Hi all,

My engine is back up and running, it sounds lovely.

But I've noticed that when I started the car to check everything over, after 20 minutes the downpipe was glowing (not a huge amount but enough to see) - it was also hot enough to be heating the rubber boot on the steering arm (JDM 7 so it runs near the DP/Turbos). During the whole warm up I didn't touch the accelerator so is the ECU just running the car uber rich?

Once I'd shut the car off I could hear the coolant boiling, I expected this as I'd refilled the rad and probably had an air bubble in there. Once it had cooled down I turned the ignition and the buzzer was on so it seams that the car has flushed it out, I'll top it all up later on

Are the two things related at all? ie. airbubble, so engine not getting cooled properly? Also my exhaust tip was very hot, its quite a large one and was melting the rubber 'lip' on the rear - I do seem to remember my stock system hissing when water splashed it though - so its probably nothing new

I should say, there is no exhaust smoke at all so I guess it means the water seals are healthy.

The only little bits of smoke seem to be coming from the boot on the steering arm (I haven't reinstalled the heatshields so maybe thats the first thing to do) and something under the engine around the throttle body/uim area.

Am I being over paranoid with my car? and its actually ok?

 

It's pretty normal for a stock ECU FD to run very rich at cold idle. However, a leaky/dripping injector will cause a much richer situation that may cause glowing. I had this problem, and after getting the injectors cleaned it stopped.

Dave

 

Thanks Dave

I did read through a few of your posts when you said you had this as well

I might look to buy a second set, send them off get them cleaned and then fit them, at least then I won't have to wait for them to come back.

It was the little bit of smoke that was the most alarming

 

If it's a fresh rebuild I wouldnt worry too much about the smoking. It should go away within the next couple of extended idling sessions.

 

When i rebuilt mine it smoked just a little for a while. It was all just blowby and i was told it was common. Mine didnt go away until about 1000 miles though then it just stopped happening. Engine break in process.

 

Sounds like your cat is clogged. Your muffler may also be falling apart. Something is not letting your exhaust flow out enough.

I believe lean=hot
rich =cold

 

Hi Raj,

running extremely rich will cause your EGTs to soar as well

 

just wondering if a broken O2 sensor can also cause the car to run rich enough to get the dp glowing

 

I disagree. If the exhaust were clogged enough to affect idle, it would have barely been able to move on the street (the last time he ran it).

Dave