eightsixlife

iTrader: (12)

hey everybody, so ive had my fd for about 2 months now, i bought it not running so i just got it swapped with a jdm 13b... ok im 18 and i dont have my lisence yet, and the car isnt even registered either, nor is the title under my name (i know ive been slacking) anyhoo, so im fascinated by this car and love it very much. occasionally from time to time i just like to sit in it in my garage and rev it up to 75k and listen to the stock BOV... yesss, lol... well i just learned from this forum (and some late common sense) that i shouldnt do that, sometimes i wouldnt even give the car a good 5-10 min to warm up... also a friend of mine told me i shouldnt go over 45k rpm for the first 200 miles (that was last night) DAMN... well yea so i was sitting in my garage yesterday, doing as i always do, i believe let the car warm up for around 5 min and then i back the car out of my garage to see it in the light. after i got my few minutes of excitement, i pull the car back in and my girlfriend walks out, i give her this "wannabe" cool look and rev it up a few times... (bad idea) well i do hear a noise, i dont know what though, not really a "pop," but i heard something may came loose, broke, or i dont know, something happened... but now my car has a small oil leak and i was wondering if anyone can tell me what it might be, i turned my car on today (without revving it) and let it sit for about 10 min at idle, then i go and pop the hood and steam is coming out from all the burnt up oil, also it may just be me, but the engine seemed to be much HOTTER than ever before, (but than again that might just be me) also i have a koyo radiator with fans on it, but as far as i can remember i dont think theyve ever turned on, any help with that? well thanks a lot for helping and taking your time to read this... robert

Montego

iTrader: (1)

Robert,

From that description I doubt that anyone can tell you where that oil leak is coming from. The best thing that you can do is to get yourself in that engine bay and look for the leak yourself. Once you find it we will be able to help you.

If you are not comfortable in inspecting it yourself take the car to a local rotary mechanic. There are few here in San Diego that are more than qualified to help you.

M-

eightsixlife

iTrader: (12)

hey thanks montego, well actually the only shop i really know and trust is autotech, but they're in vegas for the week and wont be back till saturday... buy anyhoo, i did lift the car with a stock jack from the side, and looked under. i found that there MIGHT be a leak closer to the tranny, but im not sure... i only pulled the car in and out of the garage a few times yesterday, and once today, so that actually made a lot of spots... but when i lifted the car up i did not see any leak, so i dropped it back down and im going to let it sit for about 20 minutes and check again, also, there was a good amount of oil underneath the koyo radiator for some reason, though im pretty sure it did not "splash" up there because the car has not been driven more the 2 miles since i got it back from the shop a month ago... i dont know if this helps but im trying, thanks montego

recon fd

Ok, I am trying to understand how a first time driver starts with an fd. Anywho, Your best bet is to just sell it. SOrry to be harsh, but at your age it is going to be one hell of a fight to keep that fd alive expecially not having any experience with the rotary previously. Obviously your parents have deep pockets, so maybe you can get them to pay for maintance.

goodluck and just remember, the first modification you should do when buying an fd is buy a beater.

-josh

EDIT: From your last post it could possibly be a leak in the turbos. IF you keep reving the engine and "popping" the BOV then you may be spraying oil in your Intake sytem which is leaking up there. That would be a LOT of oil and highly un-likely. Maybe your oil cooler and/or lines?

eightsixlife

iTrader: (12)

hey recon, thanks for the tip... but i really dont want to sell it, because i have spent more than i can get back for it, mostly in the motor already, plus its a salvaged title due to theft... so that is not one of my first choices, (unless you can find someone to buy it for about 13 grand lol) i just want to do my best to keep it, and it sucks because i heard all these things about how hard it is after i bought it, (yes its my fault for not doing the research i know MY FAULT COMPLETELY...)

and just to clear things up, i have NO parents, they are both deceased, so we got an inheritance... and i went out and bought an FD, which was not very smart without doing the research i admit... but now i do have some change to maintain it, but i also want to save as much as possible... i know its going to be hard but I CAN DO IT!!! LOL

RaPtOr-T

I'm not even 18 yet but I've had my car for a year and a half. I hope your a "car guy" like me who won't mind missing "the big party" or losing a girlfriend every now and than over the FD. If you have money to blow go out and have the FD fixed at a rotary shop, but if your a little more tight on money like me than be ready to get your hands dirty.

