Granted the FD is catless, I don't think it should be this bad right? In the garage, even with the garage door open, when I start the car the exhause fume is so strong that it'll make your eyes water in seconds. It's just very overwhelming.

my engine mods are:

PFS (purple box) piggyback ecu on default "Low" setting - not custom tuned
JIC catback exhaust
RX7 store downpipe
M2 intakebox

The previous owner said the O2 sensor was changed about 2 years ago, so maybe I'll get that tested and see if it needs to be changed...anything else I should look into?

Thanks.

 

Yep, it's pretty strong with an open exhaust, especially at cold startup. Any partially-enclosed space will quickly fill with harsh fumes.

 

but eve after warmup, it's still strong as hell. I've had cars with open exhaust before and it's no way near this bad

 

With an open exhaust, even with a warmed up engine on the streets, people behind you in traffic will be gagging from the smell.

 

True. Mine is a little better after it warms up than when I first start it cold, but it's still bad.

 

I forgot to mention I do have a hi-flow cat. the car stinks!

 

thats an rx7 for ya....mine will make my eyes water....

 

Your piggyback ECU is probably making your car run too rich. I bet it is not as bad with the stock ecu alone.

 

I had the same problem - for me it turned out to be a leaky turbo exhaust gasket. PITA to fix, but no more watery eyes and was finally able to fix the dripping turbo oil feed line.

 

i would reccomend a tune...very much sounds like your running rich. shouldnt hurt yer car...but will give you better preformance if it runs a little leaner

 

Yeah, mine does the same thing. It is pretty bad on a cold start up, but once everything warms up it gets better.

Joe

 

If you are that concerned with the smell, I would invest in a high flow cat. I ran staright exhaust on my previous RX7 and the smell was unbareable. It made my eyes water and my clothes stink. I couldn't open my roof because it made the inside of the car smell even worse. Only thing that will fix it is a cat.

 

^^^
I do have a high flow cat...still stink, I could have a leaky exhaust manifold gasket as the engine bay does smell like exhaust.

 

everyone here is repeating the same problem but no one is suggesting any solution.

Is this a trademark RX7 problem from factory or is this a weak engine with worned out apex seals from where the unburned (expensive) gas leaks from the exhaust?

i have the very same problem and on cold start it does the job and makes me cry but after it get warms, the only smell you get is your money being burned through exhaust quiet easily. lol it often miss fires for a second for once with black smoke but thats it.

I havent changed the OEM muffler which is very restricted i guess, yet but still it makes me weep.


Solutions/ suggestions please.

 

^^ I think there have been several solutions thrown out there. Perhaps you didn't read. Try re-reading.

 

No, it's not normal. For a mostly stock car, the solution is a functioning cat and, if it requires one, an air pump.

 

okay another question then.

would a FD make your eyes wet if the car has only, lets say just 1000 miles one the clock?

what im trying to ask is , IS IT NOT ABOUT A WEAK ENGINE, OR IS IT?

 

No, it's not about a "weak engine", it's about having an exhaust leak, malfunctioning cat, or no cat at all. Everyone thought the OP had no cat based on the statement "the FD is catless", but apparently he just forgot that he had one.

 

Is your airpump working?

 

One question I have while your cold start what color is the smoke coming out your exhaust? Because mine smells really rich but smoke comes out white I would think if its white It should have that sweet smell to it and be coolant burning not a rich smell? What color is you guys smoke?

One thing I did yesterday was change the spark plugs and the plugs didn’t look like they wore burning coolant. They just looked black meaning the car is running rich correct?

 

The white steam on cold startup is from condensation. If it smells like antifreeze or keeps steaming after it's warmed up, then you have a problem.

 

as i understand it the precat is for cold startup, if you have a downpipe then the cold startup is ugly, the cat is for when the car is warmed up........yes my fd stinks when cold fired in the garage too.....

 

Thanks God! you saved my day. i was waiting for this very positive asnwer from anyone of you.

So its common, its FD rotary and its the distinctiveness that makes a FD, exclusive. Mazda's gas guzzler makes us cry every morning.

 

Yeah, I did forget I had a cat hehe.

Anyway, I do not have an airpump, could that be why? Would changing O2 sensor help or this is something I just have to live with?

 

After I changed to a HF cat the exhaust became very strong on start up too and seems to be getting worse with the smell lingering in the cab. I've also noticed that is starting to backfire more often after letting off the throttle. Do you guys thing that the smell in the cab and increase in backfiring is from an exhaust leak? How do you detect an exhaust leak?
Gaskets for the cat are cheap so I have two on order, but would appreciate any suggestions