My musing for the day!:)
How long would apex seals last for (assuming a stock car) - i.e. will they crack and break after a certain length of time through simple age deterioration (regardless of miles), OR will they last for donkeys years if the car is driven moderately and not covering many miles a year (e.g. if you did 3k/year, in 20years time you will have just covered 60k miles!) ?:)
Very controversial topic, and my opinion is in the minority, and I will get shot down in flames again for saying this,
but I dont see why they wouldnt last 100K miles plus, if the car is maintained and driven properly and not modified.
There is a guy on the yankee forum, has a 1st gen Auto, and the engine finally gave up after 400k miles!
As long as u dont f#ck about with the stock setup and keep it all in tiptop condition I dont see why they should bust before the rest of the engine is warn out.
I think what Andrew means is: is there a lifespan (age-wise rather than mileage-wise on apex seals?)
Yep, something like that! Was thinking,what if you bought a \'93 with 10k on the clock.....would the seals still be good for another long stint, or, since they\'re 12 years old, would they be age fatigued rather than wear fatigued, and still fail? No reason for the question, just curiosity!;)
I would say that the lifespan is mileage wise, assuming the car has not been sitting for extended periods of time (like 12 months)
In my opinion its lifed on usage and stress, ive seen a few uk fd\'s that haven\'t needed rebuilds until around the 80k mark where as most imports need em around 60k (only an observation) which would point to a less tuned and easier life (bad points they are slower) I have no idea what the seals are made out of, but plastics, polycarbon things, ceramics and such like these days will outlive us! so leaving them sitting in an engine and away from extreme temps and such like they should last years. (hope that makes sense):rollin
QuoteOriginally posted by G@NDY
In my opinion its lifed on usage and stress, ive seen a few uk fd\'s that haven\'t needed rebuilds until around the 80k mark where as most imports need em around 60k (only an observation) which would point to a less tuned and easier life (bad points they are slower) I have no idea what the seals are made out of, but plastics, polycarbon things, ceramics and such like these days will outlive us! so leaving them sitting in an engine and away from extreme temps and such like they should last years. (hope that makes sense):rollin
Was also thinking that this was the sensible way to think of things!
BTW, my last 3rd gen, was a UK model, and did 82K miles before low compression was found and needed a rebuild.
How is the Spirit R Andrew?
Guys guys guys...
When I bought my FD 18 months ago I had heard all these things about apex seals going after 65K miles... so bought a nice \'92 low milage (45Kmiles) example to give me a couple of years before then engine let go. It was a daily driver (no track days or strip) so I thought I would be lucky and get 75-80K miles out of it...
The irony is that after 6000 miles (51K miles total) the ring square seals have failed and the Apex seals are fine. The ring square seals fail with age and enviroment (i.e. temperature extremes etc) but the apex seals go on engine wear. The harder you drive it the sooner they will fail - and then take alot of stuff with them.
The standard Apex seals are electron beam hardened iron. This hardening process will only affect the outer layers of the metal (by probably no more than several microns) and when this metal wears off the seal failure will be imminent.
There are several abstracts written by Mazda on the subject... Google have a technical such engine on an alpha test but I can\'t remembr the URL at the mo...
Mike
QuoteOriginally posted by 20B_boy
How is the Spirit R Andrew?
Fine thanks! All garaged up at the moment...frustrating, \'cos I never have been a fair weather driver! Kind of bought it at the wrong time of year, me-thinks!!:rolleyes:
Some local guys are trying to organise an R/R day (no tuning or anything, just power runs), so I\'ll take it along to that and see what the ol\' girl is putting out as standard. It\'ll either be :D or :( .... but either way, will be interesting to know!