brads

its happened about 3 times in the past 2 weeks. ill pull up somewhere and leave the car idling...all of a sudden blue smoke billowing out the pipe. then i would drive down the road, stop and no more smoke. yeah i know its probally the turbos, but they make good boost. vacum at idle is around 17-18. the problem started the day i installed the midpipe, also the same day i replaced the stock O2 sensor with a bosch brand. im getting a slight hesitation at lower rpms at times, i plan to change the fuel filter tomorrow hoping to fix this. the engine is a 93 with 18k on a mazda reman. i havent been in the boost to much lately because of boost creep, hopefully a added restrictor palte will fix this tomorrow as well. pretty sure its not coolant related, no white smoke or loss of coolant. so is it the engine or an apex seal going south. i dont know if the problems are related, i just wanted to include all the details for you pro problem solvers. thanks for your time.
-brad

luneytune

I know when you get rid of your Cats you will get smoke caused by the rich fuel mixture in rotaries. The Catalytic convertor gets rid of it. Check your elbow's interior for signs of excesive oil and your intercooler lines as well those could all be a source of oil producing blue smoke. It is probably building up and then disgorges into your intake in one puff. IMHO

badass7

Yo Brads, EXACT same thing happened to me. Soon as I switched to mp I noticed tons of blue smoke at idle and even upon deceleration on the road. I had coolant seal issues and have pulled the engine out to send it away for a rebuild (under warranty). BUT, even though I've been having coolant seal issues.....I don't think that smoke is coolant. In fact I'm positive it's got to be oil. My engine is being stripped down this weekend to be put into a crate for shipping on Mon. I'll let you know what my turbos look like. I also had no boost probs. or vacuum at idle probs. Perhaps some type of crack on the turbo housing. We'll see.

brads

if it is running rich wouldnt the smoke be black?
thanks for the advice loneytune.
keep me informed badass.
-brad

brads

anybody else got some ideas?

93TTRX7

anytime blue smoke comes out of the exhaust it's pretty bad...the only time I think it's normal is during start up for a few seconds, and after a rebuild it smokes like hell.

Yes you're right, running rich = black smoke not blue

brads

ok, i need to figure out if its my turbos or the engine. its happened 4 or 5 times now: after driving and coming to a stop, like at a store or to walk into my house and back, it will start smoking. after driving for a few seconds it'll quit. also little more smoke at start up.
question #1) can bad turbos cause blue smoke at idle?
#2) what else could cause smoke at idle?
#3) it started the day i installed the midpipe, coinsidense?

the car is still running strong. i believe its the turbos but, i dont want to go out and buy new ones without being sure.
-brad

RotaryRockeTT

Brads welcome to my club, have you read my posts I am Rotary Rockett. My car has been spitting out blue smoke for the last 2 days. I dont know if you have checked this but go under neath the car and look at the Turbo Control Acuator, Its right beside the exhaust manifold. I noticed oil around my Actuator, and i Believe this is causing the oil to get into the exhaust manifold and is going out the exhaust pipe. My turbos are also having spikes of 15 pounds, and the engine is running strong, no problems at startup whats so ever. Man read my post see if you are having the same symptoms.

brads

ok, would a motor going bad cause blue smoke at idle? or is it definetly my turbos? a little help here guys. i dont have a rotary or mazda shop anywhere close to me. i dont want to buy new turbos, if my motor or somethign else is the problem.

Street King

since you said you just replaced the motor I really wouldnt think its that. I would say your turbos. How are they?

brads

they boost fine, a little leak from the secondary, a little more smoke in the intake and intercooler pipes than in the past. they are probally the problem. its just the smoke at idle thats confusing me. could this be caused from the turbos going bad?

widebody2

I was always under the impression that blue smoke was caused by coolent leaking into your motor.

black99

coolant leaking in your motor should be white smoke, or at least it always is on a piston motor..

brads

blue is oil, white is coolant

KZ1

Same thing happend to me when I put midpipe on however, it was only at startup. Then it stopped after few months?? go figure. I just put my new engine in, and it smokes on startup too. However, smoking after runnign for awhile isn't good. generally if it is the turbos it will smoke when on boost. CHeck out your OMP, maybe it has gone bad and is injecting oil at wrong times, or too much.

brads

i believe your talking about the oil metering pump. if so, thats a good suggestion. does anyone know how i check it out. ill be looking into this in the shop manuel. brad

brads

just read that a bad omp would cause a check engine light. and would possibally cause "limp home mode". so another strike against the turbos.
i know alot of you have had turbos go bad, did it ever cause smoke at idle?

Street King

Doesnt oil still flow through the turbos when not in use. Couldnt a seal still leak oil when not under use?

brads

yeah, your right. probally leak even more so at idle considering the blades are barely spinning. after reading up on bad turbos the past few days, i believe im convienced. ill probally just find a slightly used or rebuilt pair for the time being. i needed to port my wastegate anyways. no need to do it on a bad set. thxs for the help. later, brad

KILL ALL RX-7'S

Yep It just happened to me and I got new turbos getting installed today, yeah you need to get new turbos your turbos have gone bybye.