# New life for the rotary engine **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [November 14, 2023, 3:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/new-life-for-the-rotary-engine/193844 "2023-11-14T15:21:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2023, 3:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/new-life-for-the-rotary-engine/193844/1 "2023-11-14T15:21:00Z")
A company by the name of _Liquid Piston_ has completely re-thought the original Wankel design, and appears to have solved the oil consumption problems of the original rotary engine design. Like a lot of modern, high-tech ideas, it was funded through _DARPA_, and the US military is already reaping the benefits, with drones and stationary generators powered by these engines. Some day, we might see larger versions of these engines in cars or trucks. > **[This inside-out design solves most of the rotary engine’s problems](https://arstechnica.com/cars/2023/11/this-inside-out-design-solves-most-of-the-rotary-engines-problems/)** > > LiquidPiston's designs will show up first in UAVs and generators. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2023, 3:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/new-life-for-the-rotary-engine/193844/2 "2023-11-14T15:44:57Z")
This was last posted…by you! [A redesigned rotary engine! - General Discussion - Car Talk Community](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-redesigned-rotary-engine/189079) ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2023, 4:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/new-life-for-the-rotary-engine/193844/3 "2023-11-14T16:07:05Z")
Yes, I suspected that I might have posted something about Liquid Piston previously. The article that I posted today seems to show that the US military is already deriving a benefit from their “investment” in this technology. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2023, 4:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/new-life-for-the-rotary-engine/193844/4 "2023-11-14T16:35:17Z")
I can see it for a drone, high power to weight, decent fuel economy, same for a generator. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2023, 7:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/new-life-for-the-rotary-engine/193844/5 "2023-11-14T19:18:54Z")
I had a problem visualizing how the cycle proceeds until I saw this at the LiquidPiston website. The piston rolls on an eccentric shaft to keep the seal. Scroll down to How it Works fo see the piston rotate. > **[Liquid Piston ━ Introducing the X mini engine](https://www.liquidpiston.com/)** > > LiquidPiston – Introducing the X Mini Engineliquidpiston.com LiquidPiston is crowdfunding on StartEngine and you can become an investor. Invest in LiquidPiston. Learn more about LiquidPiston. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2023, 8:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/new-life-for-the-rotary-engine/193844/6 "2023-11-14T20:41:16Z")
Seems workable for smaller engines. However I wonder if that design comes with any vibration-suppressing technical challenges when used for larger engines? ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2023, 2:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/new-life-for-the-rotary-engine/193844/7 "2023-11-15T14:53:10Z")
“ military generators that are exempt from emissions regulations” I wonder how bad the exhaust emissions are. Could it be scaled up in size for small airplane use such as Cessna 172 or similar airplanes. An acquaintance had a mid 70s Mazda with the wankel engine, he did notice his MPG increased significantly in summer vs winter. Another acquaintance had an 80s something RX-7, I rode in it, not impressed.