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White smoke / Rain 93 rx7

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Old Jan 19, 2010 | 12:19 AM
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White smoke / Rain 93 rx7

A few quick questions! thanks a lot guys btw great forum. Is it normal for a 93 rx7 to have a LOT of white smoke upon first startup in the morning? I am pretty sure it is due to the water just creeping in. Other than the morning, other idles dont produce that much smoke. Another question, how would I fix the peeling of the dashboard near the windshield vents. They started peeling pretty badly =[. Also, is it bad to leave an rx7 in the rain? San Jose is due for some rainy weather. Thanks!
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Old Jan 19, 2010 | 10:26 AM
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At first cold startup, the smoke coming out the exhaust could look like its a lot but its probably normal. Post a vid if you like. Water doesn't creep in.

Not sure what you mean about peeling. Post a pic.

Leaving the car in the rain is OK so long as the car doesn't have any leaks into the interior.
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Old Jan 19, 2010 | 10:38 AM
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Originally Posted by spartan1o5
A few quick questions! thanks a lot guys btw great forum. Is it normal for a 93 rx7 to have a LOT of white smoke upon first startup in the morning? I am pretty sure it is due to the water just creeping in. Other than the morning, other idles dont produce that much smoke. Another question, how would I fix the peeling of the dashboard near the windshield vents. They started peeling pretty badly =[. Also, is it bad to leave an rx7 in the rain? San Jose is due for some rainy weather. Thanks!
not sure about smoke but the dash you can use some contact cement or super glue . no rain is not bad its actually pretty good sideways at about 5500 rpms, no you can leave the car out only bad thing is water spots
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Old Jan 19, 2010 | 02:03 PM
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Alright, ill post pics as soon as I can! As for the rain, I peeled off my console to install my cd receiver and it looks rusty where the console is. The metal behind the instrumental gauges and console cluster looks rusty and orange. Pretty sure this is rust, but how did rust get in THERE
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Old Jan 19, 2010 | 03:51 PM
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oxygen cause rust non primered metal is gonna oxidise. clean it with sandpaper and acid etch it then wipe excess acid of after it flashes and paint
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Old Jan 19, 2010 | 04:16 PM
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yay thanks!
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Old Jan 20, 2010 | 10:28 AM
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The white smoke is just condensation buildup . Since it is cooler weather it will puff out a cloud of white smoke. When spring/ summer starts and the temperatures heat your car shouldn't smoke at startup.

If your car blows a cloud of white smoke when temperatures are a lot warmer usually it calls for an engine rebuild.
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Old Jan 20, 2010 | 11:02 AM
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Sweet, I was having the same issue with my car and was hoping it was the dropping temperatures.
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Old Jan 20, 2010 | 11:37 AM
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Yeah the "smoke" is often condensation, actually steam not smoke. FDs run very hot exhausts which will draw condensation as the hot exhaust runs over the cold exhaust pipes.

On the other hand white smoke can be from burning coolant. That's not good news, so if you're not convinced you're seeing steam, or the car has trouble starting, look up info on coolant seals.

Dave
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Old Jan 20, 2010 | 09:00 PM
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Alright, thanks for the info. I am pretty sure its steam, not white smoke. If it was white smoke, wouldn't it continue to make white smoke until i shut off the engine?
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Old Jan 21, 2010 | 02:31 PM
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nah,, white smoke...prob if you rev it really high on a warm day.then yeah but not ona rainy or cold day...
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Old Jan 25, 2010 | 09:54 PM
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white smoke could mean that the seals in the engine are done for and coolant is leakin into the combustion chamber and being burned off out the exhaust as white smoke. that means its engine rebuild time but it can also be condensation. does the smoke smell have a sweet smell at all?
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Old Jan 25, 2010 | 11:17 PM
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Originally Posted by cab91089
white smoke could mean that the seals in the engine are done for and coolant is leakin into the combustion chamber and being burned off out the exhaust as white smoke. that means its engine rebuild time but it can also be condensation. does the smoke smell have a sweet smell at all?
i think your rigth
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Old Jan 26, 2010 | 11:02 AM
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If it does turn out to be a bad internal coolant seal, check out my thread on the easy fix I came up with. Many have tried it, almost all with success. If it doesn't work, you're out 4 bucks.

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


.
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Old Jan 26, 2010 | 01:26 PM
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Old Jan 26, 2010 | 07:30 PM
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good info
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Old Jan 26, 2010 | 09:42 PM
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kentetsu is right, i used block sealant on my second gen but you have to be careful using that because it can clog your radiator and ruin your waterpump if you add too much. it also should only be temporary as you get a rebuild set up
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Old Jan 27, 2010 | 02:20 AM
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No sweet smell, smells like fuel. I am almost sure it is just water vapor because it goes away after the idle drops.
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Old Jan 27, 2010 | 08:51 AM
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Yeah more then likely it is just condensation then. Good luck fixing the 7 though!
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Old Jan 27, 2010 | 11:13 AM
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Hello Friends.
At first cold startup, the smoke coming out the exhaust could look like its a lot but its probably normal. Post a vid if you like. Water doesn't creep in.

Not sure what you mean about peeling. Post a pic.

Leaving the car in the rain is OK so long as the car doesn't have any leaks into the interior.
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Old Jan 28, 2010 | 01:57 AM
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I'll get a picture up when my sister gives me my camera back haha.
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Old Mar 11, 2010 | 12:09 AM
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Is it normal for FD's to have harsh startups before normal operating temperatures? My FD has a harsh sounding start up and the body sort of rocks. Of course after it starts its idling it drives like normal. But WHILE it is starting up, it sounds like a fart can
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Old Mar 11, 2010 | 01:43 AM
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Before I replaced my main cat my car was smoking like crazy. Now with my bonez high flow cat on, there is barely any smoke on cold start ups. Dunno if the cat has anything to do with it but that's what I found out.

Originally Posted by cab91089
kentetsu is right, i used block sealant on my second gen but you have to be careful using that because it can clog your radiator and ruin your waterpump if you add too much. it also should only be temporary as you get a rebuild set up
Can block sealant clog the heater core as well?
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Old Mar 11, 2010 | 04:54 AM
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Originally Posted by spartan1o5
Is it normal for FD's to have harsh startups before normal operating temperatures? My FD has a harsh sounding start up and the body sort of rocks. Of course after it starts its idling it drives like normal. But WHILE it is starting up, it sounds like a fart can
What is normal is a light putt-putt sound from the exhaust that comes and goes. The body should not rock, that sounds like one rotor is not running properly. Could be a fuel issue or coolant seal or something else.

David
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Old Mar 11, 2010 | 04:55 AM
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Originally Posted by bkenchan
Can block sealant clog the heater core as well?
Yes
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