85' Mazda RX-7 Question
- RX-7 Chris
- Posts: 7800
- Joined: Tue Oct 02, 2007 9:14
- Location: Colorado Springs
- Contact:
Is it still running? You may have a stuck seal.
1984 RX-7 GSL-SE [size=84]My restomod project[/SIZE]
1964 Ford Galaxie 500XL flat black w/ white interior, 2 dr fastback, 390 thunderbird, C6 auto, 2500 rpm high stall converter, shift kit, AC, Holley 750 cfm
[size=100]RIP 1983 RX-7[/SIZE]
My Car Blog
Yeah stuck seals are a PITA on the older engines, had many a "blown engine" come back to life after a night of Marvel Mystery oil and ATF.
It is beyond rare for an older, nearly stock engine to lose actually lose an apex seal.
How many miles does the car have?
What was the failure mode? IE did you just walk out one morning and it would not start, were you on the highway and it made funny noises and stopped running, were you jetting your 200shot nitrous kit and it started belching black smoke, did it just sorta lose power over time and get harder to start or was it not running when you purchased it? Iam sure you have covered some of this, but i would just like some clarification.
Old engines do wear out, and when the O-rings for the oil control rings get hard as glass they do a poor job of keeping oil where it belongs.
EDIT- Also if you want to talk to me about the engine and the symptoms etc feel free to call me at 720-212-5838, if I do not answer I will call you back, no need to leave a message I will never listen to
It is beyond rare for an older, nearly stock engine to lose actually lose an apex seal.
How many miles does the car have?
What was the failure mode? IE did you just walk out one morning and it would not start, were you on the highway and it made funny noises and stopped running, were you jetting your 200shot nitrous kit and it started belching black smoke, did it just sorta lose power over time and get harder to start or was it not running when you purchased it? Iam sure you have covered some of this, but i would just like some clarification.
Old engines do wear out, and when the O-rings for the oil control rings get hard as glass they do a poor job of keeping oil where it belongs.
EDIT- Also if you want to talk to me about the engine and the symptoms etc feel free to call me at 720-212-5838, if I do not answer I will call you back, no need to leave a message I will never listen to

1986 Turbo FC race car, S6 13b, GOOPY Apex seals etc, GT35R, AEM EMS, lots more good stuff
RX8 World Chalenge Touring Car #7
RX8 World Challenge Touring Car #8
RX8 World Chalenge Touring Car #7
RX8 World Challenge Touring Car #8
- RX-7 Chris
- Posts: 7800
- Joined: Tue Oct 02, 2007 9:14
- Location: Colorado Springs
- Contact:
that isn't all that many miles for a stock first gen motor. You should get 220k+ out of it.
For the oil leak, look at the oil filter pedistal, oil pan, OMP, oil cooler, and oil cooler lines. I would bet one or all of those are leaking.
I would start with pulling the L1 spark plug and cranking the motor, you should hear 3 woosh sounds. Than do the same thing to the L2. That would at least give you an idea if you have compression on all rotor faces.
I assume your car is a GSL-SE if it has a 13B?
For the oil leak, look at the oil filter pedistal, oil pan, OMP, oil cooler, and oil cooler lines. I would bet one or all of those are leaking.
I would start with pulling the L1 spark plug and cranking the motor, you should hear 3 woosh sounds. Than do the same thing to the L2. That would at least give you an idea if you have compression on all rotor faces.
I assume your car is a GSL-SE if it has a 13B?
1984 RX-7 GSL-SE [size=84]My restomod project[/SIZE]
1964 Ford Galaxie 500XL flat black w/ white interior, 2 dr fastback, 390 thunderbird, C6 auto, 2500 rpm high stall converter, shift kit, AC, Holley 750 cfm
[size=100]RIP 1983 RX-7[/SIZE]
My Car Blog
so to get this straight- you HAVE power, its just hard to start?
Hard to start cold or hot?
Leaking oil or blowing it out the tailpipe?
Sounds like a bad diagnosis, but need more info!
Hard to start cold or hot?
Leaking oil or blowing it out the tailpipe?
Sounds like a bad diagnosis, but need more info!
1986 Turbo FC race car, S6 13b, GOOPY Apex seals etc, GT35R, AEM EMS, lots more good stuff
RX8 World Chalenge Touring Car #7
RX8 World Challenge Touring Car #8
RX8 World Chalenge Touring Car #7
RX8 World Challenge Touring Car #8
- RX-7 Chris
- Posts: 7800
- Joined: Tue Oct 02, 2007 9:14
- Location: Colorado Springs
- Contact:
I was looking through your thread again and you said it was a carb car so that would mean it has a 12A not a 13B.
Can you take pics of the motor? that would help a bunch.
Can you take pics of the motor? that would help a bunch.
1984 RX-7 GSL-SE [size=84]My restomod project[/SIZE]
1964 Ford Galaxie 500XL flat black w/ white interior, 2 dr fastback, 390 thunderbird, C6 auto, 2500 rpm high stall converter, shift kit, AC, Holley 750 cfm
[size=100]RIP 1983 RX-7[/SIZE]
My Car Blog
- RX-7 Chris
- Posts: 7800
- Joined: Tue Oct 02, 2007 9:14
- Location: Colorado Springs
- Contact:
PM'd you
1984 RX-7 GSL-SE [size=84]My restomod project[/SIZE]
1964 Ford Galaxie 500XL flat black w/ white interior, 2 dr fastback, 390 thunderbird, C6 auto, 2500 rpm high stall converter, shift kit, AC, Holley 750 cfm
[size=100]RIP 1983 RX-7[/SIZE]
My Car Blog
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