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The world's smallest rotary engine is taken to its limit and beyond in this interesting test run.
The last production vehicle to come with a rotary engine was the Mazda RX-8 which winded production in 2012. The high-revving character and sonorous note brought in all the drama that other engines didn't possess. There was a simmer of hope when Mazda showcased the RX-VISION Rotary Sports Concept.
They did go ahead with it but not as we expected. It is making a comeback as a range extender for Mazda's electrified vehicles, starting with the MX-30 Hybrid. Toyan couldn't wait any longer and thus has given us the smallest but fun rotary out there. Matt from Warped Perception does a test run of this tiny rotary motor, and has a shocking revelation.
The world's smallest rotary engine is taken to its limit and beyond in this interesting test run.
Matt was intrigued by the tiny rotary motor in his hand. One, it happens to be the smallest rotary engine in the world, and two, its build quality and attention to detail were marvelous. He goes on to dismantle the parts are show us the tiny rotor that was a cute little thing! But it was the test run that shocked him and us!
Related: This Car Company Makes The Best Rotary Engines
The RS-S100 from Toyan is a 0.15 cu.in rotary motor (that's about 2.46 cc). And this peppy little thing is rated to pump out 0.75 hp at 14,800 rpm. The company max. rating for this tiny rotary motor is at 16,500 rpm.
And each of its tiny components is made of alloy materials made to withstand insane levels of dynamic force. The internals consists of a six-grade precision 30-tooth internal gear and 20-tooth external gear. The flywheel is made of steel and the crankshaft has been reinforced.
It doesn't have a lubricating system and needs to run using a mixture of oil and fuel, just like in a two-stroke gasoline engine. Matt was mesmerized by what he was seeing, and we guess he forgot to read the manual before testing it out, as neither he nor we were prepared for the outcome!
Related: Check Out This "Inside Out" Rotary Engine From LiquidPiston
After an initial hiccup, the tiny rotary screamed to life. And after two bumpy runs, Matt went on to do a max. RPM and full-throttle run. To get the readings right he stuck a tiny piece of reflective tape to the flywheel and measured the RPM rating using a digital tachometer.
For a second, this screamer peaked at a mind-boggling 30,000 RPM before mellowing down. After an elongated run time, the motor finally gave in to the wraith. The wild vibrations caused its tiny exhaust to fall off.
The heat produced was enough to melt its glow plug that was needed to keep the ignition cycle on. Matt was clever to stop when he felt that something was wrong. This helped him avoid a "tiny" seizure! Just like the big Wankel motors, this one will also need a fresh set of apex seals.
He plans to do other safer experiments further on. This tiny rotary engine test run reminded us of why Wankel engines were so much more fun than the inlines and Vs. And it has got us craving for these high-revving screamers.
Source: Warped Perception YouTube Channel
Tijo is an engineer, mechanic, and an avid content creator. He is a grease-monkey who loves tinkering with automobiles every now and then, when not busy penning down his passion for them. He has always had a soft spot for JDM and is keen on diving deep in for anything that involves wheels and engines.