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

White smoke..........

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Old Oct 10, 2005 | 01:58 PM
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From: CenCal
White smoke..........

is that a good sign on a cold startup?
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Old Oct 10, 2005 | 02:02 PM
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Could just be running rich which is like a 7. Or if sweet smelling then coolant. If it goes away after a min or two then it should be fine as long as its not a big puff a smoke.
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Old Oct 10, 2005 | 02:08 PM
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White smoke means you have a blown coolant seal. Your coolant burns off after about 20 seconds and the motor starts to heat up enough to burn the coolant off. It seaps into the Rotor housing over night so it will only produce the white smoke after it had been sitting awhile. IT does NOT have to smell sweet to be coolant. There is all kinds of oil in there to over ride the coolant smell.

You heard it here first.
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Old Oct 10, 2005 | 02:09 PM
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yea thank, Its getting about time to put the 7 away for the winter. Just forgot about the white smoke deal when its cool out!! Oh it doesnt smell sweet so I think it will be fine!! yea its been sitting for like 3 days, weather sux here.
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Old Oct 10, 2005 | 02:14 PM
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does the car eat coolent?? has it been over heated? if its losing coolent ,and alot of white smoke hten a coolent seal is prolly toast,

they do give off foggy smoke just like piston cars when its cold out in the winter, you have to make sure not to confused the two!
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Old Oct 10, 2005 | 02:17 PM
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well it eats alittle coolant but not enough to say so and it doesnt overheat at all. It went away after like 5 minutes. If it is the seal then I have a good reason to put my new motor in!! I have 2 motors 1 for backup when its finally toast. Can the coolant seal be replaced?
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Old Oct 10, 2005 | 03:10 PM
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Originally Posted by Houstonderk
Could just be running rich which is like a 7. Or if sweet smelling then coolant. If it goes away after a min or two then it should be fine as long as its not a big puff a smoke.

I do believe that oil burning is white smoke. and Blue smoke is excessively rich.
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Old Oct 10, 2005 | 06:51 PM
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Originally Posted by jgrts20
.......... Can the coolant seal be replaced?
absolutley. It is one of the seals that come in a standard rebuild kit. Everytime yo break open a 13b you have to put new seals in place.

What you'll sometimes find with old motors is the sealant groove is cracked and you'll need a new/used Iron.
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Old Oct 10, 2005 | 06:58 PM
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white smoke does NOT necessarily mean a coolant seal is bad, H2O is a normal byproduct of combustion but only in smaller amounts, generally a bad coolant seal will leave a bit of white smoke and generally does have a sweet smell but not always, telltale signs of a blown coolant seal are:

overheating
add coolant light
bubbles in coolant system
coolant on spark plugs


best way to tell for a coolant seal failure, pull the plugs after cranking but not starting a cold engine for a few seconds and inspect for coolant on the plugs, be sure to disable fuel to the injectors ie remove the EGI fuse.
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Old Oct 10, 2005 | 07:33 PM
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I am not sure about everybody, but most know the difference between the normal condensation burning off in the morning and that telltale white smoke of the FC Coolant seal being blown.......hence the thread.
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Old Oct 10, 2005 | 07:52 PM
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I just started experiencing start-up smoke myself. The car sat for a while, I started it, and the coolant buzzer was going off, but no smoke that I noticed. I shut the car off, topped off the coolant best I could on the hill (and honestly have yet to re-do it on flat land). There were bubbles in the coolant that I told myself I'd believe was due to the improper fill 'cause I was already having a bad day. Today when I started it up, no coolant buzzer, but some white smoke (not sweet smelling). When I shut it off after running for a while I smelled oil, but I think that's just a dirty exhaust manifold. Unless these things put out condensation smoke about 2x as badly as most cars I've driven, I'm pretty sure I'm looking at a rebuild soon. The car runs a little hot (about half on S4 gauge), and so I haven't run it much yet (also haven't gotten it inspected since I bought it). I'm gonna replace t-stat, plugs, wires, fully top off coolant, change the oil, and clean the car up real good, and look for signs from there. Anything else you guys can think of that I should replace to try to get a definitive answer out of my car?
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Old Oct 10, 2005 | 11:12 PM
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^^^^thread jacker..................j/k
You describe the coolant seal being blown as well. Coolant buzzer issues, White smoke, car running a little hot (because the exhaust gasses are being blown into the coolant passages)

But don't dump the car onto some un-suspecting forum member rather, take the opportunity to master the rotary and rebuild it yourself.

We're here to help.....
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Old Oct 11, 2005 | 07:51 AM
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Originally Posted by jhammons01
^^^^thread jacker..................j/k
You describe the coolant seal being blown as well. Coolant buzzer issues, White smoke, car running a little hot (because the exhaust gasses are being blown into the coolant passages)

But don't dump the car onto some un-suspecting forum member rather, take the opportunity to master the rotary and rebuild it yourself.

We're here to help.....
I bought the car to rebuild it, and it's almost winter. Time to work some overtime and get the motor in my basement.
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