Ok, so I'm still pretty new, so if this is in the wrong place then I am sorry. I have looked over and over again for a solution to my problem on the forums and I can't seem to find an exact match.

What's happening is when I drive my car anywhere over 5 miles, I get steam and smoke from behind the thermal reactor. I have already replaced the water pump and upper and lower radiator hose. I don't know much about the layout of a rotary engine, so I don't know what else right around that area of the block that can hold or leak coolant. I didn't think an exhaust mani gasket would do any good.

The residue of the leak seems to be all on that side of the oil pan by the exhaust manifold, under the exhaust manifold, and some on the front right side engine compartment splash guard or plate.

I probably make no sense, so click this link! It's the picture of exactly where I get the smoke.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y29...3-16182943.jpg

Feel free to look at that album as well. I have read about alumaseal and have tried it to no avail, I don't overheat, and I don't spew liquid or have a puddle under the car, so I am lost.

Pleaaase someone say that they've heard of/know what's going on! Thanks =)

(On a side note, other than adding coolant after 75 miles of total driving, still no overheating or puddles.)

 

Oh yeah, and i know that it's probably a cheap and unreliable carb pre-heater hose that I have on there, but until it's a daily driver then it's all I've got.

 

There's no water passage thru the exhaust manifold (if you have an 85, then you don't have a thermal reactor - only used on 78-80 - you have a cast-iron exhaust manifold) but there is a water passage that goes thru the intake manifold, which is sealed by a pair of o-rings and the manifold gasket.

You could be leaking water from the bottom of the intake manifold, which would end up down on top of the exhaust manifold.

Looking at your other pix, though, where the front of the block also looks wet, makes me think of the rear water pump gasket between the pump housing and the block (not the front one, between the pump rotor/cover and pump housing, that you replaced when you did the pump), or possibly the thermostat cover. Depends on how high up the block the wetness starts.

Only other water passages toward the front are the inter-plate water seal rings... and you don't want it to be those. That's rebuild time.

Check real closely, and look behind your air pump, see if you can spot the origins better. Cleaning the engine first will make that easier.

 

Wow, I had no idea. I'll be sure to check all of that out. Any suggestions on what to clean the engine with? I've heard braklean pressure washing, I don't want to mess anything up lol.

 

Foamy Engine Bright works well; just make sure to cover your dizzy & intakes & never direct pressurized water at electrical parts. Rinse well, esp. aluminum parts, & naturally, never spray cold water on a hot motor. Clean when "slightly warm" only.

 

I took my carb and intake manifold off and the O-rings, as well as the gasket, were in terrible shape. I got the new rings, I'm just waiting for the gaskets to come in. I can't for the life of me imagine that not being the problem by the look of it (pics to follow when at a pc). But I'll get it soon. Thanks for the advice!

 

UPDATE so I took my carb and intake mani off, replaced the o rings and gasket, and put everything back together. Can anyone think of why I'm getting coolant smoke or steam through the carb pre heater hose, as well as I am running at 3.2k at idle??? Any help would be appreciated, thanks!

 

check vaccum leaks and is your carb rebuilt, if not its probably time for a carb rebuild and of course make sure you didnt pinch the o rings while putting the intake minfold back.

 

Well as I said I'm not mechanical. Turns out I put one of the cables back tohether wrong. When I pull the gas pedal up the rpm's drop again, but if I give it a little gas it goes right back up and stays there. I do have the carb fsm so I'll paw through that later. Any chance that the coolant smoke came from me not draining the system becfore taking the intake manifold off?

 

You could have some AF puddled on top the exhaust manifold, or soaked into the heat shield liner, yes. Should burn off pretty quick if that's the case.

 

How quick is pretty quick? I'll have to take it all apart and double check everything. That amount of coolant smoke is not healthy lol. Oh yeah! Is there any certain amount of tightening to apply to those two hex bolts that plug the coolant drain? I tightened them all the way. I'll figure it out -_- I'm moving on the 2nd so I want to get it running by then, at least enough to move it. Oh well. Ill play around with it more, thanks everyone!

 

Ok so dumb part on me. I didn't have the idle compensator line connected to the air cleaner. I feel ok now about all that, ki just have to take everything apart now to see what I missed about the smoke

 

that looks like oil smoke in the pic. and the omp is leaking oil pretty bad and getting blown back onto the exhaust manifold. looking at the other pix in the album there's alot of oil on that side and it's getting on the exhaust manifold causing it to smoke. get some engine degreaser and hose it down real good.

 

Now that I look at it, the OMP probably needs a look at, and thank you for the advise. However, even though it makes sense, with the last car that was unfortunately totalled and this car with the white smoke that smells sweet, i know I'm leaking some oil more than likely but isn't oil more bitter smelling and blue tinted? also clouds a lot more than coolant "steam". I'll take both into consideration. I'm reading through the FSM's and Carb manual for the car. Learning a lot. I wish I had a garage and an engine stand so I could do a proper extensive rebuild over time, but I need it to drive -_- one day

 

Also looking at thermostat. Turns out I found a brand new one in my glove box the other day (purchased the car not too long ago) so could that have a problem if the smoke is coolant?

 

I promise this isn't just to post more to get my count up lol but upon looking at my OMP and the surrounding of my exhaust manifold shield, it does look and smell like oil that's burning and collecting in those areas. I also took the residue from some of the nearby hoses and the smoke resin from the top of my hood (previous owner drove it like this) and that seems to be oil as well. Thank you very much for the info. Now, since mazdatrix seems to be down. Other than ordering from a dealer, anyone know where I can find an OMP? I might just replace the lines and the unit with brand new. I figure it's the best way to do it since I don't have the time to rebuild parts. Thanks again for the insight.

 

these pumps don't really go bad. the rubber lines r probably what's leaking. there is a gasket tho where it bolts to the front cover. i'd bet the pan gasket is leaking in that area as well.

 

I just ordered the OMP rebuilt "overhaul" kit from pineapple racing, and I have an oil pan gasket in my trunk from the time I purchased it. I'll do it all at once. Otherwise I hear that chain saw hose is a good replacement for the rubber hosing so any comment on that would be appreciated. again I really appreciate everyone's input, as I probably would have given up on the car had it not been for all of you and the others on the forum. I guess this thread is dead until those parts come in -_- lol

 

OMP rebuild was successful and still didn't fix my problem. I had yet to know that in order to get the Oil Pan out of the car you need to disassemble the steering assembly or lift the engine. I'll probably take it to a shop for them to do just for time sake once my long overdue taxes arrive. that's the last thing I can think of, and it has to work. found lots of brand new oil on the side of the pan around that area, so I think I've narrowed it down. Otherwise, I don't have to worry about replacing anything in my oil cooler, intake mani, or OMP for a long time, and I have a lot of extra rubber line for the OMP ends as well =) I'm excited to drive the thing soon. 6 months owning the car and it'll be my first time driving it with passion ~_^