TheAMAZINGNorad

My dad is starting to freak me out saying the engine is blown. He has driven the car for 16 years, me 1, so i think he might know what he is saying. Well, first of all its a 12a with a good size oil leak from the engine block. Our old mechainc said it was a seal and would require engine rebuild to fix, but wasnt bad enough yet to fix. Well, the other day the engine block began to smoke..on the leaky side. Im talking a fine white...hazey mist comming from the block after driving. I first noticed it when i pulled in saturday from shopping. I thought mye ngine was on fire! Smoke was billowing up thtorugh the edges of the hood! I screamed to my sister, GET THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER! And i ran and opened the hood...POOF! some smoke rises and keeps rising from around where the carb attaches to the engine. It dissipates after 4 or 5 minutes. It does this again when i pulled in sunday and today. Now, i can only see it when its dark like in my garage. I cant see it when stoped at like a light. Second, my temp gauge is not going high. Could it be bad? Third...its smells vagely like burning rubber. Also, the other day, i was doin 40, downshifted into 1st...let out clutch slowly like i always do..POP BAM! engine dies... I freakout, pop the clutch, its starts fine..i let it idle for a minute at the stoplight, then rev it. ITs fine. I drive it on freeway, no problem. I thought at first that i had done her in. Anyways, i think i just grinded the gears. I was a little edgy so i dont know exactly WHAT i heard, but could this coupled with the above be a sign? My dad says the engine dosent sound right, and he is real worried. Im taking it in wednesday to the RX_7 place down the road. To me it drives fine. Other than the engine doing Puff THe Magic Dragon wheni park it seems fine, but im not all to confterable with its rendition of a dragon. Should i prepare for the worst? If its blown...im fucked. I cant afford a new engine. It would be what..at least 2 grand? These dudes can do it no problem...but its gonna cost. My friend is a car nut. He replaced the engine on his Dodge with no problem. THere is a few rx's on ebay with trashed bodys but workin 12a's for like 600. How hord would it be to slap in the 12a? He has no knowledge with roatries, but if it works, it shouldnt be too hard right? Just take it out, lift, do the the same thing in reverse. And ive got the 1984 Workshop Manual too.... I dont know what to do. I hope this is just somethign stupid like a burning belt or something. My dad seems real upset though, and he has been driving it for over 15 years. Im worried man. I HATE driving the PT cruiser! Its a top heavy, slow accelerating, POWER STERING EQUIPED POS! And its too high and has NO aft visibility! Ack.rant..rave.


[size8]Everybody pray to the magical rotary gods to spare my 12a, i really need this.[/size8]

A DEPRESED Norad.....

4carbRX

Norad - In general, these engines leak oil from two main areas. The report of smoking from around the base of the card would tend to make me think oil is leaking onto the exhaust manifold. Check the oil lines running up from the oil metering pump to the carburetor. These lines are hard plastic and become brittle over time. One may have cracked or is broken. Also, the rubber tubes connecting the lines to the carburetor can deteriorate and leak. The first thing I would do would be to take off the air cleaner and check both of the oil lines. If either one of these lines is broken or disconnected do not drive the car. Metering oil into the combustion chamber is critical and lack of oil can cause the engine to fail. However, if the engine is truly blown the swap out is as easy as any small V8. It's pretty straight forward and no special tools are required. Good luck

Felix Wankel

Also that could be coolant leaking from the intake o rings.

nipplebandit45

as far as swaping engins go it is real simple. took me 1 afternoon an I diddn really know what the fugg I was doing. unbolt tranny, un hook plugs from rats nest (if you are unfortunate enought to hav to have one like me) un bolt motor mounts, pull off shroud / fan/ rad hoses and you are there!