superman22508

i just bought a 1988 mazda rx7. i drove the car for the first couple of days, then it sarted overheating so i replaced the thurmostat and waterpump, but right when i went to crank the car it acted like it was flooding. i smelled gas strong from under my car and just happened to notice that i had gas spraying out of the joint where my manifold and exhaust meet, then i heard a gurgling sound coming from my filler neck so i took the cap off and it smelled like strait gas, someone told me it might be a busted intake seal but i want to get more info before i start ripping off my intake. if anyone knows what this problem might be please help!!!! thanks, dj

farberio

iTrader: (7)

If you smell strong gas, you may have a leak. One big culprit for FC's is the Pulsation Dampener. The intake will have to come off to check this as if memory serves me right the location of the PD is on the secondary fuel rail.

superman22508

i pulled one of my plugs last night and noticed it wasnt firing could this misfire cause it to flood really bad?

farberio

iTrader: (7)

Its possible. But it wouldn't explain the strong fuel smell.

Check your PD before you start a fire and destroy your car.

superman22508

the antifreeze is low in my filler neck now?? what would cause that? i know its not a blown coolant seal or i would be blowing white smoke out my exhaust..

goonie

i had a problem with that in my s4.... it turned out to be my water jackets in the motor were worn out..... if your car smokes thats most likely the problem. if not than idk LOL

superman22508

it smokes blue on start up then stops i pulled my plugs earlier and they had a little bit of milky residue on them but where soaked in gas, i really have no idea what is going on

superman22508

ok so i checked my pd and its fine but i think i might have a blown coolant seAL!!?? i tried to crank it, it turned over like it wanted to crank but will not start i have liquid coming out of my exhaust that smells like gas but when i put some on paper and tried to light it it wouldnt light so i think its gas and coolant mixed???? i also smell gas really strong in my filler neck but not in my radiator?? can someone please tell me what is going on..

TheAbsence

iTrader: (19)

You may have bad coolant seals. Unfortunately this means you'll have to rip the engine apart to replace them, and while you're at it, have all new seals put in.

superman22508

i really want ripping my motor out to be a last resort, so if there are anymore ideas of what this might be????

superman22508

i have blown coolant seals!!!! thanks for your help guys,,,, has anyone had to replace their seals?? and if so how do i go about doing it?

superman22508

ok so i now know that i have a blown coolant seal, and i talked to a couple rotary enthusiasts and they say that i can put non metallic radiator stopleak in and it should do justice until i can rebuild the motor, now i want to see if this is true or would i be wasting my time?? please let me know if this has ever worked out for you.

gracer7-rx7

iTrader: (16)

I doubt you have a blown coolant seal. You'd be surprised how often that gets incorrectly diagnoses - especially by newbies.

I suggest you get the car looked at by a professional. It can be hard for a newbie to get diagnosis correct. here is one in NC:
http://www.rotorsportsracing.com/

The white gunk in the oil filler neck is normal. Fuel smell in the oil is pretty normal for a rotary also. Its called fuel dilution.

superman22508

ok first off i know for a fact its a coolant seal or y else would there be gas in my coolant and coolant coming out of my exhaust??? this may be my first rotary but im not completely oblivious i done my research!!

gracer7-rx7

iTrader: (16)

If you say so.

When a coolant seal goes, that means you get coolant leaking into your combustion chamber. You don't really get fuel leaking into the coolant.

Testing:
1
One way to test this is to do the "champagne bubble test" where you put one of those Lisle funnels into the thermostat housing filler neck and watch the bubbles while the car runs for a good 20 minutes or so. you have to run it for a while to ensure that you allow any previously existing air bubbles to bleed out of the system. There is a video about it on YouTube. I think there is a link to it in the 3rd gen FAQ or one of the coolant related threads in the 3rd gen FAQ.
2
A coolant system pressure test is also a good way to find any leaks. if there is a coolant seal leaking, you won't see any coolant leaking on the ground but it will force it into the combustion chamber and you will get a cloud of coolant related smoke when you start the car up. The Factory Service Manual has the procedure and specs for this test.
3
Another test this is with an exhaust gas analyzer probe trying to read the fumes escaping from the thermostat housing filler neck.

If you haven't done any of these tests, then you're just guessing.

As for trying to set a wet piece of paper on fire, that is just crap. Gas doesn't ignite all that easily. Fuel vapors do (under compression) but wet gas is just a liquid and won't light by trying to put a match to it. A piece of paper wet with naturally exhaust condensation won't light either.

It could very well be that your car is flooding but that has nothing to do with a bad coolant leak and can't be tested in the manner you tried.

Kentetsu

If it really is a coolant seal, then this might be worth a read:

https://www.rx7club.com/1st-gen-archive-71/engine-coolant-seal-repair-maybe-750774/



.

superman22508

thanks for your help your car was doing the exact same thing mine is, so im pretty sure its an inner seal, its smoking really bad and it has a sweet smell"antifreeze", and i also have gas smelling smoke coming from my filler neck when i remove the cap. and my coolant level gets lower every time i try to crank it.

superman22508

(gracer 7)--- the gas coming out of my exhaust is milky, i finally got the car to crank by replacing the plugs, but it was pouring white smoke especially when i gave it gas, so i cut the car off and pulled the plugs to check them again and they where drenched with what looked like milk but smelled like gas

superman22508

changed my plugs /wires....the works!! the car is running better it will crank right up but now that its firing right its smoking bad!! and the longer i let it run the worse it gets, what does this problem sound like to you??

Kentetsu

if the smoke smells like coolant, then try the Alumaseal. You should start to see results within 20 minutes or so of running (after the thermostat opens). Good luck...

superman22508

i already did it last night, it stopped smoking and ran like a champ! but this morning when i started it id done the same thing but quit after like 2 minutes and it stopped smoking but my overflow filled up,,any ideas on that?

Kentetsu

As long as you leave the Alumaseal in the system, it will continue to work on it. Your results should continue to improve, if anything like mine. Sounds like you're almost there, just keep it topped off and drive it.

superman22508

i just came back from a 30 min. drive and the car ran great! it smoked for a few minutes but once i started driving it it stopped completely, but the only thing im worried about is my overflow is filling up and spraying out every so often but the car is not overheating at all its actually running cool because i took the thermostat out because when it was in,the car overheated badly do you know what might cause my overflow to fill and bubble??

Kentetsu

If you have combustion gases getting blown into the coolant system, then you've still got a serious issue. The Alumaseal can prevent coolant from getting into the combustion "chamber", but not the other way around. The gases will blow out whatever the Alumaseal builds up.

superman22508

is a rebuild the only way to fix this?