Mazda Miata Engine Teardown Shows Catastrophic Damage From Oil Starvation

We shudder to think how many Mazda four-cylinder engines have been sacrificed to the sports car gods over the years. The original MX-5 Miata started life with the small 1.6-liter engine, making just 116 horsepower. But it was a lively little mill, and beneath the hood of the featherweight roadster, it stirred the soul with every pull to redline. Unfortunately, this particular engine stirred a little too hard.