When I start up the idle is very rough. I have to give it gas to keep it startedThere is also a lot of smoke out the exhaust. After 1 to 2 minutes the idle settles down and is quite smooth and driveable. After 4 or 5 minutes the smoke reduces significantly. This happens every time it is shut off and cooled down. Any ideas?

 

Coolant is leaking into the motor. Probably internal water seal is leaking. Either motor rebuild OR the 'temporary' water seal fix which is available several places on the forums, and which many of us have used with good success.

 

Or you could have the standard leaking injectors.

Go back to the exhaust and see if it has a sweet smell (coolant) or fuel smell.

 

I would take a good look at you cooling system, if the problem only happens when the engine is cool it it most likely a leaking internal seal. This is a real problem with the early FI rotorys. There are a few ways to temporarily fix the problem but a rebuild is really the only permanent fix.

 

Good answers above. My se only smokes if not run in a week or so, but same thing smokes like crazy then stops in a few minutes. Time to rebuild.

 

If you are not loosing coolant, I would check the injectors. It is VERY common for them to leak and cause the issues that you have.

 

FYI. I bought some Gold Eagle Radiator Stop Leak (bottle liquid) and put about 2 ounces in the radiator yesterday and ran the engine about 15 minutes. This was all it could hold because I had topped it off the other day. This morning it cranked up without any trouble, no rough idle and no smoke from the exhaust. I'm amazed. Time will tell as to how long it will last. I'll keep you posted.