Hi all,
Was checking the oil levels today for the 1st time in about 3 weeks (level was down to about 2/3s) and noticed something that makes me think that my engine\'s days are seriously numbered...
Yellowy residue inside the filler cap (don\'t think it was there last time I filled the oil). After topping up the oil and looking at the dipstick to check the level I noticed a white residue at th every top of the oil line on the stick.
Arse. :(
Am I right in thinking the yellow residue is the coolant that\'s burned off and the white is water?
Interestingly the car starts well and doesn\'t smoke when up to temperature although a few times now it\'s only started on one rotor but has picked up after about 10 seconds.
Anyhoo, seen as the inevitable is looking quite near should I:
a) Get it rebuilt before it lest go and hopefully keep it simple and less costly. or,
b) Wait until it lets go and hope I get a few more decent months out of it then put up with the potential damage and inconvenience...
I was hoping to not have to do anything this year but it seems like I will and as I\'m not planning any major power mods that\'ll require anything special in the rebuild dept (i.e. no porting, fancy seals or single turbo) then it\'s no big deal to get a stock rebuild done.
If I go with option a what cost is likely and who should I be looking to get quotes from?
So what to do? Advice, tips etc welcomed...
Cheers,
Iain
Iain, dont fotget at this time of year you will start to see lots of creamy gunk on the filler cap.
Ok, if you go for option A (which I did) get it at least ported. A if you then in the future want a little more power, its already for it.
Stock tips from Mazda seem to be doing well at the moment. But speak to the people building the engine and see what they want to use.
People like Carl, Pip at WGT, Jimmys and ReWorx do rebuilds.
Dan
Hi Iain,
Danny is right about the time of year what with the condensation in the atmosphere,but the fact that you are starting up on one rotor is pretty convincing evidence of a waterseal or housing breaking down.
you will not really cause much damage if it is not using much coolent but it may gradually or suddenly get worse.
Just keep your eye on it.
Kind regards
Carl
QuoteOriginally posted by Carl
Hi Iain,
Danny is right about the time of year what with the condensation in the atmosphere,but the fact that you are starting up on one rotor is pretty convincing evidence of a waterseal or housing breaking down.
you will not really cause much damage if it is not using much coolent but it may gradually or suddenly get worse.
Just keep your eye on it.
Kind regards
Carl
In the 4 month\'s I\'ve had the FD it#\'s only started up on the one rotor 3 times, usually after standing for 3+ days without a start.
I\'m not using much coolant - haven\'t had to top up for 3-4 weeks now.
I\'ll be keeping my eye on it until I get the rebuild sorted out. talked to my better half last night and her opinion was to spend the £s now and do it sooner. So I\'ll be putting a shopping list together and getting some quotes from people.
Suggestions for the list?
I\'m not looking for big power but I can see Danny\'s point about the porting - better to get it done while the engine\'s out than next year after I change my mind! What kinds of porting are there and what\'re the pro\'s and cons?
I was thinking of just doing an ECU upgrade and getting down-pipe and de-cat (already have cat-back). What\'re they worth HP-wise? I\'d like to be around 300 fly - the 255 I should be running at the mo is pretty much enough fo me but a bit more wouldn\'t hurt I guess!
Cheers,
Iain
quick dumb ass newbie question how can you tell if it\'s only starting on 1 rotor? :confused:
Si
Sounds like a tractor:eek:
It doesn\'t have much go and the engine may not seem to smooth when applying the accelerator pedal while not moving,the motor may kick around a lot.Also it will be reluctent to start.Think of it as a piston engine running on 2 out of 4 cylinders.
Kind regards
Carl
I dont want to Hyjack the Thread but what would be a sign if the Water seals had gone?
A pal of mine has a car that is constantly blowing water past the Rad cap, it also does\'nt like bleading up (Never seems to loose all the air in the System)
It runs fine, starts first turn and has spot on Compesion.
I have checked everyting for leaks and have found nothing, i am now getting to the stage of fearing the worst. It is acting like a Head gasket on a Boinger but without the Bad running.
It is loosing water but i think its beeing blown into the Header tank.
Does this sound like classic water seal problems?
Chris