Mazda Rotary Club

General => General Technical => Topic started by: dan_miles86 on December 12, 2009, 02:44:32 PM

Title: Help! Not looking good....
Post by: dan_miles86 on December 12, 2009, 02:44:32 PM
Noticed quite alot of white smoke on start up recently but thought it was just because its been so cold out lately. However went to check my oil today and there was alot of mayo type crap around the filler gap.
 
To me this seems uber bad but could some one tell me what the likely problem is and the best checks to be doing please?
 
Thanks, Dan.
Title: Help! Not looking good....
Post by: Brett on December 12, 2009, 03:07:38 PM
Is the car in regular use?
Can you give us the following details as well (as it all helps)

Model
Age
Mileage
Title: Help! Not looking good....
Post by: dan_miles86 on December 12, 2009, 03:40:00 PM
It hadnt been used for a couple of months but its been my daily drive for the last three weeks.
 
Its a 96 with around 90,000 miles with a hayward rebuild around 18000 ago.
 
The white smoke totally disapears after about 5 minutes but is very smoky on start up espically on a cold morning.
 
It has a big exhaust, i thought the smoke was just condensation in the exhaust being evaporated?
Title: Help! Not looking good....
Post by: dan_miles86 on December 12, 2009, 03:41:27 PM
The water level also doesnt seem to be dropping and although it is using oil i wouldnt think it was a significant amount. Maybe 1ltr over the past 6months and 4000 miles.
Title: Help! Not looking good....
Post by: turbotoaster on December 12, 2009, 04:03:19 PM
sounds like its fine to me then, its using oil at slightly less than a predicted amount and if the water isnt going down its nto going into the engine, i wouldnt worry about it, if it ever starts using water or starting on 1 rotor then its time to worry
Title: Help! Not looking good....
Post by: MaLicE on December 12, 2009, 04:34:19 PM
to be honest as far as i know most rotarys have mayo in the oil cap pretty much every single one i have seen has mayo in the cap and its perfectly normal, it when you get mayo on your dip stick you need to worry.
Title: Help! Not looking good....
Post by: dan_miles86 on December 12, 2009, 04:58:34 PM
Thanks guys will be checking the dip stick tomorrow morning!
Title: Help! Not looking good....
Post by: Kevin on December 12, 2009, 08:15:06 PM
Sounds like a perfectly normal rotary to me! I wouldnt worry. :D
Title: Help! Not looking good....
Post by: trotter on December 14, 2009, 09:44:41 AM
Quote from: MaLicE;659097to be honest as far as i know most rotarys have mayo in the oil cap pretty much every single one i have seen has mayo in the cap and its perfectly normal, it when you get mayo on your dip stick you need to worry.

I go that once - bricked it!!

Turns out I just hadn\'t put it back in properly after checking oil, and it got a bit mayo at the top - when I pulled it out, the bottom of the stick got covered in it!! d\'oh!!
Title: Help! Not looking good....
Post by: Jono FD3 on December 14, 2009, 10:32:09 PM
Quote from: dan_miles86;659089The water level also doesnt seem to be dropping and although it is using oil i wouldnt think it was a significant amount. Maybe 1ltr over the past 6months and 4000 miles.

Oil change should be every 3000 miles matey ;) Worth while doing this regularly as it keeps things in good condition!

Jono
Title: Help! Not looking good....
Post by: jackaleks on December 15, 2009, 10:28:59 AM
someone else may be able to correct me on this, but i think it\'s down to the FD not having  a very effective breather system for the oil system, meaning condensation can\'t escape and collects at the top of the filler neck after a few hot/cold cycles causing the mayo.