hey guys, my rex started spewing white smoke today. I was driving along when i noticed in my mirror some smoke, so I accelerated to see if it was me, and it was. Then about 7 miles later the coolent buzzer went off, but the temp gauge was fine.
what does this mean? is coolent leaking into the engine?
Thanks for any advice

 

has your car overheated recently?

 

the only time the car got close to to overheating was about two months ago, but it wasn't in the red. The smoke is now getting worse, it smokes almost constantly. I changed the oil a few days ago, would this have anthing to do with it?
Thanks

 

Almost sounds like a rebuild is in order

 

The car is still running great with the exception of this smoke. The engine has over 200k miles on it, if it needs to be rebuilt O.K. i guess, but any ideas what is causing the smoke?

 

it does not have to reach the red to cause damage
3/4 of the way is really HOT for a rotary

you can probly do a simple gasket overhual on the engine
if you want

powerhouse sells the kit for $115 last checked
you might want to email them tho
http://www.mazdacomp.com/

My other car.. I just bought ..a 88 GXL
(I also have a 87 SE Turbo)
was overheating bad
I night I noticed smoke
so Im in the same boat as you
I plan on opening the engine
seeing if the housings are useable and checking the gap on the rotors
car ran strong even with water being sprayed in the engine
chamber
So the only thing i'm going to do is buy a gasket kit
and oil seals (green -n-black ones)
and reuse everything
but I will make sure to send the radiator off for a rebuild
buy a rebuilt water pump
new fan clutch just in case
replace all hoses
add royal purple water cooling treatment

this is a good inexpensive fix for daily driver not for performance
tho
with 200k you might want to go ahead do a total seal rebuild
about $600 in parts
gasket kit
apex seal
apex springs
corner seal n springs
side seal and springs
Oil seals (rotor O rings)

 

By The way....I turned on the heater about the time I first noticed the Smoke.

Would this be related to white smoke?

 

Most likely, you do have either A: bad water Seal or B: a crack that formed in one of your housings.... causing a water seal to NOT seal... therefore you're burning water... If your add coolant buzzer went off, This sounds like yer problem...

If so, a rebuild is in order.... a must for rebuild = new gaskets.. and new Apex seals.. (if you don't get new apex seals you are a moron.... will kick yourself in the nuts later for it) and you could be looking at a new rotor housing or two... Can't tell until you take it apart and do thorough examination..... Also I would buy the oil control rings.....

when I rebuilt my motor, the first time I put it back in, I got it started, but it smoked like MAD,,, pure white... and it didn't stop, but drove fine... I figured I pinched a water seal, so I took the engine back out, and took it apart.... water seals looked fine!

however! I found some oil control rings that were put on upside down (don't ask... I forgot to check those 3 ) and I fixed those... and the engine runs fine now.... like a new engine.. This confuses me though, cuz I thought oil should be greyish/blue... who knows =)

Good luck whatever happens!

 

The coolant buzzer did go off! I think you've nailed the problem!

Are we doing more damage when driving it in this condition? We would like to wait until winter to do the engine. We drive country roads so a little smoke doesn't bother anyone.

What do you think?

 

A quick update.....we only have smoke at slow speed in traffic. Car runs great otherwise.

Any thoughts why we get smoke only under these conditions?

Will it degrade from here? Will we last until winter storage?

Thoughts anyone?

Thanks