What are the disadvantages of a rotary engine?
3 Answers
The disadvantages of a rotary engine are: high fuel consumption and heavy pollution. The components have a short lifespan. Since the three apexes of the rotor are responsible for sealing and operate for extended periods without adequate lubrication, they experience premature wear. Additional information: The advantages of a rotary engine are: simple structure, smaller size and weight, lower center of gravity, smoother operation, less vibration, and more importantly, it can deliver greater power with a relatively small displacement. Taking the RX-8's engine as an example, a 1.3L displacement can output power close to that of a 2.5L naturally aspirated or 1.8T engine.
The rotary engine has quite a few drawbacks. Back when I was younger, I repaired many of these cars and found their fuel consumption to be shockingly high—much more than a conventional piston engine for the same power output, which really puts a strain on the wallet. Then there's the notorious sealing issue. The apex seals wear out easily at high RPMs, leading to frequent air and oil leaks, which can cause the engine to lose power or even fail completely. Repairs are expensive, and parts are hard to find, so many owners eventually give up on these cars. Reliability is another concern. They tend to overheat during prolonged use, affecting overall longevity, and require frequent checks. And let's not even get started on emissions—they're not environmentally friendly, with high carbon output, making them impractical by today's standards. Personally, unless you're really after that unique acceleration feel, I'd say it's not worth the hassle. The cost-performance ratio is just too low.
As a car enthusiast, I've been following rotary engines for years. They do deliver thrilling acceleration, but the fuel consumption is ridiculously high – driving in the city means frequent refueling, making them economically impractical. Another major issue is the steep maintenance costs, especially for those high-tech seals that tend to fail at high RPMs. A single repair can cost thousands, and replacement parts are scarce. Reliability is also mediocre, with new engines often developing issues within a few years, like insufficient low-end torque leading to sluggish starts, which hampers daily driving comfort. Additionally, emission compliance is a serious problem – they struggle to meet modern environmental standards, and even retrofitting upgrades is challenging. Honestly, in the long run, they're less practical and hassle-free compared to traditional engines. Nostalgia aside, the reality is quite harsh.
