Rotary Engine (Wankel Engine)
A rotary or Wankel engine uses a triangular rotor turning inside an oval-like housing instead of pistons moving up and down.
What is Rotary Engine (Wankel Engine)?
It is compact, light and smooth for its power because it has few moving parts. It has been used in a small number of sports cars and is also used as a compact range extender in some electrified vehicles. The engine injects small amounts of oil to lubricate the rotor seals, so oil consumption is normal.
How it works
As the rotor turns, the spaces between its sides and the housing grow and shrink, carrying out intake, compression, combustion and exhaust.
Why it matters for your car
Worn apex seals reduce compression and make the engine hard to start. Fuel consumption and emissions are usually higher than for a comparable piston engine.
Other terms
- ABS Warning Light
- Car Shampoo
- Coil Spring Compressor
- Contact Breaker Points
- Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD)
- Ground Clearance
- Hemispherical Combustion Chamber (Hemi)
- Historic Vehicle Registration (Classic Plates)
- Low Washer Fluid Warning
- Number Plate (Licence Plate)
- Oil Analysis
- Oil Filter Wrench
- Oxygen Sensor Heater
- Short Circuit
- Tyre Pressure Placard
- Underbody Protection
- Warning Light Colours (Red, Amber, Green)
- Wasted Spark Ignition
- Wheel Brace And Jack (Car Tool Kit)
- Wheel Horsepower (WHP)