So, for a while I've suspected my oil metering pump to be broken, or faulty, because there is smoke coming from the right side of the car, under the hood. There was no ECU code or limp mode triggering, so I'm under the assumption that the O-ring or gasket between the pump and the engine itself may be old and just gave out.

Just recently I've found some time to get some work done, and I've taken apart everything, and finally the stupid pump is in sight! Problem is, I stuck my finger around the part where it joins the engine, and it's not as slobbering wet with oil as I expected. Actually, it's pretty well dry.

So I being to question my motives: is it actually the OMP? It only operates when the engine is running, so could it still be the culprit? Perhaps it is something else that's leaking, like the turbos?

I would really like to hear what the community thinks is the problem, and what the best plan of attack is.

 

Common oil leaks for rx7s seem to be the oil pan or the o rings under the oil filter pedestal. Best thing you can do is wipe everything in sight clean and check it again after its ran for a bit. Are you sure it's coming from the omp area? How many miles are on your 7? The factory omp lines are a plastic type clear thing for lack of the term I'm looking for. They're generally robust and cheap from Mazda if they're untouched. If you have high miles then the heat may have taken their toll on them. Again though, wipe everything down to help isolate the area.

 

That 'O' ring on the OMP will get really flat. But if the OMP and lines aren't leaking check the copper washers for the lines at the OMP, and the turbo oil lines as well. Could also be leaking from the injector ends and getting down onto something hot.
When my pan leaked it was near the engine mounts and never got close enough to anything to cause smoke, but I guess it's possible.
There's also the turbo coolant lines, they tend to bloat with age and heat. Leaking coolant hitting the hot sides of a turbo could cause smoke...and fire.
Keep looking...and try not to run the car. Where's there's smoke there's.....well, you know.