Mazda 13B Rotary 1.3L Engine Specs, Problems, and Reliability

Mazda 13B Rotary 1.3L Engine Specs, Problems, and Reliability. The 13B engine is well-known Mazda Wankel engine. It was produced over thirty years and used for many Mazda’s designs consisting of the RX-7 – famous Japanese cars. This Mazda rotary engine has a two-rotor style like its predecessor the 12A. Mazda following the tradition has actually left the radius of rotors the same (starting from the 10A engine). The thickness of rotors was increased to 80 mm (3.1 in). The 13B looks like an extended variation of the 12A in this case. The overall displacement of 2 chambers is 1308 cc (1.3 liters).

The very first 13B engines had carburetor fuel system and single supplier in the ignition system. Cars using this engine utilized the AP name (1974-1980). In the future, the engine was changed to injection. The 13B-RESI engine (Rotary Engine Super Injection) got Bosch L-Jetronic fuel injection system in 1984. This engine likewise got a special intake manifold with two-level intake box which provided a supercharger-like effect from the Helmholtz resonance. The brand-new technology substantially enhanced power and torque of naturally aspirated 13B engines.

The output of 13B-RESI is 135 hp (101 kW) and 130 lb-ft (180 Nm). The 2nd generation RX-7 featured 13B-DEI engine. This non-turbo engine was equipped with the 6PI, DEI systems, and four-injector electronic fuel injection. The 13B-DEI is a bit more powerful: 146 hp (109 kW) at 6500 rpm and 138 lb-ft (187 Nm) at 3500 rpm.

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13B-T Engine

The 13B-T has a single twin-scroll turbocharger and the four-injector fuel injection from the 13B-DEI. There are not variable consumption and 6PI systems. The 13B-T engine features the 4 port intake style which similar to early 13B engines from 70’s. Using a turbocharger provided the obvious enhancement in torque. The output of late 13B-T was 185 hp (138 kW) at 6500 rpm and 183 lb-ft (248 Nm) at 3500 rpm.

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13B-REW Engine

The 13B-REW engine was an entirely upgraded 13B engine, introduced in late 1991 in the third-generation RX-7. The REW indicates that it is a rotary engine supercharged by twin consecutive turbochargers. This is the first engine in the mass-production with such turbocharger system. The 13B-REW got two huge Hitachi HT-12 turbos. The second turbo receives a full share of exhaust flow and includes its boost with the main turbo after 4,500 rpm. The 13B-RE from the JC Cosmo series has a big Hitachi HT-15 (57 mm diameter turbo) as main with a smaller sized Hitachi HT-10 turbo (51 mm size). The little one provides the increase from 1,500 rpm approximately 4,500 rpm where the larger turbocharger designed for higher rpm starts increasing up to 8,000 rpm. This tandem lessens the turbo lag very well.

The 13B-REW was equipped with hardened peak seals to manage the high increase and additional loads. There are thin wall cast-iron rotors, four platinum-tipped spark plugs (two per rotor), a complimentary flow exhaust, enhanced cooling, revised consumption and better lubrication system. The engine management system has new data specifications for better tracking and controlling of air/fuel ratio, ignition timing and boost pressure. The 13B-REW was fitted with standard with an air-to-air intercooler.

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At the beginning of sales, the engine produced 255 hp (190 kW) at 6,500 rpm and 217 lb-ft (294 Nm) of torque at 5,000 rpm. In 1993 the power was increased as much as 265 hp, and since 1999 the engine output was 280 hp. The production of the 13B-REW engine was continued as much as 2003. The engine is special and still very popular amongst sports and tuners teams in different kinds of racing competitors.

Mazda 13B Engine Problems and Reliability

Rotary engines are not practical for a day-to-day chauffeur period. The cars with 13B are not best in fuel economy, require more care. There is a reason those engines are utilized in the racing primary where resilience isn’t the critical aspect. But the 13B can be as dependable as a piston engine. It needs routine maintenance and proper oil and good quality gas.

The engine burns oil, and this is how the engine is developed to operate. The oil intake this triggers misunderstanding amongst cars and truck owners. The little oil injectors inside inject oil into the combustion chamber which lubricates and lengthen the life of the apex seals. So it is vital to keep an eye on oil level and oil pressure. The simplified approach of extending the engine life is premixing oil in the gas. Premixing is the addition of sacrificial lubricant to the fuel for the engine. That permits erasing the oil metering system entirely. However premixing is even suitable for 1989-91 RX-7 with the electronically oil metering system which offers 25% less volume of oil compare to 1986-88 models.

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The second important task is preventing the overheating. The engine is sensitive to coolant leakages, and thermostat stops working. Change the coolant and thermostat every 12-18 months. Utilize an OEM (Mazda) thermostat. Inspect the belts and hoses too.

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