Try and trace the oil leak by just following the residue, check the FSM for all the oil lines in the area, this will make the process much faster than just jumbling through every hose. Are you sure you have a oil leak and not a coolant leak?

I don't see much of a problem with revving the engine in neutral, Its obviously not good for the engine, but you could see maybe a maximum of 4PSI in neutral so I doubt you could have devastated anything. Its much better whatever broke while revving the engine did it while the car was parked and not while you were cruising down the highway. You need to break in the motor, be extremely nice to the car for a while....

Drive responsibly and good luck finding the leak! PM me if you ever need help.

recon fd

I am sorry to here that. I truely hope you spend that money wisely so it doesn't go to waste. I don't think you have to sell the car, but I want you to know they are figity. I do all my own work so maintence is low cost, but parts are pricey. I hope you take good care of her and drive safely. IMO the FD has to be one of the worst cars to start driving in. It is an unforgiving bitch, but I love mine.

ANYWHO, see if you can get any more details on your oil leak. Since selling the car isn't an option maybe we can at least get it running right.

BTW sorry if I came off as a ***, but for a first time driver.......ehhhh looking for trouble.

goodluck,
-josh

EUROX

iTrader: (15)

At least you know of a good mechanic in the area. Jeff is a good guy and he'll help you out. Still, the best advice is to be proactive and learn about your car by wrenching on it. Mechanics can only do so much on their cramped time schedule and don't have the investment into YOUR car like you do.

I have to agree that for a first time driver and first time car, you are in for trouble if you aren't responsible. Either the car ends up in a ditch, wrapped around a pole, or with a blown engine with an owner complaining that the FD is "unreliable".

Go read the FAQs and do the reliability mods first thing. Who did the engine install?

kazisdaman

And isn't it pretty much known that FD are leaky cars because of the two motor mounts on the oil pan. If you do pull out the engine u may consider a deep sum pan that has more support like the Pineapple Racing one.

Is it heavily leaking?

pincusa

iTrader: (1)

It doesn't sound like you've done anything that can't be fixed. I assume you're still making good oil pressure, and the drops aren't that bad. Hard to understand where the oil is coming from since you mention oil around the trans and the rad. More information would help fix it.

But safety first - NEVER get under the car using the factory jack! If you don't have a rolling floor jack and a stand, go out and get one now. I've see countless cars fall off factory jacks. You're 18 and may not know this, but PLEASE get a real jack before going under the car.

Now for the car safety - you're 18 and the FD is going to be your first car. If you really love it and enjoy the smooth lines of the car, try to control yourself while driving it. The cars don't look very smooth or cool after they've been crashed.

As for rev'ing the engine - I would stay away from doing it. Break the engine in when you get your license. Then you can rev it. I'm on my third engine in 18 months, and I have a dedicated Porsche race car that I get all my aggression out on, so I can't even say I beet up the FD.

chinaman

Pincusa, how are you on your 3rd motor within 18 months and you don't beat on the car??? Don't mean to be or sound like an *** but it seems like you're the one that needs pointers on these cars.

pincusa

iTrader: (1)

Chinaman - understand your post. And might just agree with you!

First engine came with the car and was spent with 100K miles on it.
Second engine, injector went bad and wouldn't open and ran the rotor lean. So the apex seal went taking out a rotor and housing.
So this is now my third engine...
Next one is not going to be rotary! V8!

chinaman

O.k, I understand, not your fault at all. Yes, I see alot of guys going V8. Keeps the look of the FD without the dreaded motor issues of the rotary. I'm giving my car one more chance. If my motor goes after all I'm getting done to it, I will cry, yes but I doubt it very much that I will sink thousands of dollars into it again.... Come on baby, don't let me down!!!