88 RX7 smoke by headers
 

I'm looking at buying an 88 RX7, the guy says it has a bad coolant seal but he says it smokes by the headers. From what I've read about coolant seals on these cars the smoke should come out the exhaust, now could a split in a rad hose cause that by spraying a little coolant on the manifold and it smoking? If it's a simple fix it'd be a great deal for the car.

On first gen 12a motors, they run coolant through the intake manifold to warm it up. There are O-rings between the motor and the intake which will sometimes cause leaks at that point. However, I have no idea if 2nd gens run water through the intake.

A small hole in a hose or the radiator could also cause this. If it is leaking at the radiator, then the fan will throw it everywhere. If is is a hose, then it could be a more focused area that it is hitting.

I would suggest letting it run while you inspect the motor for leaks. Maybe place some cardboard under the car to watch for drips either while running, or after shutdown.

Good luck... :)




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The exhaust gasket between the headers and the engine block could be leaking which would cause the smoke that would normally be coming out of only the exhaust to slip through the leak in the gasket and smoke from there too. I don't want to tell you to replace the gasket for the headers but it very well can be that from who ever put the headers on.

If it's a 6 port n/a model, maybe check where 5/6 port actuactors should be getting exhaust pressure for activation? Should be coming from the cat i believe, but am not sure, as it's been a few years since seeing stock exhaust. Hope it's a quick fix and a steal of a deal...

My car had the same problem. I found out the part of the TB where the coolant goes through was rusted and clogged forcing a grip of pressure to spew out of it. That little tiny hole where the coolant runs just couldnt take 23 years of water anymore. If this applies to your 7 then I suggest bypassing the coolant flow. Changing the LIM gasket also stopped the smoking. Hope this helps good luck!

Well I went and looked at the car yesterday, we couldn't get it to start. Now when I was cranking it it would fire every now and then and sometimes start to run but die shorty after.

Even then when the engine wasnt even warm he said he was seeing a little smoke starting at the exhaust and rolling up toward the intake, also it was flooding.

He said that when he was able to get the car started the smoke would come from the engine bay at first but then it would all come out the exhaust.

I did notice it was leaking at the water pump, and he said the rad blew and sprayed coolant all over the engine. He got a new one and put it in. Now is that sounding more like a coolant seal or hopefully something else?

I wouls suggest you keep searching for something that won't be such a headache to you.
I mean,if you buy a car,you want that car to run don't you?.not just sit in the garage while you change or replace all the shit that the previous owner neglected to do.
That is why I try to ppick up Stock based cars,no mods,.just old factory parts on the car,it is easy to fix/diagnose and modify from there.
Unless you are getting a HELL of a deal on this car,I would just pass on it and wait.
Check the Regional forums on teh Rx7 Club.Guys are selling cars every day and you can at least get one that someone knew HOW to work on it,rather than a "I guess this will work if I do this..WHY won't it work now.,,Sell it..".kind of car.