zalambur

i just imported a 3rd generation rx7 efini from japan and im wondering if this is normal..This is my first one so its all new to me.. when i start it up and its cold it smokes for several minutes and if i drive it during this time the boost is hesitant or cuts out on me for a second.. Im not worried as its fine when it reaches operating temperature. Is this normal with rx7's or have i issues..Having only arrived in ireland from japan theres no service history and the clock reads 98,000k so ive no idea if the rotary engine has been rebuilt.. Theres hardly any way of knowing is there? I tried a compression test but im not sure of its accuracy as its the wrong tester. Any tell tale signs that the motor is on its way out? Do they consistently break down around 100k or can it last well beyond? Rx7's are rare enough in ireland seeing as how you have to send them to england to have the engines reconditioned at a cost of $4000 so thats why im a little concerned, id like to avoid that for as long as possible please. theres thousands of skylines, 180's and 200's after arriving recently because of the whole drift phenomena so i need mine right to leave them in the dust..Any help would be appreciated...

FikseRxSeven

your throttle body only partially opens when your car is cold. and that smoke is somewhat normal, just make sure you keep an eye on whether it increases or not. i thought my car smoked a lot, until i hung out with 10 other rx owners on a nice winter day, all of them smoked just like mine

onereven7

there is a actuator on the throttle body that doesnt allow the car to rev when its cold its a safteythat doesnt allow all three flaps to open as far as smoke welcome to owning a rotary

sweet7

Its a good idea to take it easy on the car until its warmed up anyways.

RE-Amemiya7

Since the throttle body was covered already, I'll address the smoke at startup. I a wet climate like Ireland, the white smoke is most likely from the moisture in the exhaust. I live in a similar climate in Wisconsin, and throughout fall and spring the smoke happens at every startup.



However, white smoke at startup (that smells sweet like anti-freeze) can be a sign O-ring, failure. What happens is, when the engine is turned off, the combustion chamber is no longer pressurized but the coolant system is. Coolant, then moves from the high pressure area to the low pressure area of the combustion chamber through a break in the O-ring. When the engine is started up again, presto white smoke from the burning coolant.



If the smoke smells very sweet, you are looking at eventual engine failure, if not, then no worries. A compression test will answer any questions of O-ring problems.

GreyGT-C

welcome to the forum..



too bad you didn't join 3 weeks ago, i coulda looked at the car for you when i was in Ireland.

inanimate_object

Cool another Irish guy. Looks like they're getting popular here - I just saw another rx-7 last week - that's 3 in total.



Mark

zalambur

Well thanks for all the responses, that puts my mind at ease, and it doesnt smell sweet so i think everythings normal.. Yeah they are getting popular in ireland, ive seen a good few recently, surely someone will have to start rebuilding the engines here shortly.. There will be loads of them at the England V Ireland drift battle this weekend in Rosegreen Tipperary if youre interested..As for greyGT-C pity i missed you, that would have been ideal. Ah well everything seems to be fine anyway well apart from having to replace a cracked expansion tank and passenger wheel bearing/hub. Well having heard all the horror stories about importing jap cars i think ive got off lightly with just those 2 problems. Once again thanks for the help