Bad Smoking Until Warm...
 

Hi guys,

I'm chasing a problem that has just arisen with my FD. It starts up fine but immediately it idles rough and is spewing oil smoke from the exhaust. Before the car is fully warm it can't be driven because it will stall out once gas and load are applied. Once the car reaches 76C all the problems disappear and the car runs fine. This problem has me stumped, I've just eliminated the FPD so I was in the rats nest but just went through it again and found nothing out of place. Track season is starting and I've missed the first track day already and need this issue fixed. Any help is welcome. Some notes, the PCV has been eliminated, its not the turbos as there is no oil in the intercooler pipes at all, and it still does it with the oil filler cap removed.

Thanks

Ryan

Have you checked if there is oil in the dp? Maybe bump the vac lines on the oil injectors?

I haven't checked the down pipe for oil but I don't think there would be much if any as the smoking stops right when it warms up and there is no residual smoking.

The lines going to the oil injectors are only vented to atmosphere
no vacuum in them.

they're not vented to atmosphere, they pull fresh air from before the throttle body.

The vacuum diagram shows pre-turbo ie-atmosphere? Or maybe my idea of atmosphere is different
i mean no vac/boost=atmospheric pressure

http://img717.imageshack.us/img717/9...simplified.jpg

The oil smoke is burning up in the cat?

Hmm.. Not sure how much oil smoke but if its so much that you see oil coming out just after start up, I would take the turbos off to make sure its not your oil control rings. I would take the turbos off right after you crank (say 5-15 secs later), and see if its pre or post turbos. I've had 2 cars did this and it ended up being oil control rings.

Ryan, are you sure it's oil smoke? Is the car consuming oil?

Check your fuel injector duty cycle when it's warming up. Also check all sensor voltages in the PFC commander to see if anything looks out of spec (it'll be highlighted). It's in the 'etc' menu.

If all does clear up once the car reaches operating temp, then it's probably an odd problem. I doubt it's the oil control rings as that engine should have lots of life left.

Yeah its definitely blue oil smoke, when I checked the oil earlier it looked good but I'll check again in the morning to be sure. I pulled the UIM off to check the vacuum lines today so I will check the duty cycle when its back together. If I just put the accessories on would I be able to check the sensors or does it need to be running?

Well, things can change once you start the car, but you can check the voltages with the key in the ACC position.

Worst case you can flatbed the car to us and we'll troubleshoot it for ya.

small amounts of oil will create a lot of smoke. I'm not sure checking the level you will see this. especially when the problem goes away when hot.

Post video of smoke. Are you sure you didnt switch the fuel thermosensor connector(Green connector located in middle of secondary fuel rail) with the coolant thermoswitch sensor connector(green connector goes to back of water pump housing)?

Yeah I didn't switch the 2, I double checked this morning and they were in the right places. If I can get the car started I'll take a video of the smoke but the last 2 attempts to get it going have failed.

When I turn ACC on none of the sensors are highlighted. If I can't figure this out in the next several days I may have to bring it to you to figure this one out.

I'm going to try to get it going in a few minutes, it flooded on the last attempt to start it so i pulled the plug and dried them off. We'll see how that goes.

Hmm.. are you having issues starting in general since the smoking? FD's dont flood like other rotaries and I'm starting to think maybe its your injectors?? Just guessing at this point... sorry to take up your thread with my random thoughts..

Haha any thoughts are definitely welcome, I'm going to check the injectors at some point if the issue isn't fixed.

I tried to start it up and it is flooding out still, I pulled the plugs and I'm going to let it dry out overnight then try again in the morning. Would injector issues cause blueish smoke?

I've troubleshoot a car that had bad injectors and it smoked pretty bad (I think the secondary was stuck open.. cant remember if it was primary or secondary)... But since I'm not there to see it, its hard for me to tell you exactly whats wrong.

Also, are you running any upgraded stock injectors (bored out stock injectors)?

Also I re-read and you replaced or eliminated FPD?? Did you take the rail out to do this??

If you post a clear video it is should be easy for me to determine if it is fuel or oil. Oil smoke lingers forever, you can watch the wind carry it away for about 30-50 yards. Fuel smoke will usually dissipate within about 20-30 feet.

Leaking fuel injector, or poorly sealed injector.

Also, have you checked spark on all four plugs?

I'm starting to think that its the injectors as you guys are saying, would that cause a blueish smoke as well (always thought fuel=black smoke)? I'm going to check spark and I'll shoot a video of the smoke tomorrow so you guys can see what it looks like.

David is right. Oil smoke do linger.

Any oil related issues I had on an FD (I don't have as much experience as David) tends to start without an issue (unless extremely bad or other issues than oil issue). Fuel issues, you will have starting issues.

Here's a video, the smoke is now whiteish. That was the closest I've gotten it to crank over since Tuesday. The plugs are drenched in gas as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pINVxEYmBaU

Looks like fuel smoke to me and a lot of it. Cant figure out why it would run fine a 76C though? You probably pinched the primary fuel rail insulators when you eliminated the FPD but that doesnt explain why it would magically run perfect once warm.