I am a new rx7 owner, just picked up a 1990 GTUs and need some help differentiating symptoms that I am having.

The owner of the car said that the motor was rebuilt 20k miles ago, and so the motor should be fine. However, when the car starts (cold) there is tons of smoke (queue the James Bond theme song) and it takes several minutes for it to clear. I can start driving down the road with no problems until I get on it, and when I let off, there is a big plume of smoke, then goes away. So as long as im driving like a sane person, its ok. So it seems after the oil heats up the exhaust smoke is normal.

The previous owner said that the eccentric shaft spring is faulty and recommended replacement, but the symptoms of that and the symptoms of a bad oil ring seem to be very close. Can someone clear the smoke on this?

 

never heard of an Eccentric shaft spring.

 

Maybe he means the thermo pellet in the end of the e-shaft? That's related to lubrication, but could have no effect on oil burning in the combustion chambers. Bad oil control rings are the usual source.

 

Sorry I meant the thermal pellet. I am installing the one from Atkins to replace.

 

So any ideas whether this is going to work?

 

As I already said, the thermo pellet has zero to do with an engine burning oil.

If you still insist on swapping it, read this first: Front Pulley / Thrust Bearings