Performance parts... To buy or not to buy?

[frownonfun]

this question is also going to be a little off topic but if the rotary engine, like in the RX-8, puts out more power than a piston engine of similar displacement then why don't more manufacturer's use it instead?

also why does the RX-8 take premium unleaded? i thought one of the advantages of the rotary engine was that it typically runs just as well off a lower octane fuel than the typical engine.

[Mazdaspeed419]

Originally Posted by frownonfun

this question is also going to be a little off topic but if the rotary engine, like in the RX-8, puts out more power than a piston engine of similar displacement then why don't more manufacturer's use it instead?

also why does the RX-8 take premium unleaded? i thought one of the advantages of the rotary engine was that it typically runs just as well off a lower octane fuel than the typical engine.

Just my opinion but i believe rotaries arent as popular because its hard to design them to pass emissions. They are more expensive to produce, and they also do not get as good gas mileage as a piston engine of the same displacement. Maintenance is also very important compared to a piston engine. most people dont realize the rotary uses oil, so it must be filled at intervals when its low between oil changes. oil consumption is what doomed the rx7 in the states, people didnt understand that, which was especially bad with the fd twinturbo setup. And rx8s require premium because their a higher compression engine 10:1 i believe. premium helps prevent early detonation.

[why?]

Originally Posted by frownonfun

this question is also going to be a little off topic but if the rotary engine, like in the RX-8, puts out more power than a piston engine of similar displacement then why don't more manufacturer's use it instead?

also why does the RX-8 take premium unleaded? i thought one of the advantages of the rotary engine was that it typically runs just as well off a lower octane fuel than the typical engine.

their is a entire gigantic argument about the real displacement of rotary engines. The biggest problems with rotaries though in my eyes is the 1000+ extra degrees Fahrenheit they pump out. That means everything needs to be able to handle those extra temperatures.

Also it is the same reason only Subaru and Porsche use boxer engines. What we have now works why try something new?