Can someone tell me why I'm getting this white cloud of smoke everytime I start my car? It clears after the car has reached normal temp. Any suggestions to fixing the problem?

 

White smoke? uhmm.. is the smoke thick and cloudy or thin and wispy?

 

What year RX-7?

 

Thick and cloudy...91

 

(moving to 2nd gen tech area)

Sounds like water is getting into the housings.. .has the car been overheated recently?

 

Is this a recent change along with the weather change? Once the weather gets colder and more humid, you will see what appears to more billowing white smoke. Honestly, as long as the smoke stops after she's all warmed up, no need to worry. Also, unless your car is going through coolant like it's candy, no need to worry.

 

Yes, the car did overheat recently a few weeks ago, I think it was my heater hose I had to replace. That stopped that...It's not running through coolant or anything like that...Where is my housings located. Could my air pump belt have anything to do with it?

 

If your car overheated recently that mean that your coolent seal are going. Get ready for a rebuild

 

It's PROBABLE that your coolant seals are going due to the overheat. Do some testing before jumping to conclusions. What does the smoke smell like (burning coolant?)?

 

Heh, yeah you should check it out more... the color of the smoke, conditions it comes out in... what makes it worse, etc.

Saying "My RX-7 smokes!" is like the average car owner saying "My car makes sound when I turn it on!"



--Gary

 

I'm just going to break it down like this...I'm a FEMALE and I don't know much about all of this...I mean I can do little things like change my oil (which hasn't been changed in a long long time) replaced my radiator recently. Also but my tail pipes need replacing...I need a total new exhaust system. Like I said the smoke is thick and white and it only stops when the car reaches it's normal temp. It doesn't have that coolant smell to it. I don't smell coolant in it at all. There is no worse or better to it...It does it everytime I crank the car from the cold stage....as long as it's warm it doesn't do it....Any help or advice would be appreciated...Thanks

 

Could this just be condensation? I'm not sure if rotarys do this or not but I do know piston engines will smoke (steam) a tad if the weather cools down due to condesation.

 

Well heres the thing, is your car eating coolant, do you have to add some every once in a while?

What year and model is this? When my friend had thick white smoke, it was coolant seals. When I had thick white smoke, it was the turbo. So it can be several things, none of which are easy or cheap to fix sadly. Sorry!

 

Also, change the oil.... now. It's very important on these cars, and it could be the source of why the problem is appearing.

Rotaries are sensitive to dirty oil because it's needed for proper sealing of the apex seals.

I say change your oil ASAP, see if anything changes... and keep an eye on the temp guage and how much coolant you have... if your coolant isn't going down then it's not your coolant seals and that would be a very good thing.

EDIT: In fact, and I say this in theory not out of experience because I've only had a rotary for two months, but changing the oil might fix the problem... if the oil is so dirty that it's burning THAT uncleanly at low temperatures... that's pretty bad.

--Gary

 

Okay, how about this...if there is a hole in my exhaust line could that have anything to do with it also? Changing my oil today...promise

 

Where in the exhaust...?

Probably has no effect whatsoever... unless it was before the o2... but your car wouldn't be running then. ;P

--Gary

 

I changed my oil and it helped like almost 90%, but I do have an oil leak. Once that is fixed I think that will clear all of that up....THANKS guys!

 

If I do have a hole in my exhaust line or whatever does that mean I will have to buy a totally new exhaust system?

 

Not at all... you have to replace the part that has a hole in it... or the gasket that is letting it leak... that's all.

If you were burning lots of oil into your exhaust... you might have to replace the catalytic convertors... they may have clogged.

--Gary

 

Being female doen't mean that you can't take care of your car like it should be. Your probably behind the learning curve, i.e. spending more time in the kitchen with mom and not enough time in the garage with dad while you were growing up.

Spend some time in the archives learning about your car, especially general maintanence.

Rotaries are not like piston engines. They do not tolerate overheating well. If the hot engine light comes on or the temp guage gets near hot, shut the car off and find out why.

Nearly 1/3rd of the cooling is through the oil system. This means changing oil every 3000 miles or less, with a new filter, and checking the oil level EVERY time you get gas. Normal oil usage is about 1 qt. per 1000 mi.

 

Please please tell me that I can get a cheaper oil pan gasket than the one at the manufacturer?

 

Rebuild Time =(

 

lol how much is it at the dealers? i'll be buying one this winter as i'm rebuilding my engine to SP??

Frank

 

Hey I was surfing around Racing Beat's site and I found out they sell oil pan gaskets for $15!

Maybe it's too late now, but I figured I'd drudge up this post just in case.


http://www.racingbeat.com/FRmazda2.htm

Under "Oil System" near the bottom.

--Gary

 

Thank you so much Gary!