The bottom spark plug has a larger opening and ignites most of the fuel, while the top spark plug ignites fuel in the smaller end of the combustion pocket.

Sparks ignite the fuel, pushing the rotor in a clock-wise direction. Each side of the rotor has a combustion pocket that provides a larger space for fuel expansion, allowing as much fuel as possible to be burnt.

As the rotor spins, exhaust ports are uncovered, pushing exhaust and any unburnt fuel out of the housing.

As the rotor spins, a vacuum is created and the intake ports are uncovered, pulling fuel-air mixture into the housing.

With the chamber sealed, the fuel-air mixture is compressed, increasing the power and efficiency of the explosion.

Rotary engines fire 3x for each rotation of the rotor. The intake, compression, combustion, and exhaust functions happen simultaneously.

The Wankel motor uses a circular combustion process, and has a high power-to-weight ratio with few moving parts.

Rotor & eccentric shaft Because of constant combustion, most production vehicles only have one or two rotors (comparable in power to 3 or 6 cylinders in a piston engine).

Apex seals Each corner of the rotor has an apex seal that is pressed against the housing.

Face and corner seals retain oil around the eccentric shaft, and keep the fuel-air mixture in the combustion pocket.

Eccentric shaft The eccentric shaft rotates 3x for every rotation of the rotor, and runs through the center of the engine, transmitting combustion energy to the drive shaft. Lobes are offset and positioned opposite each other on the shaft

Ring gear

Counterweight The counterweight compensates for any imbalance in the rotors and eccentric shaft, reducing engine noise and vibration.

Stationary gear The stationary gear is placed in the side plate of the housing and bolted to the outside. The teeth mesh with the ring gear of the rotor and force the rotor to spin around the eccentric shaft.