hi all -

i drove my '94 home from Ohio yesterday... what a blast! the rough roads on the turnpike caused a lot of jolts and loud tire scraping noises (H&R springs/Koni adjustable re-valved shocks - needs some tuning!). Absolutely perfect on smooth roads.

Everything seems to be working just fine - except for the constant strong odor of oil and gasoline inside the cabin... enough to make my eyes burn and water.

the car was built between 3 & 5 years ago and really was never driven after the build. it has been sorted out over the last month and really drives nicely now. any ideas what i may do to address this issue? i understand that these cars are supposed to smell - i get that. BUT i'd like to keep the oil and fuel smells restricted to the outside of the car!

HELP!

 

Congrats on your new car. Ohio roads are definetly rough. But Arkansas interstates are THE worst roads ever. They'll make your kidneys bleed.
Post some pics of the new FD.

I don't think the FD is suppose to smell. Mine does not but it's the only one I've driven.
Did you get a Powerfc yet? I saw a couple of PFS ic for sale on the forum and I remember you wanting one of those too.

 

Usually changing out the charcoal canister will help, but then again most of the times the smell is cause by an exhaust leak.

 

Check for exhaust leaks, the condition of the rubber seals around the shift lever, any holes in the firewall, and door and hatch weatherstripping. Check for fuel and oil leaks too, obviosly.

 

There is nothing like a nice long drive in YOUR new FD . I did the same thing myself only mine was a 29hr trek from Kenniwick WA to Chicago IL. The Montana HWs were an absolute blast. I would almost want do it again for another FD(why buy local if you can enjoy your purchase for 24hrs plus )

Definitely check for exhaust leaks. My first FD smelled a little oil and gas because I has a small leak.

 

Are you running a cat?

I ran Konis and H&R springs on my car also w/o any rubbing issues. What rim/tire setup are you running?

Congrats on a safe fun drive.

 

Umm Im surprised no one has asked this yet, but fuel smell in the cabin is always bad and usually points to a faulty stock Fuel Pulsation Dampener on stock fuel railed motors.

Do a search and verify before something horrible (see: fire) happens.

 

Long drives are really nice when cruising but man does the back start to ache after about 4 hours in the stock seats. In the past 3ish years I have made a 6+hr drive to school probably about 20 times. The biggest problem I had was a leaking coolant cap besides the freak chicago blizzard that stranded me a year or two ago. The car can definitely handle the long drives even though I know most are scared to make them. Just make sure your up on oil changes and all fluids are good.

 

thanks for all the advice thus far - i'll check it out further. the RX-7 had a complete 3" exhaust: Pettit DP, Pettit resonated center section, and RB catback. I had a Bonez HP cat installed to replace the resonated center piece. This change seemed to cause the driver/tech some issues with the idle, etc. He eventually had to trade the NGK plugs back to stock and traded the Pettit chip in the ECU for another Pettit chip. I'm still trying to figure that one out too. **one of the best things about this car is that i have so much to learn about this unusual car!**

as for the suspension: it has H&R springs and Koni adjustable revalved shocks. the adjustment is for return only. a close inspection of the tires and fender well does not reveal any wear/cuts or damage to tire or liner. at least as far as i can see with the wheels/tires mounted. the tech that set up the car is a driver who seems to know suspension inside and out. the tires are 295/30 (!) on the rear and 265/35 on the front. these are mounted on 18 X 10 and 18 X 9 Ray's VOLKS wheels (center caps enroute - 3 month backorder). the driver/tech (Eric Heller, Akron OH) knows the owner of CCW wheels personally and helped him develop a 18 X 10 wheel for the RX-7. (photo of sister race car below). my car had a real agressive track alignment until i told him that i was going to drive it home vs. trailering it. he changed the alignment for the street and on nice roads the car is perfect.

i'll have the exhaust leak - hopefully that's the issue - addressed within the next few weeks. thanks again for your collective input.

 

They look like GC coilover sleeves who use Eibach springs.

H&R springs use stock type (non height adjustable) dampers.

Nice looking car by the way

Jon

 

Nice car! I love the wheels!

 

Congrats, now learn the car well.


Later

 

Nice FD, congrats on your purchase.

 

DO NOT neglect the fuel smell inside pass compartment. Like some1 above mentioned, it can be leaky injector O'ring (this is where mine failed.) Fuel dampener, or fuel regulator or somewhere is leaking, causing a strong fuel odor transferred into the passenger compartment. Please have it take a took at before anymore driving.

Swt car by the way, love the color.

Note: Have a mini-fire extinguish around like many of us FD owners does =D.

-AzEKnightz

 

What a beautiful car. Made my morning, looking at the sharp curves on the car.

Get the odor issue taken care of.

For health reasons also, you dont want to be driving around inhaling those fumes and messing up your eyes.

Greetings.

 

good news - i drove the car for several hours on sunday... the 'smell' seems to have dissipated a bit. i'm thinking because the car was parked for so long in combination of new exhaust components (new header wrap material on the DP, etc.) may have been burning off. i will definately have it checked out further just to be sure.

here are a few more pictures from sunday. i added the R1 lip spoiler and replaced the front turn signal lenses. i'd like to add a R1 hatch spoiler but also like the looks without... thanks again.

 

Congrats man...

 

clean clean... congrats.

 

Gorgeous car! I'm really digging the silver. Couldn't agree more about not buy local either. I bought mine in Tampa, FL and had the drive home. Nothing like waking up and seeing YOUR new car outside

Congrats again!

 

+3.

Don't be a dumbass and play lets wait and see at least not with fuel. I did that and I lost my two month old month perfectly working 36K FD. To a week long very faint fuel smell that occured only at startup. To meke a long story short it lit up.

If I were you I would not even start it up anymore. I would tow it to a rotary mechanic and have checked thoroughly. These cars don't smell like gas unless you have a MP and are standing right behind it.