Mazda Rotary Club

General => General Technical => Topic started by: ChrisDubbya on December 22, 2004, 12:59:46 PM

Title: Smoke Screen
Post by: ChrisDubbya on December 22, 2004, 12:59:46 PM
Just another newbie question,

After being stood up for a couple of days on starting her up, she\'ll smoke quite badly for a good couple of minutes.

Its a white smoke no blue or anything,  Normal or a sign that the last oil change was probably done with synthetic oil? or something much much worse.... :confused:

Planning on doing an oil change as soon as she\'s back from the garage (New Clutch)

Cheers!
Title: Smoke Screen
Post by: ChrisDubbya on December 22, 2004, 01:02:22 PM
Oh and a photo just to show her off....

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/ChrisDubbya/Front3.jpg)

Sorry if a little large
Title: Smoke Screen
Post by: Big Stu on December 22, 2004, 01:08:34 PM
Normally mine smokes for about 3 seconds on start up no more. Im sure someone will be along with more tech knowledge than me shortly.
Title: Smoke Screen
Post by: Donato on December 22, 2004, 01:20:22 PM
A couple of minutes of white smoke is perfectly normal when the engine is cold. Some cars smoke for a few seconds some a few minutes.

Cheers

Donato
Title: Smoke Screen
Post by: toon19974 on December 22, 2004, 01:23:04 PM
yeh like the other guys said pretty normal to do this, mine does it for about 30 secs
Title: Smoke Screen
Post by: Big Stu on December 22, 2004, 01:30:49 PM
I think this is where any fuel,oil, or moisture is coming out of the rotars and the exhaust system. Although i could be wrong.

Seem like a lot of people have this.

Stu
Title: Smoke Screen
Post by: toon19974 on December 22, 2004, 01:33:29 PM
does anyone get a bit of popping from the exhaust as well while the car is cold?
Title: Smoke Screen
Post by: Big Stu on December 22, 2004, 01:37:14 PM
a little bit whilst she is warming up,  and then really big pops if i boot it and take my foot totally off the gas.
Title: Smoke Screen
Post by: toon19974 on December 22, 2004, 01:39:52 PM
thats ok seems to be normal aswell.
Title: Smoke Screen
Post by: Big Stu on December 22, 2004, 01:43:44 PM
Seems like it. I quite like the popping along with the low rumbling noise for the exhaust. Im a bit scared that the neighbours cat might get into the exhaust though.
Title: Smoke Screen
Post by: Donato on December 22, 2004, 01:49:38 PM
QuoteOriginally posted by Big Stu
Seems like it. I quite like the popping along with the low rumbling noise for the exhaust. Im a bit scared that the neighbours cat might get into the exhaust though.

It wont stay there for long! :D
Title: Smoke Screen
Post by: Big Stu on December 22, 2004, 01:51:00 PM
nope. Unless it wanted to get kebabed on start up. Chilli sauce anyone???
Title: Smoke Screen
Post by: ChrisDubbya on December 22, 2004, 02:53:39 PM
Thats good, was just wondering...

Wasn\'t too worried about the popping and rumbling I like that!!:D

As for the neighbours cat, never was a lover of animals, Kebabs on the other hand. yum yum :rollin
Title: Smoke Screen
Post by: BlitzBoy on December 22, 2004, 03:50:40 PM
mine used to smoke with white smoke every time i started her up until it got harder to start, this was signs of the water seals going, had the engine rebuilt now, engine builder confirmed the engine faileure was due to the water seals going.

I would check if its eating water, mine was going through a litre every 30 miles.
Title: Smoke Screen
Post by: ChrisDubbya on December 22, 2004, 04:12:38 PM
Water seems to be ok, a little worried now, will keep a close eye on it!

Cheers
Title: Smoke Screen
Post by: hmltnangel on December 22, 2004, 06:11:09 PM
mines smokes white smoke for a good five to ten minutes most of the time - oil and water are fine. normal oil consumption but water is staying good. Just changed both about 7 weeks ago so i\'d notice any changes now!
Title: Smoke Screen
Post by: Spotlamp on December 23, 2004, 10:08:19 AM
Mine\'s much the same.  If I let the old girl warm up herself without driving the white smoke normally clears after maybe 5 mins max.  If I drive her from cold, then it usually takes me about 2-3 minutes (only happens when cold or wet - never in summer).

Funny thing is that she\'s always been like it.  Pre and post rebuild (12 months ago) - at least she\'s consistant not like the other... no, won\'t go there... :p

H
Title: Smoke Screen
Post by: Carl on December 23, 2004, 10:29:50 AM
It is probably condensation because of the time of year.Most cars do it but the rotary seems to do it alot more.
Regards
Carl
Title: Smoke Screen
Post by: Col on December 23, 2004, 06:49:27 PM
Just been though this mate, my started white smoking, flooding then a huge cloud of white smoke and that was the water seal going,

Do not what to scare you, but I have just been though it.
Title: Smoke Screen
Post by: <Daneh> on December 24, 2004, 08:14:29 AM
mine smokes loads, especially in this cold weather. Almost none during the summer months, it can be worrying the amount of white smoke that gets expelled from the back of my motor.
Title: Smoke Screen
Post by: petemillis on December 24, 2004, 09:49:19 AM
My 2.8 turbo diesel does it, and my KTM 2 stroke bike, and my Evo IV. In fact any vehicle I have ever owned in the last 20 years does it. It\'s just condensation steaming away. Engine gets hot when running, exhaust gets hot when running. When it all cools down you get condensation building up. H2O happens to be one of the by-products of combustion.

This is one of the easons why laying a car up for the winter isn\'t a good thing from a mechanical point of view. That condensation will just be sitting there gently encouraging the formation of rust on the bearings and inside the zorst. I\'ve seen it on a 2 stroke bike before that\'s been laid up for three months. The big end bearings rusted then ground themselves apart when it was started when the better weather came. The guy should have made sure he used a decent 2 stroke oil that would have clung to the bearings or at least sprayed a good load of WD40 into the engine.
Title: Smoke Screen
Post by: Iwan on December 24, 2004, 09:55:19 AM
Carl is absolutely right!

The things about water seal is, when your car smokes bad even the car is warm or cold. Also starting on one rotor only is the best signe of damaged water seal (including lots of smoke when the second rotor comes "online" ).

It\'s cold outside You see any condensation much faster then in summer where less condensation hapen.

REgards
Iwan
Title: Smoke Screen
Post by: Ricco_04 on December 28, 2004, 10:10:17 PM
I have smoke too when car starts (well after about 15 secs) and all goes away when temp reaches normal.  No smoke in summer.

Whith the bit about white smoke when the second rotor comes online - I shouldn\'t think thats whats happening with moi is it? I have not had to put any water in since I ave had it and the level is still good?
Title: Smoke Screen
Post by: Carl on December 28, 2004, 10:44:50 PM
QuoteOriginally posted by Ricco_04
I have smoke too when car starts (well after about 15 secs) and all goes away when temp reaches normal.  No smoke in summer.

Whith the bit about white smoke when the second rotor comes online - I shouldn\'t think thats whats happening with moi is it? I have not had to put any water in since I ave had it and the level is still good?

A little blue smoke for around 15-30 seconds on startup is normal,the ECU injects a bit of extra oil into the engine on starting to help the seals.
Regards
Carl