bluemp301

iTrader: (5)

Alright so I have read different reasons for the rotary engine to smoke and this and that so I'm just more looking for a second opinion. I have an 87 TII that I purchased from a buddy recently after he needed to get rid of it. He purchased it last fall from another guy who hadn't had it in running condition in about 7-8 years. I'm not aware if the car was properly stored other than sitting in a garage. My buddy had got it started a few months back and that's about as far as he got but the last time it was started was about 3 months ago. He had drained the old gas in it and put a half a tank of gas in it about 4 months ago and he told me he premixed it. Since it had been sitting for a while I put a can of seafoam in it. I got it started here this past Sunday and let it run. It smoked thick white clouds like crazy for about an hour which I assumed could have been a combination of moisture, oil, and any left over automatic tranny fluid my friend originally used to start it. It went away and I let the car idle for about 2 hours in my driveway as I observed it. The white smoke would come back if you revved it but if you let it sit at idle it would be completely smoke free. Later on before I put it away it was able to be revved and was mostly free of white smoke but there was still some there. I started the car today and all the same applied from the previous day with the thick white smoke upon start up. I added about 5 gallons of gas to it the other day and It seemed to have helped so I added an additional 5 gallons today to help possibly dilute if anything was over mixed. As the car is currently running it has light waves of a blue tint(similar to a gas weed wacker at idle) to it which I'm aware is oil being burned. Would that be the car burning off some of this old premix gas/whatever else the car might be burning since it hasn't ran this long in years or would it be my oil seals going bad? The waves are also not consistent making me think that it's hitting pockets of this old gas or something. Any second opinions or ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Aaron Cake

iTrader: (1)

It could take hours or even DAYS for all the junk put through the engine to burn off in the exhaust.

However, a car sitting for that long and then just started right up is ripe for failures. Turbo oil seals and oil o-rings are high on the list. With a new set of plugs, it should be easy to tell if it is still burning oil after an hour or so of driving just by looking at the condition of the plugs (black and thick soot/oily = oil). If it still smokes without any evidence of oil burning on the plugs, then figure a turbo seal.

bluemp301

iTrader: (5)

Thanks Aaron! Yeah I should have mentioned I put new ngk plugs in it, changed the oil, and put new coolant in it before starting it with my friend having already replaced the fuel filter prior to me purchasing it. The car ran for about 2-3 hrs the other day and then about another 2-3 hrs today just at idle and some light revving here and there. Runs and sounds great. I can't drive it due to needing a brake master cylinder and needing to bleed the clutch line but that should be complete hopefully this weekend. I'll check the plugs after while when it cools down. I did notice the first day of it running there was a little oil leaking where the down pipe meets the flange for the rest of the exhaust. Today I didn't see any oil left behind so I'm assuming that was just the flange resealing itself as it's a newer exhaust that was put on it.

I'll check it out and I'll post my findings.

Vert88t2

iTrader: (4)

I'm assuming the oil metering pump has been removed??? If it's still on the engine premixing the gas can make it run way rich and smoke

bluemp301

iTrader: (5)

No its still intact. The car has emissions and all that jazz removed. Has a bonez downpipe and high flow cat with I believe 2.5" exhaust run the rest of the way. It also has upgraded 750cc secondaries installed and nothing is tuned yet. I was planning on getting an rteck 2.1 as soon as I get the car up and running if that helps any. Here's the link from the guy in which my friend bought it from if it helps any.

https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...ght=satin+gold

Vert88t2

iTrader: (4)

So why premix if your OMP is still intact???

bluemp301

iTrader: (5)

Well that's debatable question since apparently OMP can fail and its extra insurance to keep your engine from blowing from if it were to fail from what I understand although I have an s4 which I believe has a mechanical OMP and less likely to fail than the s5 electrical OMP (correct me if I'm wrong) but I wasn't the one that premixed it in the first place.

I just pulled the plugs and they all look good. No oil or nothing just slight carbon build up from the 4 hrs idle time they've seen. What would you recommend next, Aaron? Should I try running again from a cold start and see what happens?

devilxavierz

iTrader: (10)

you can still premix however the ratio will become .5oz/gallon with OMP

Vert88t2

iTrader: (4)

Correct the s5 is electrical and is more likely to fail. I always convert an s5 to the s4 mechanical. Have you turned down metering pump to equal out what you are premixing? I'm sorry I just don't see the point IMHO you either premix without the OMP or you just rely on the pump. Premix is just gonna make you run richer and smoke more. just sayin...

bluemp301

iTrader: (5)

Like I said I didn't premix anything, its how I received the car. Wouldn't have been my first choice although I am aware of it being helpful if done right. I suppose I'll try to start it again tomorrow and see what it does. If it smokes I guess I'll end up pulling the turbo and checking the seals.

bluemp301

iTrader: (5)

Ok so a bit of an update. I've had the car drive-able for a few months now but it still needs more work before its read to be daily driven. When I do drive it I don't take it on very far trips. One day a while back it just stopped smoking all together like it fixed itself which I thought was weird and possible that it was done burning off the old gas/premix/seafoam in my gas tank. I've been able to lay in it several times reaching full boost (7psi) without a hiccup or a trace of smoke afterwards. Here within the past month or so, after a longer trips (20-25 miles) my car produces a decent amount of smoke after coming off the throttle when coming to a stop such as a stop sign or under a lighter load or at idle after cruising highway speeds. I should mention that it seems to clear itself back out once its driving again with more load on it (normal driving, not boosting). I've checked my plugs again and they look a little black since my car is running a little rich given its mods but without signs of crusty oil deposits or being wet with oil. There doesn't seem to be any loss of oil either (only 2-300 miles on the oil change). I guess i'm more or less confused as the weird consistency with my car. When I first got it it would smoke badly upon start up, then it quit smoking all together, to now smoking intermediately after having been driven for 15-20 mins at light throttle/idle. I'm still thinking turbo seals are bad and letting some oil leak and burn in my exhaust once its good and warm but I know smoking on decel is often oil control rings. Any thoughts or input?