I like my engine as much as a human can love an engine. guess its time to move on. Should get my car back next week.

 

update

engines are on backorder. WOW. 2-3 more weeks?

 

what was the outcome with this?