I think my motor kicked the bucket it all started with it making this strange noise about two months ago. The noise sounded like a jackhammer in the engine bay only under a load but it would not make the noise while it was neutral. I mean you could rev it to 8k and it wouldn’t make the noise but put it in first and leave the driveway and the jackhammer was on! I guessing it was a rotor or stationary gear bearing? So, for the past couple of days it has smoking (white & smelled sweet guessing it was coolant) a bit when you first start it then after a min. it would quit. Then this morning I was warming it up in the drive and it started to run hot so I turned off the engine popped the hood and coolant was puking out the coolant reservoir and the hoses look to have a lot of pressure in them. I guess I blew the water seals. So I pushed back up the driveway for now.

90 GXL
RB header, Presilencer, Mufflers
HKS intake
5th & 6TH port sleeves removed
Air pump removed
ACV removed

 

Have any of you guys experience a noise like that?

 

Sounds like it might be tranny if you can rev engine in nuetral, although im no mechanic so who knows.

 

The fact that it only makes that noise in gear could be related to it having a load on the engine. And the coolant thing is exactly what happened to my car right before it died. It was a blown coolant seal.

 

Thats why I was tinking a main bearing. But I wouldnt think that our brearings would be that easy to spin. Also its never seen any rev's over 8500 rpm, but i guess its possible

 

Oh i forgot to mention that i did do a tranny swap about 2 weeks ago and it still made the same noise

 

How many miles are on the engine? Also, its sounds like you have a blown coolant seal, so its kinda a mute point about the other thing.

 

It’s got about 75,000 on it.

Yeah I agree the coolant seals are shot. I just put another engine on the stand to get ready for a rebuild!

I also agree about the mute point but, I was just curious to see if anybody had experienced a noise like that, but when I yank that engine out, I'm going to tear it down and check to see if I can figure out what the heck that noise was. You just don’t know how bad that has been bugging me.....LOL

Thanks Sideways7

 

What is a new engine going to cost you? I'm thinking I might need one soon.

 

A reman from Mazda runs about $2000


A rebuild kit and gasket kit and doing it yourself $1000.
Providing that your rotors, rotor housings and intermediate housings are in good shape. If not it could get expensive. I would suggest if you got the cash to get the reman from Mazda for a couple of reasons

1. Warranty

2. They will have replaced engine parts that don’t meet specified tolerances.

3. A qualified tech rebuilt it. (Not somebody that thinks he can rebuild a rotary)

4. Save time

5. You might end up spending the same amount if you have to buy some expensive parts like rotors, rotor housings and intermediate housings if you do your own rebuild. So then, if you do your own rebuild and spend the same amount of money that will bring you back to number 4.

Now if you are planning to do some porting or any other tricks as I am going to do. Then I can understand wanting to do it yourself if capable.

 

i have had a spatter of coolant that just appears ocassionaly on the intake. Didn't look like it was puking... just a spattering, should I worry about my engine?

 

bump

 

AMEN AMEN AMEN

 

Yea go with a Mazda reman for all the reasons RotaryForce13B said. I know if mine ever needs one (well as of now I dont have one lol) thats what I will do.

 

To determine if the coolant seals are good or not, do the infamous Geyser test. ( just do a search on it)
Sorry to say, but from what you describe, it does look like the coolant seals- but again, there are lot of reasons for smoke.
goood luck.
Shin

 

my engine is making a jackhammer noise now but its the power stearing