little help please

[agroupuk]

Ok heres the short history....

Just had my car at WGT for the last month or so trying to figure out a problem I had where the car wouldnt start properly..

Bottom line - new battery - new AST cap (not related), a bit of dyno testing, new MOT etc and finally a new Apexi PFC mapped from the old one.

I picked it up today - started first time - SWEET!

I stopped at the garage round the corner to fill her up and didnt notice anything wrong at this point (what I mean will become clear)

I drove the 60 odd miles home with no issues. Car was pulling fine in all gears and the drive was fine.

Anyway - heres the question/problem.

I got to a set of lights near home (the first one I had to stop for) and when the car went into idle white smoke (steam?) came out the back from the exhaust. I upped the revs a bit to around 1700 whilst still stationary and it went away. This happened a couple more times when stopped and idling at some lights or junctions. I then got her home and let her a idle a second but no white smoke/steam.

Any idea\'s on what this could be? and why when I upped the revs it went away?

I am a touch confused lol.

Any help apreciated

Thanks,

Edd

[banned advertiser]

Was it a lot of smoke?
Do you have a oil catch tank?
I you have a catch tank and the breather pipe from engine to catch tank gets twisted, on a run it will build up a back pressure and force oil through turbos which will cause a mass of smaoke when you come to a halt.

[Mazdarotaryparts]

Hi Edd,

Strange one this one but the first question must be are you loosing coolant even a tiny bit like an egg cup full?


On start up from cold go around the back of the car and sniff the exhaust because if its putting out coolant you will smell it.

Also put your hand near the end of the tailpipe and see if you have water globules coming out onto your hand.

However if you are worried take it to a Mazda dealer and ask for a leak-down test to be carried out on the water system.

If they seem unsure as one Mazda dealer service guy was when I phoned because it\'s an FD tell him that it tests the same as an RX-8,

The dealer who eventually tested the car charged £110 for a leak-down test and compression test which I thought was O/K when you consider that they leave the car pressurised overnight.

Only other thing is does it use a lot of oil as it could be the Turbo\'s passing some oil around but this would be a consistant thing rather that a one off.

To check this one way is to remove the intercooler and see if you have any "liquid" oil that runs out when you tip it up.

Hope this helps

[agroupuk]

Thanks for the reply guys.

I will check if I have the catch tank thingy-me-whatsit (im not engine savvy)

As to the coolant - well Pip at WGT checked the coolant system as part of the fault finding and didnt mention anything out of the ordinary except for a new AST cap.

Any other suggestions?

Cheers guys

Edd

[Mazdarotaryparts]

Sorry if the catch tank thing seems confusing,

This is an aftermarket modification that you would only really put on a very modified car or track car.

If you have a standard car completely disregard this information as you will be looking for something that does not exist :rolleyes:

If you have a look at this link it will show you what a catch tank is


http://www.mazdarotaryparts.com/bfd-as001b-oil-catch-tankb-1172-p.asp

Hope this helps

[agroupuk]

I think I am pretty much standard except for exhaust, metal AST and Apexi PFC.

[banned advertiser]

Sorry, please ignore those bitchy remarks. As president and a vendor he should know better.
Do look for a catch tank, typically placed at the back/drivers side rear of the engine bay.
Although oil catch tanks are for modified or track cars, Im sure there are some near stock cars out there with them.
The reason I suggested this is
a. it cost nothing to check.
b. I had a very similar problem, and in fact a guy that was not to sure, got Mazdarotaryparts to look at my car and both recommended that the turbos needed rebuilding, which I was charged £400 for only to have the same problem when I drove off. It was discovered by another member on here to turn out to be a blocked breather pipe on the oil catch tank.
Please do check as this could be a free possible fix before you spend money having pressure tests done.
If you dont have a catch tank then thats great, at least you will have illiminated it.
Hopefully someone might post up a picture of an engine bay with one in, as they can be square or round, so the picture in the link can be misleading, they dont all look like that. Im out round friemds so can get to my photos to help more.

[banned advertiser]

Probably the best person to ask, is WGT as they are nearest to you and would proably suggest you call in for them to have a quick look.
Pip has been around Rotaries far longer than us (on this thread)and is a nice guy

[Mazdarotaryparts]

I will check if I have the catch tank thingy-me-whatsit (im not engine savvy)


Edd

O\' dear sorry the way this thread has gone Edd,

Somebody has read this wrong as a bitchy remark, unfortunately if people put up "helpfull" remarks they must realise that not everone is a fully qualified mechanic.

As for slandering Mazdarotaryparts,

Mazdarotaryparts has never taken on any work for Gary or his company,

Unfortunately he had a guy working on his car who he was paying and I had a quick 5 minute look at his car to try and help somebody who was a mate at the time !  


There was NO bitchy remark made toward you Gary but a sensible answer to a guy who did not know what you were talking about (see quote).  

Gary before you continue this be very careful if you reply as Mazdarotaryclub will now remove trouble makers to keep this site free from bitching, if you have any sense you will realise this was no attack on you at all in any way!

[agroupuk]

EEK!  what have i done now? lol

Everyone stay calm.

I just want to sort me car out i swear! hehe

Any other suggestions folks? Its been p***ing it down outside so I haven\'t been able to check anything today.

Thanks all

Edd

[Mazdarotaryparts]

EEK!  what have i done now? lol


Edd

No no no Edd you have not done anything, as with any MRC member I just want to see you happy with yer Rotary :Santa

[arrouk]

if you dont have a catch tank.........

look form the front of the car, just in front of the throttle body/upper intake manifold...............there is a small one way valve between the upper intake manifold and the oil filler neck.

check this is only one way by blowing down it, if its not replace it.

if it is refit but ensure it will NOT allow boost into the filler neck but will allow vacuum.

Question to those who know..........if the fans kick in does the map get richer or does it just pick up the rpm on the apexi?

hth matt

ps let us know what you find, im sure it will be a simple fix:Thumbs-up