I suspect that we will find that Dave Leonard's recent loss of coolant
was caused by catastrophic O-ring seal failure brought on by
contamination of the seal surfaces with stop-leak when there was a
pressure reversal on the O-rings.

Respectfully submitted,
Aubrey

What forces the O-ring outward during normal operations? The
combustion chamber goes both ways. Positive pressure on
compression/combustion/exhaust and negative on intake. Does the intake
part of the cycle move the O-ring inward? Is it a combination of
pressure and motion? Which way is the rotor dragging the O-ring during
intake . A drag towards the center could make up for the negative
pressure in the chamber.
-- 
Blake C. Lewis

Maybe this approach has been thrown out already, but what about a
captive air pressure tank with a high temp silicone rubber bladder ? It
would be larger - maybe a 1' diameter carbon fiber sphere that is
horizontally split for the mounting of the bladder with the wet side at
the bottom and the coolant line at the base. It would eliminate all
these problems of seals and be fail - safe for level flight. At annual
you could open the halves to inspect / replace the bladder.  The concept
works for those of us with modern wells for water.
Ideas ?
-dave

I am a little confused, can some one clarify the following for me
please?

What is the advantage have the coolant pre-pressurized?  Is it to
reduce the motion of the piston when engine warms and therefore have a
smaller reservoir?

Is my understanding correctly that the main differences between the
RX-8 cooling system and prior rotaries is that the overflow
tank/reservoir is:

1)  Part of the main coolant flow, ie all the circulating coolant
passes through overflow on its way to the radiator

2)  Pressurized

3)  Incorporates a convoluted air separation system

Hans

2 and 3 but not 1.

Paul Lamar ...No rotor no motor.

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