2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992) 1986-1992 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections.
Sponsored by:

Massively rich, or coolant seal gone?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 01-15-04, 06:16 PM
  #1  
Senior Member

Thread Starter
 
amused's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Red Sox Nation
Posts: 534
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Massively rich, or coolant seal gone?

Started my car up today in 2 degree weather..

Puffed a lotta whitish/maybe bluish smoke that smelled a little like sweet gas.

I immediately thought cooland seal... however, after driving down the street (trailing a HUGE cloud of smoke) it went away once the car had warmed up to operating temp.

During this time, even though i was in 4th at 2000rpms, when i let off the gas it'd backfire..

was the ecu just massively rich cuz of the cold?
Old 01-15-04, 06:25 PM
  #2  
Senior Member

 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Delaware
Posts: 659
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
At this time I wouldn't worry about it, unless it happens again, except the backfire...was it fully warmed up when it backfired? Did it ever backfire or do the smoke thing before?
Old 01-15-04, 06:42 PM
  #3  
Senior Member

 
BigTone's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Aurora, IL and Milwaukee, WI
Posts: 376
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Your coolent seals might be on the way out.
Old 01-15-04, 06:47 PM
  #4  
Rotary Enthusiast

 
SAiamNE's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Calgary, AB
Posts: 868
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I think backfiring is pretty common with a modded exhaust so i wouldn't be worried about that.
Old 01-15-04, 07:26 PM
  #5  
Senior Member

 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Delaware
Posts: 659
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
true true but i wonder if its ever backfired before...
Old 01-15-04, 08:47 PM
  #6  
Senior Member

 
Philip_g's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: denver CO
Posts: 460
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
sounds like the coolant seal to me too, did you pup the coolant cap and take a look while it was running (and cold) for bubbles or old faithful?
Old 01-15-04, 10:56 PM
  #7  
Defected to the dark side

 
Wankels-Revenge's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: toronto
Posts: 924
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Re: Massively rich, or coolant seal gone?

Originally posted by amused
Started my car up today in 2 degree weather..

Puffed a lotta whitish/maybe bluish smoke that smelled a little like sweet gas.

I immediately thought cooland seal... however, after driving down the street (trailing a HUGE cloud of smoke) it went away once the car had warmed up to operating temp.

During this time, even though i was in 4th at 2000rpms, when i let off the gas it'd backfire..

was the ecu just massively rich cuz of the cold?
Geez isn't that normal? As long as it went away when the car reached normal operating temp i think ur ok. And did the smoke linger or did it dissipate quite quickly?

Also did you remove the cold-start assist system? Maybe thats why you were burning coolant.

God only knows everytime i start my car i get some white smoke...but it goes away and it passed the geyser test the last time i checked...
Old 01-16-04, 09:32 AM
  #8  
Senior Member

Thread Starter
 
amused's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Red Sox Nation
Posts: 534
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
once the car had fully warmed up, it stopped smoking and backfiring

it was too cold and i was in too much of a rush to stop and check the coolant while it was cold. right now its -7 out where i live so ill do it in a few days when it warms up enough for me to take the car out
Old 01-16-04, 11:33 AM
  #9  
Ready to Rock

 
ultradef's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Bergen County, NJ
Posts: 726
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I had the same problem last weekend, but now my car seems to be fine. *knocks on wood* I believe that it was just my car running extremely rich, combined with condensation in the exhaust and possibly coolant from the sub zero assist system. Once my car warmed up it was fine, and it hasn't done it since. It doesn't seem to be using coolant, so hopefully my motor is ok. :-/
Old 01-16-04, 12:35 PM
  #10  
B O R I C U A

iTrader: (14)
 
KNONFS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: VA
Posts: 5,480
Received 35 Likes on 29 Posts
Originally posted by amused
once the car had fully warmed up, it stopped smoking and backfiring

it was too cold and i was in too much of a rush to stop and check the coolant while it was cold. right now its -7 out where i live so ill do it in a few days when it warms up enough for me to take the car out
So, when you started the car, it acted as if it was flooded? And then it backfired right away (couple of seconds after startup)? And on top of that it smoked really really bad for like 30 seconds or so?

If so, your seals are on their way out
Old 01-16-04, 02:01 PM
  #11  
Defected to the dark side

 
Wankels-Revenge's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: toronto
Posts: 924
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
It isn't necessarily the coolant seals...when was the last time u did the geyser test?
Old 01-16-04, 02:30 PM
  #12  
Senior Member

 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Delaware
Posts: 659
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Honestly I think ur alright, after hearing all this. Try the "geyser" test tho to be sure. But otherwise I wouldn't worry...just gives you more grey hair .
Old 01-16-04, 03:23 PM
  #13  
I came, I saw, I boosted.

 
Bambam7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Windsor, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 1,921
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Do you have the cold start assist?
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
HalifaxFD
Canadian Forum
126
05-09-16 07:06 PM
ZaqAtaq
New Member RX-7 Technical
2
09-05-15 08:57 PM



Quick Reply: Massively rich, or coolant seal gone?



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:59 AM.