First off, this is my first post on the forums. I bought a 85 GSL with 178k on it. It is SO clean on the inside its not even funny. The engine though....



Now, Im a mechanic by trade, I am an audi dealer tech. So I know how to work on cars but rotaries are a new thing to me. I have a few questions I hope some of you can answer for me. Oh, and i searched the forums for the major stuff with no clear answer.



1. I am loosing coolant, and its not an external leak. I dont have white exhaust, and it doesnt overheat. From what i gather from searching, it is probably the coolant o rings. Also, now it is making a squeeling/scraping noise that sounds like it is coming from the engines internals. It only does it at high idle (1000rpm) but not above or below but it is getting worse. ie louder. Also, i can feel it in the car, so its not just the sound, its a mechanical scraping. Is this related to the coolant thing? Could it be a side seal or an apex seal? The oil system is working fine BTW.



2.Since the only way to fix a o ring is to overhaul the engine, I am going to rebuild it completely. If the problem is a side seal or apex, are the housings or side irons going to be too messed up to reuse?



3. with 178k on this engine, it is slow as hell. The engine is in good tune, and cats arent plugged or anything. Is a rebuild going to give this thing some serious pep, or should i expect just minor improvements? I do want to port it while its apart so that might help. I will probably get a y pipe and mandrel bent exhaust too while I'm at it. Any thoughts on this?



Well, thanks for your help before hand. I will get some pics up in the next few days.

 

Should I have put this in the engine building section?