i had to turn it off!
it got fired up and i had some ATF in it (i thought it had flooded but the fuel lines were on the wrong way)... it pissed white smoke (didn't smell like coolant) from the exhaust and the side of the y-bend pipe where there was a loose hose (to vent valves)... it also blew out my 'temp fix' oil cooler line connections and rev'd the hell out of herself... i got it off in about 4 seconds though.

so, my questions:
1. was that white smoke ATF fluid? it has been standing without starting for about 2 years so it could be all sorts of blowout - fresh rebuild.
2. why would it rev like that... it was like the turbo was free spooling or something!
3. where can you get the c-clips for the oil cooler lines?

anyone with an answer to any one of these... you'd rock!

 

#1. If you put in ATF, you will get the white smoke during start-up.

#2. I think your talking about the AWS feature. It revs the engine to 3k to help accelerate the cat converters warm-up. This only last about 15-20 seconds. It's also good at keeping carbon build-up down since the engine dumps in extra fuel when cold.

#3. Check you local dealer.

 

If it revved to about 3k rpm, then it is the AWS feature. Start it in first gear to disable it. If it revved up higher then I would start looking for vacuum leaks.

 

thanks, wouldn't a vaccuum leak typically make it stall rather than rev?
the only exception to that i am aware of would be in the 'boost control' lines; is that not true for the FD3S?

 

a vac leak will cause it to rev higher and bounce around a lot.

 

You said your fuel lines were on the wrong way, thats your rev problem.

 

fuel lines are fixed now... but could be a vacuum leak to hunt down.

 

Ok, so i have solved the oil clip problem and now have clean, consistent oil flow... but something else is up that i can't put my finger on.

initially she takes some time to crank... once it does start to turn over it just cuts loose and starts revving... all the time there is a screaming sound coming from the back of the engine... and a bit of white smoke (which could be the ATF).

my god, i'm about to throw in the towel... anyone!?!?!?!

NOTE: my power steering pump is not yet back on the block... a search bought that pump up as a screaming contender

 

How high is it reving? To 3k, higher? Is the engine surging?

The white smoke from the back of the engine could be the ATF burn off comming from an exhaust leak.

 

ok, the revving isn't an issue... goes to about 2950 then stops.
this is a LOOOOOONG project engine (1yr 11mnths) so maybe i need to lube belt pulleys or something? also, could it be the starter motor not disengaging?

 

If the belts are squeaking, try checking the tension on the belts. If it's good, then try some belt dressing or spray silicone directly on the belts. Oh yeah, be sure the belts are good. If the backsides of the belts are glazed, you probably need new ones.

 

ok, let her run for a little while and the squeeking died down some... then another thing kicked up. she started letting out a little bit of grey smoke from the turbo/exhaust gasket and the exhaust temp sensor plug... bit disconcerting.

any thoughts on this one?