Engine failure

[andrewrx7]

Hi,

I\'d like to ask for opinions. I\'ve been looking at an 54 plate RX8, with around 90k miles. I found out tonight that it has a blown engine. The owners description was along the lines of "alot of smoke came out the back when I was driving it". In addition, someone had a look and apparently there is oil in the water.

Could someone with a bit of knowledge suggest reasons for the above? Oil smoke suggests an oil seal ( to the side of the rotor?) has gone, and oil in the water suggests maybe part of the housing casting along the cooling channels has also broken? I remember seeing pictures in the past where the castings are very thin and can leak or break from corrosion?

He said he was quoted £1700 to fix (not sure what that means, but apparently he has a report but couldn\'t find it just now). He didn\'t say who this was, but hopefully will find out when I see the report.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,
Andrew

[Will66]

Oil in the water is a red herring.  RX8s get condensation in their dipstick tubes and it can give the appearance of water in the oil.  

I\'d suggest it\'s either had a stationary bearing go (probably the rear) or a side seal has failed.  Both would cause a lot of oil smoke out of the exhaust.  It\'s an engine rebuild to fix either.  Unless of course, the previous owner just overfilled it with oil and it has coughed a load into the breathers, in which case just getting the oil to the correct level could have it running fine.

[andrewrx7]

Thanks for the reply. The guy told me 1) he was driving and then a load of smoke happened, so I guess it is not overfilling with oil, and that a seal went inside the engine, and 2) he had someone that looks after his fleet of vehicles, who "knows rotaries" look at it and said about the "oil in the water".
Yes, I take it with a pinch of salt, but on the evidence of the smoke it is re-build whatever. Just wanted to gain opinions on the oil/water quote.

I\'m going to have a look at it anyway, and maybe offer him some cash, but not sure he will sell cheaply though. :2Rolleyes

[boosted]

Hi mate, if overfilled wont have pushed out til hi revs pressurised....happened to me monday! Luckily mine was plumbed to vent not the inlet else it wouldve dumped the oil in the engine and smoked like a good un...