Is rotax 582 still in production

The Rotax 582. That two-stroke workhorse so many ultralight guys swear by. It's not being made anymore by BRP-Rotax, nope. They pulled the plug a few years back, decided to put all their chips on the four-stroke stuff like the 912 and 915 series instead. But here's the thing — you can still get your hands on one. Through aftermarket parts, certified rebuilds, old stock sitting on shelves. It's kind of a zombie engine, still walking around and giving ultralight and experimental plane folks a solid option.

When did Rotax stop making the 582 engine?

So when exactly did they kill it? Around 2015. Give or take a year depending on where you live. The reasons are pretty straightforward — emissions rules got tighter, people wanted engines that didn't guzzle fuel like a teenager with a new credit card, and four-strokes are just quieter all around. BRP-Rotax made the call to move forward. New units? Not a thing after that, unless somebody's got a time machine.

Can I still buy a new Rotax 582 today?

Well, sort of. If you mean "new from the factory with a warranty and a shiny box"? No, that's not happening. But you might stumble on "new old stock" — engines that were built before the cutoff and never sold. Dealers sometimes have a few gathering dust. Plus there's a whole industry around certified rebuilds, companies that take original parts and put them together better than new. Used ones pop up too, but man, you gotta be careful there. Check everything.

Are spare parts still available for the Rotax 582?

Yeah, you're good on that front. BRP-Rotax didn't just abandon the 582 owners. They still crank out replacement parts — pistons, cylinders, carbs, ignition stuff. The list goes on. And independent shops? They love this engine. Tons of aftermarket options floating around. So if you've got a 582 that's starting to cough, you can probably fix it. Parts aren't going to vanish tomorrow.

What aircraft use the Rotax 582 engine?

This engine found its way into a lot of cool stuff. Ultralights, light sport aircraft, experimentals. Think Rans S-6, Challenger II, Kolb FireFly. Trikes, gyrocopters, you name it. The thing weighed next to nothing and put out decent power, so kit builders ate it up. Even now, years after production stopped, you see these planes buzzing around at fly-ins. They just keep going.

Rotax 582 vs Rotax 912: Key differences

Is the Rotax 582 still a good choice for ultralight aircraft?

Honestly? For a lot of people, yeah. It's light, simple, and it's been around forever so the bugs are worked out. Power-to-weight ratio is solid. Maintenance won't make you tear your hair out. But you've gotta be real about the downsides — mixing oil with gas is a hassle, fuel economy isn't great compared to a 912, and parts might get harder to find someday. If you're okay with that, the 582 can still be a great little engine.

Checklist for buying a used Rotax 582

• Check total time since new or last overhaul
• Inspect cylinder bores and piston rings for wear
• Verify carburetor condition and synchronisation
• Test compression on both cylinders
• Examine coolant system for leaks or corrosion
<>Review maintenance logs and service history
• Confirm availability of replacement parts
• Consider a professional pre-purchase inspection