Mazda RX-7 FD buying guide

1992 to 2002. An FD suits a committed rotary enthusiast with a specialist on hand.

Big jobs

Rotary compression. Compression is the main guide to a rotary engine's life. The factory spec is 100 psi per chamber with no more than 21 psi between chambers; below 85 psi a rebuild may be near.
Cooling and air separation tank. The plastic air separation tank can dry out, crack and dump coolant. Heat in the engine bay is a recurring theme.
Rust in arches, sills and water traps. Rust is reported in the inner wheel arches, door sills and rear box sections, and water collects under the tail lights, under the rear bumper and in the spare wheel well.

Sequential turbo vacuum hoses. The heat stiffened vacuum hoses that control the sequential twin turbos are a common source of turbo problems.
Brittle engine wiring harness. The engine harness is notorious for drying out and going brittle, causing intermittent electrical faults.
5th gear synchro and tachometer. Some cars have a finicky 5th gear synchro, and some tachometers are faulty.

Has a rotary compression test been done, and what were the numbers per chamber?
Have the vacuum hoses been replaced, or has it been converted to a non sequential setup?
What boost does it run, and what has been modified?
What oil do you use and how often is it changed?
Has the air separation tank been replaced?

Researched 2026-11-01. General guidance from owner and specialist sources. Check the specific car with an independent inspection.