Citrojim's AX, Pixo, C3, Running and Cycling Tales

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 24 Apr 2011, 10:16

Deanxm wrote:only good thing Mazda ever made had a Wankel in it!

Don't forget their radio valves and light bulbs = they were good..

I think that may have been a different Mazda though....

Wankels are great - apart from their Activa-like fuel consumption...

Deanxm · Unread post by **Deanxm** » 24 Apr 2011, 10:36

I thought they had an activa like consumption for oil too Jim, and rotor tips

D

Unread post by **myglaren** » 24 Apr 2011, 12:38

I always liked the Xedos 9 with the Miller cycle 2.4 V6.
Lexus aspirations.

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 24 Apr 2011, 20:08

Deanxm wrote:I thought they had an activa like consumption for oil too Jim, and rotor tips

They certainly did Dean and of course that was what broke NSU and Comotor, who made the engine for the GS Birotor and had planned to make the Wankel for the CX and subsequent Citroens. Mazda have got it pretty well cracked now though but the life of the Wankel is still not that of a piston engine...

Steve, what's a Miller Cycle? Is than an engine that runs on McDougall's finest? Or a bike a baker uses to get to work?

Been to Somerset today in the Activa. She ran like a Swiss watch and it was a very enjoyable drive; the roads were very quiet and almost devoid of HGVs

One interesting thing I've noticed is how cool the Activa now runs witrh her new rad. Whenever moving at above about 20mph the temperature gauge remains rock steady just below 80. It will rise a tad when stationary but when moving again the temperature soon drops back. Even if pushed hard it stays there rock steady..

This is the second Activa I've replaced the rad on. On the first I used an aluminium after-market job and following fitting it seemed to be just on the edge of capacity - certainly that one would never hold rock-steady as my current one does.

The difference is that this time I replaced the rad with a genuine Valeo copper-cored rad and it really does appear to have greater capacity than the aluminium ones. Anyone else noticed this?

Deanxm · Unread post by **Deanxm** » 24 Apr 2011, 20:24

One interesting thing I've noticed is how cool the Activa now runs witrh her new rad. Whenever moving at above about 20mph the temperature gauge remains rock steady just below 80. It will rise a tad when stationary but when moving again the temperature soon drops back. Even if pushed hard it stays there rock steady..

Mines a copper core one, brand new too and the car holds at just below 80c so long as its moving, oil never really gets above 50c but then the engine never works hard enough for long enough.

As far as i know a miller cycle is what is called a five stroke engine and i think they all have to be super charged.
Basicaly on the compression stroke the inlet valves are left slightly open for half the stroke to minimis power loss on compression, its a bit strange but obviously works.

D

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 24 Apr 2011, 20:31

Deanxm wrote: As far as i know a miller cycle is what is called a five stroke engine and i think they all have to be super charged.
Basicaly on the compression stroke the inlet valves are left slightly open for half the stroke to minimis power loss on compression, its a bit strange but obviously works

Ahh, excellent

Thanks for that Dean! That makes perfect sense..

Thanks too for bearing out my rad findings

Deanxm · Unread post by **Deanxm** » 24 Apr 2011, 20:34

supercharged V6 sounds fun though doesnt it

D

Unread post by **myglaren** » 24 Apr 2011, 20:43

They are supposedly great fun and equivalent to a 3L V6.

A very pretty car IMO, best one Mazda produced even if it is basically a tarted-up Mondeo.

Deanxm · Unread post by **Deanxm** » 24 Apr 2011, 20:47

............RX7

D

Unread post by **myglaren** » 24 Apr 2011, 20:56

It's alright as far as it goes. Tries a bit too hard IMO.

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 24 Apr 2011, 21:00

Deanxm wrote:............RX7

D

Very tempting and desirable

I always think Mazda are a bit of a Japanese Citroen really with their Wankel engines and the iconic MX-5. I also believe their tie-up with Ford has been very technically beneficial to Ford.

citroenxm · Unread post by **citroenxm** » 24 Apr 2011, 21:01

Ill have you know ACTUALLY that All mazda engines were god stuff!! Though lowley tuned..

Despite being 85% owned by Fraud in the 90's they retained their own identity and their own excellent engines during 90's

The 323F with pop up lights were also a brave design for a family 5 door and usd an excellent Twin Cam DOHC 16v engine for thr GT with 150bhp.. my sister had one it was fun..

So I think the opinion of did Mazda do anything decent other then Roatry is a bit harsh really! If they used Ztec, or CVH then fair enough..

Paul

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 24 Apr 2011, 21:04

I totally agree Paul, their engines are supurb. Is not the little 1250cc Zetec as found in 90s Festers a Mazda design? or is that the Yamaha one and the bigger Zetecs are Mazda designs. I know one of them is...

Yes, they dare to be a bit different and that's good, hence my liking them to a Japanese Citroen...

Deanxm · Unread post by **Deanxm** » 24 Apr 2011, 21:05

no pleasing some people is there

The 9 is actualy rather nice, and cheap maybe it will go for £600 but its a lot of car for the money and you could experience it for a few months with no loss of money too.

D

citroenxm · Unread post by **citroenxm** » 24 Apr 2011, 21:06

Before All this Mazda cloned Ford business goes on..NONE of the 90's cars were related to any of the 90's Fords in the UK at LEAST..

Ford only had a finacial part in them... Mazda retained their own engines, suspension setups and body etc etc

The only "Clones" you get were over in Oz.. The Square 121, Kia Pride, Ford Fiesteva car was one that I know of..

That is Fiesteva, not Fiesta.. different cars..

I rate Mazda highly then.. but now, the DERVs are getting PSA engines through Ford. The Mazda 5 has the 1600 HDi through ford. So they are still ok.. Sadly though, they do now feature more Ford under pinnings..

Paul