My 84 RX7 with a 12A has a persistent leak from the top driver's side front of the engine. Its not new and I don't seem to loose much more oil than I burn anyway,but I want to know if it can be fixed without an engine rebuild. Previous owners appear to have tried to seal it with a variety of unknown products so I don't think adding more goop will help. I have some skills and time but I'm a little reluctant to explore a rotary. Any thoughts?
it ain't comin from the distributor is it?
Nope, it seems to be from the top left front of the housing. Hard to tell though.
I haven't owned a 12A in years, but the oil pedestal o-rings are notorious on 13B's. They're on the top of the driver's side of the engine.
Mine pored oil between the front housing and the first rotor housing on the drivers side front when I got it. Removed the A/C compressor and the leak stopped. The A/C belt puts a lot of stress on the front housing apparently and caused the o-rings on mine to leak. Removed the stress and the o-rings resealed. good luck. If you want to keep the A/C try loosening the belt some.
Had one that did this as well. That's where the oil passage from the pump to the filer pedestal makes a 90 degree turn, there's an O ring between the front iron and the rotor housing, and they leak. I took a long shot and tried this: hosed it down good several times with brake cleaner and let it dry thoroughly. I then used adhesive black silicone (it has to say 'adhesive' on the tube or this won't work) and coated the area with a thin coat, going about 4" either side of the 'corner' and let that dry thoroughly overnight. I went over it three or four more times, each time letting it dry overnight, then fired it up. No leak.
Sounds like a plan, I'll give it a try. Don't want it too clean, the grundge may be all that keeps any oil in it.