But I can't afford even a partial rebuild, and don't really have the time to do it. If it's more than just the freeze out plugs, I will probably have to just sell the car, so i can get another and get back to work.
I am just hopeing it is these freeze outs.

 

listen, wayne is giving you advise to save you a bunch of time and work. If you have to sell it, you will get more it its assembled than apart.

And, there is really no such thing as a partial rebuild -

 

But what else exactly would cause such high levels of mixing?
What else could go wrong with the engine that would allow so much coolant into the oil, even without pressure on the coolant system?
I mean the stuff was coming up and out the dipstick sleeve like a perculator.

 

You may have answered your own question- "like a percolator"...Only compression and ignition gases can percolate your cooling system in the way you're telling us...

However, if the freeze plug is bad, you may have had the time for the lubrication system to pick up a lot of coolant and thoroughly mix it, so, I guess the jury's still out.

No matter what happens, don't sell the car...Even if it takes a while to save up for a proper rebuild, the finished product is going to be something you'll enjoy for years to come. You just happen to have had the bad luck of purchasing the car with an engine that needs some love. Arrange for a "beater" to drive for a while, you'll thank us when you get the RX back on the road, even if it takes a while. That, and if any forum members live near you, most of us are more than happy to share our knowledge & skills....

 

Yeah, I haven't given up on it just yet. Guess I'm just getting a bit discouraged.

 

I don't understand the problem with taking the front cover off. If he takes it off and finds the freeze plugs need to be replaced then great he can do that! If it's not the freeze plugs then the engine needs to be rebuilt anyway, no harm no foul.

As for the impact wrench, i broke the socket before the front bolt would come loose. Good luck on that...

Also, if you search around you can probably pick up a decent used engine for 300-500 and swapping engines on these cars isn't that difficult. It can be done in a weekend (i know, i did).

 

Just pull the damn front cover. It's not as big of a deal as everyone makes it out to be. I've pulled front covers with the engine in the car more times than I can count, and I've never fucked up a bearing yet. Just keep the clutch pedal down and you're set.

 

dont be afraid of it... pull the front cover.

 

You guys gotta think back to the days you were a "rookie" and first got your 7...Would YOU have wanted to pull that cover with the engine in the car? When you're just starting out, any big bolt that doesn't want to come out real easy starts to make you have doubts...Hell, I'm 38 and still remember those days at 17, 18...Give the guy a break! Give him advice and procedures that someone with no experience could follow, and "just pull the front cover" does not fit in that category, by a long shot....

 

I rebuilt my engine within a month of owning my car. I pulled front covers within that same month. And there's not much more to it, lodge a 2x4 on the clutch pedal to hold it down, zip the nut off, pull the waterpump/omp lines, remove cas, unbolt front cover, and tap with a hammer and there it comes. Then put the front hub back on and put the bolt on again (I always do this to prevent anything from moving anymore than it has to). I figure he could manage that given his current progress on the situation.

 

can someone please explain what "freeze plugs" are? i'm lost.

why not just take the front cover off and put on the new oring?

 

I woke up this morning, pretty much ready to give up and sell the car. but once again after reading your posts, I will again try to break the bolt.
Thanks Wayne, I think you know what I am going through, althought I am a huge rotary fan, this is the first time I have ever really tore into the engine at all.
So I will continue to trudge forward.

I do at least have the clutch pedal wedged...........

http://216.77.188.54/coDataImages/p/...25P6301986.jpg

 

 

Haha, just make sure it doesn't fall out of there, and you're good to go.

 

Yeah, before I break it, I'll make sure of that.

 

My christmas bear thanks everyone.........

 

I have another question, is there any other way to break the bolt other than the Impact wrench. Meaning is there a way to keep the assembly from turning while i try to break the bolt with a breaker bar?

 

 

jacobcartmill

The freeze out plugs are the same for any engine, in where if the coolant freezes during extreme cold, the plugs are supposed to pop out or break from the expansion of the water, before it crack the block, or housings.

 

I don't know, guys, has anyone ever gotten a valid flywheel "locking tool" on the sucker with it in the car? Through one of the little access panels maybe?

 

That's kinda what I was thinking.
I'll prolly search some more for a good impact wrench, I tried one, but it didn't have hardly any torque.

 

Your problem is not gonna be getting enough torque to break the bolt as much as keeping that engine braced well enough to do it without ripping it out of the mounts, or cracking something.

I've read on here a couple of times of guys who have put a socket & breaker bar setup on the bolt, then braced the breaker bar against the frame and gave her a quick "crank" with the starter to break it loose. You could probably find something with a search.

You're still convinced it's a freeze plug, eh?

 

No, I'm not totally convinced. I'm just really hopeing it is.
If I wasn't so broke, and in need of a car. I would try to do a proper rebuild. And not necessarily to put back into this car, because the physical condition of this one isn't that great.
Right now, I just need a car.

 

I just put the car in gear with the ebrake on and broke it loose.

As soon as i broke it loose i wedged the clutch pedal down.


Before you sell the car, give some of the stop leak a try. That liquid metal crap just might seal up an internal leak long enough for you to have a car for a few weeks. Alot of peopel on here have had moderate success with it plugging blown coolant seals temporarily.

 

Was you using a breaker bar, or impact wrench.