I'm doing some research on a suitable engine for a generator / heater role and am curious how many hours before overhaul people have been observing on their rotaries.  In addition, which component is the weak point and what methods can be taken to alleviate it?

Aaron Buster
Master's student at Clemson University

A few years ago Mazda built some engine with 3 piece apex seals.

When the slot in the rotor got worn the seals would roll out of the
slots at 200,000 miles or so. Especially with the turbo engines. Other
than that there are lots of  NA rotary powered cars with over 300,000 miles.
I had a couple myself.

In aircraft use nobody has worn out an engine yet and I have
heard of gyro engines with 2500 hours. Most have way less than 3000 hours.

With silicon nitride seal the projected life life of the seal and rotor
housing is 20,000 hours. Rather extraordinary. You still have some wear on
the side seals and the oil scraper rings. My guess is 3000 to 4000 hours on
those using  Mobil 1 synthetic  or Idemitsu rotary engine oil.

Of course the rotary is missing a lot of parts that are normally subject to wear like
cam shafts and valves.

BTW The TBO for aircraft piston engines is really an inspection
of the steel moving parts that are subjected to fatigue. The rotary is more like
an electric motor in that regard with no parts subjected to reversing stresses.

Paul Lamar




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