When i start my car up in the morning it shoots small puffs of white smoke out the exhaust after it warms up it stops.. Is it a Oil ring going bad?

 

white is coolant.. blueish is oil..

 

I know on a conventional engine....white could be a too rich situation also

 

Smell the exhaust - if it has a sweet smell, its coolant, which is - long term- not a good thing. it mean coolant from the water jacket is getting past a seal into the block. Ultimately a rebuild is the only cure, though some forum guys say using some kind of rad leak blocker has worked for them, at least for a while... sorry, don't know the details. If the tail pipe dribbles any moisture, does it feel slick like coolant? Smell it for same smell. I don't think a bit of oil-based smoke is bad - I say a "bit", not clouds of it. Mine does that, as has every rotary I've ever had (R100-3-4) on cold start.
best of luck
Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska

 

can happen fairly often just from running too rich, and you end up with gas still left in the engine overnight.

far as i know its pretty common with Rx7s

 

i just got around to answering my topic but, no there is no moisture coming out of the tail pipe, i believe you are right about the left over gas in the tank. I Rev my car up 3k then shut it off because Rx-8 mechanic told me something on how reving to 3k then turning it off is better for it.

 

one of your housings is damage or one of the gasket is bad and you are burning coolant

 

Not a biggie if the smoking goes away quickly. It is quite common as an engine ages. It is easy to get more smoke on cold start by pulling the choke all the way out, often they will smoke less at 1/2 choke. I wouldn't worry unless there is a large amount of smoke or if it continues after the engine has warmed up.

Smoking on start up is not a definitive indication of needing a rebuild or of a coolant seal or oil control o-ring failure. It can be as simple as condensation in the exhaust being burned off, and overly humid day, the carb being set too rich or the o-rings between the intake and engine are beginning to fail.

Your quote from the RX8 mechanic is because Mazda has been having trouble with them carboning up prematurely. Seems the new owners drive too sedately.

 

hahaha

welcome to the club

mine smokes like crazy until the choke pops off, and when I rev it past 5500rpm. A rebuild is in the works, but I bought a bottle of lucas oil stabilizer for the time being. I can actually use the smoke at high rpm thing to my advantage. If someone is tailgating me, or there's a ricer behind me, I just downshift and pop a cloud of smoke in their face. Fun, but anoying at times.

~b.k.

 

Some smoke on start up is normal. Mine has been doing it for 10 years with out any rebuilds or problems.