ok, so i was driving the 1st gen yesterday from yet another job interview back home. was only driving it for say 15 minutes. i noticed that the OIL-L light was on. i figured that it was about time i did an oil change anyway. then i noticed my oil pressure gauge said 0. which didnt make any sense because 2 days ago, it was halfway full. at this moment, i looked in my rear view to check for smoke. sure enough there was white smoke pouring out of the exhaust, so i decided to get the hell off the road before some permanent damage happens. at this point, im pulling off the side of the road and as i push the clutch in to downshift into 4th. the motor completly shuts off. when i get the car on the side of the road, i pop the hood to see if its an oil leak, etc etc. nothing. all of a sudden, i see anti freeze shooting straight out of the reservoir for maybe 4 seconds. my old man, tows the car back to my house, which is when i begin the investigation. i put the car on jacks, and check to see if any of the lines had been stripped, cut, bursted, etc etc. nothing. when i check the dipstick for oil level, sure enough the gauge was reading right. no oil. so i do an oil change and check underneath the engine to see if it is leaking anywhere. nothing. i try to start the car, it cranks, just wont start. im about to pull what hair i do have, out. i cant figure out what it is. im hoping its not what i think it is. i cant afford the engine seizing right now. i just started my new job, i had planned on putting a 13B in there for the close future. but i also found out that i had to make another payment on my M3 thats 2000 miles away. which happens to make me broke. any ideas anybody? im really open. i cant afford this right now, especially when i just started a new job. blehh.

 

Sorry to hear about your issues with the 7. I would check the compression of the engine. Check the plugs yet? Is there oil on the plugs? I would check these things out first.

 

When the low oil level light comes on, it should not be ignored. It indicates there is very little oil left in the engine. Oil level should be checked at least everytime you add fuel.
If there is no oil, there cannot be any oil pressure.
Oil not only lubricates the engine, it also helps to keep it cool.

 

yes, well i am going to change the spark plugs out, i check the wires, they seem to be ok. hopefully, it'll fire with new plugs. i suppose we'll see.

 

time for a rebuild,when you run out of oil,you lose bearings,that is why the car won't start.the at least one of the bearings is seized to the eccentric shaft,when you do get a new engine,make sure you put a new oil cooler in as well,or you will have the same problem again,unless your car is a 83-85 12a which had a different type of oil cooler.

 

Can you turn the motor over by hand using the front pulley?

 

spark plugs were friend, and grimey. put in the new ones, tried to crank, same thing happened. nothing. although, when i tried to crank it, this time i noticed white smoke was coming out from the exhaust. car didnt even last 2 weeks. what a bummer.

 

When you own a rotary you should always check the oil level, i check it at least 1 a week and, probably should more with my leak. Change the oil add, some lucas oil heavy duty flush coolant probably. White smoke means coolant.

 

What does the smoke smell like have you checked the coolant level?