Is it standard for FDs to smoke on cold starts? (it's smoke right? not steaming condensation like most cars at cold start) If anyone can answer this for me I would greatly appericate it.

 

Check the smell of the smoke.

Most FD's will put out a little smoke at startup if they have been sitting for a little while or it's cold out.

However, the smoke shouldn't last long (mine will puff some smoke for about 10 secs if it's been sitting for a few days or longer). If you are seeing smoke coming out of the car for 5 or more minutes (and it is smoke), then depending on the smell of the smoke (what is burning) it could be one of a few problems.

 

How long does it last, and what color is it?

 

White (greyish, really) fuel smelling "smoke" is just what you though... stem from condensation boil off. More at night and during the cold months.

White (snowy white) pillowy smoke that smells sweet (REAL sweet, like maple syrup-ish) is a bad sign. This is indicative of coolant seeping into the combustion chamber. The infamous "O-Ring" problem. Engine rebuild time.

Blue smoke is likely oil burn. A little at startup is typical for ageing rotary engines.

Black smoke is LOTS of oil burning or way rich fuel to air mixture.

Now what's yours look like?

 

Thats just it... Im not sure. The car is out of state its a 95 R2 50k miles stock engine. I am considering buying the car sight unseen. (maybe kinda stupid but if he can supply documentation. it also has some reliability mods. Check the forsale secion its the black R2.

 

yea, defintely make sure its not sweet smelling smoke

 

Well, I'm sure you are really looking forward to purchasing and driving and FD. However, I would exercise caution buying any FD.

IMO, don't hand out any money until you can have a compression test, actually view a cold start of the car, and take it for a drive.

Good luck.

 

This is not true you do not have to rebuild engine to fix the o ring. Check this site out if it is white smoke: http://www.scuderiaciriani.com/rx7/o-ring_fix.html

 

OK

 

Ask the seller if he's willing to take it to a REX shop to have the compression done at your expense (what I did) and then if the numbers are good bring your boost gauge along for the ride...pretty easy to hook up a manual boost gauge...just run a long vacuum hose from the nipple on the upper intake manifold and see that you are getting stock boost (10-8-10)...if not then, aahhhh, I dunno...could be bad, or could be an easy fix...either way, good luck...RX-7s are rare these days, 95s even rarer

 

Take a trip. Drive the car. Take it to a shop if there's one around and have it tested. Most importantly, be prepared to leave without the car.

Also, if you're buying from someone here, search all their posts. You'll get a good idea of the car's history. I turned several down based on this.

This is alot of trouble to go to, but isn't your (future) FD worth it?

 

LAracer is right. I left the first car I looked at. Cost me 500 buks and travelled 2500km in one day just to find out what I was told about the car was nothing like it really was. In person spells it all out. All good now though. The guy that owned that car actually told me about the car I purchased. I'm a happy camper now. Just have to wait for spring!