I am buying an 88 n/a RX-7 from a friend. He has had it for a while and just recently it has been overheating.



I am pretty new on rotary engines so I was wondering what are some of the basic problems when overheating on RX-7s



thnks.

 

You don't want one that's been overheated. Rotary engines do not take kindly to overheating.



Running a little hotter than normal and overheating are two different things.



Which is it?



If it's running a little hotter, replace it with (and only with) a Mazda OEM thermostat, and flush the rad and system and refill with fresh coolant.



Also you'll have to figure out when it's running hot or overheating (at idle or cruise) to help determine the cause.



It could be a number of things.

 

I've over heated my motor a few times on the road course and I'm still running the same ported motor I built 7 years ago...I run 20psi too...Some motors can't take an overheat issue...It all depends on who built it... If its running hot buy an aluminum radiator...its the best mod you can do to a rotary.. You will have to inspect everything Like the guy above said

 

Run without the thermostat if your running too hot, and see if it cools off, if it doesnt then u have other issues then a radiator to worry about.

 

The thermostat is also there to prevent hot spots in the cooling system, so I wouldn't run the car without one.

 

A radiator hose may be sucking flat, restricting flow. I always like to check the low dollar items first instead of assuming the worst.

 

check resistants in coolant hoses and such.

 

inflamatory gaskets

 

replace the thermostat

 

put the fan shroud back on, check the fan clutch, make sure there's nothing blocking airflow..just adding my 2 cents