The Wankel engine, also known as a rotary engine, operates on a fundamentally different principle than the traditional piston engines found in most cars. Invented by Felix Wankel in the 1950s, this engine design boasts a unique way of converting pressure into rotating motion, which makes it compact, lightweight, and capable of producing high power outputs relative to its size. At the heart of a Wankel engine is a triangular rotor that orbits in an epitrochoidal motion within a peanut-shaped, epitrochoidal housing. This motion creates three separate chambers within the housing. As the rotor orbits, these chambers change in volume, undergoing the four strokes of the Otto cycle (intake, compression, power, and exhaust) in different sections of the engine housing. During the intake phase, a mixture of air and fuel is drawn into one of the chambers as the volume of that chamber increases. The chamber's volume then decreases, compressing the mixture as the rotor continues its motion. When the mixture is fully compressed, it is ignited by spark plugs, causing a rapid expansion of gases that push against the rotor, creating rotational motion. This is the power phase. Finally, as the rotor moves further, the volume of the chamber again increases, allowing the exhaust gases to be expelled. One of the main advantages of the Wankel engine is its simplicity. With fewer moving parts than a piston engine (it lacks valves, camshafts, etc.), it is lighter and can operate smoothly at higher speeds, making it ideal for racing applications and high-performance vehicles. Its compact size also allows for greater flexibility in vehicle design. However, the Wankel engine does have drawbacks. It tends to have poorer fuel efficiency and higher emissions compared to piston engines due to incomplete combustion. The unique shape of the combustion chamber and the constant changes in volume and surface area make it more challenging to achieve complete combustion of the fuel-air mixture. Additionally, engine longevity and reliability can be issues, as the sealing around the rotor tips (apex seals) faces more wear and stress than in a conventional engine. In conclusion, while the Wankel engine offers several advantages, such as compactness, lightness, and simplicity of design, which translate into high power outputs and smooth operation, it also faces challenges in fuel efficiency, emissions, and durability. Despite these challenges, the Wankel engine has been successfully used in sports cars, notably by Mazda in their RX series, and continues to be the subject of development and refinement for future automotive applications.

1. First, locate your engine’s oil cap. It’s usually located on top of the engine. The cap may have a label indicating it's the oil cap or a symbol of an oil can. 2. Remove the cap. 3. Get your motor oil and oil funnel. Place the funnel into the oil fill hole where you've just removed the cap. 4. Carefully pour the engine oil into the funnel. Be sure to pour slowly to prevent spillage or overflow. 5. Check your oil level with the dipstick. Pull out the dipstick, wipe it clean with a rag, and then insert it again. Then remove it again to see if the oil level reaches the recommended fill line. If it’s still low, add more oil. 6. Once the oil is at the correct level, replace both the oil cap and the dipstick. 7. Lastly, turn your engine on and run it for a few minutes to circulate the new oil. After, check the oil level once more to make sure it's still at the appropriate level. Remember, it's important to use the correct type of oil for your car which you should be able to find in your car's manual. Also, don't overfill the engine with oil as it can cause damage.

No, Mazda no longer uses the rotary engine in their standard production cars. The last model to use this was the RX-8 which was discontinued in 2012. However, Mazda has continually hinted at the return of the rotary engine, potentially as a range extender for electric vehicles.