kickinwing

Alright, my car wouldn't start when I was at school, it was turning over but it was just to cold for it to start. Even after a slight little wiff of start fluid it still would do nothing. So I ended up having it towed home the 111 miles from my university, and let it sit till the weather got nicer. Well the weather got nicer and I went out to take a look at the car. When I checked the oil there was some sort of fluid mixed in with the oil, I just don't know what this fluid could be. It doesn't seem to be water or coolant, but is it possible that the motor was flooded and gas ended up in the oil pan? I just don't know enough about the rotary to know for sure, but that seems like the most logical answer at this point.

Richard Miller

gas would dilute in the oil, you would not see separation. Just runny oil. I would bet on coolant. does it sound like you have compression? I assume you have spark.

kutukutu1

iTrader: (5)

if its coolant it should make a milky yellow thing on the oil filler neck, if its gas then you should smell the oil and it will have a gas smell. how many miles on the engine?

84stock

iTrader: (5)

Ditto ^ what he said......

If you have spark and oil is okay, do the deflood procedure and get a little pump can and pump some oil in the leading plug holds (don't need much) and spin it by hand a bit and then a couple more little squirts. Then put the plugs back in and give her a try.

kickinwing

Well it started, and it was fine only thing that made me think it was coolant was the coolant light turned on. But the oil just looks diluted and runny, and I can't smell anything right now due to a pretty bad cold. But other than that, it ran alright. The reason it was having trouble starting is due to an old battery and extreme cold. That mixed with me most likely flooding it more than once.

Also the motor has just under 140,000 miles but has been taken care of very well. I have a box of all the previous owners receipts for any sort of maintenance done including every oil change.

DivinDriver

iTrader: (15)

I wouldn't recommend running it until you drain and replace the oil.

kickinwing

For sure I cranked it to check for compression it fired I drove it like 5 feet to it's parking place and shut it off. Next weekend when I am home from school the oil will be drained and replaced along with the filter. It will also be getting a new battery and will hopefully be road worthy for the summer.

mazdaspeedrex

If you are around Omaha next Sunday and have it up and running, swing by the Mid America Center in CB. I will be there for an autocross but I could take a quick look at the car for you.

kickinwing

Might have to take you up on this, but I've been pretty busy lately so I'll just have to wait and see. It runs just needs oil changed, and this oil should tell the story of what's going on

mazdaspeedrex

Now the autox will not be at MAC. If you still want me to take a look at it PM me and we can set something up.

kickinwing

I'm not to concerned about it, I am pretty sure it is just fuel from the choke being on and trying to start it. I am going to drain the oil and double check, but I am pretty sure that is all that is wrong, also where abouts are you from in the omaha area. I haven't seen any of the cars in you sig around town.

mazdaspeedrex

I live in Ralston and work at T. O. Haas at 120th and Center. I drive the maroon FC daily and I autox the blue FB. It sits in the garage 90% of the year.

kickinwing

Ha you really aren't that far away, I work at Zzzap off 108th and Q. But anyways, I am pretty certain it is gas in my oil, I there any correct way to deal with this? Or do I just drain it? I plan on doing plugs and plug wires here pretty soon as well.

mazdaspeedrex

An oil change with filter will get the contaminated oil out but you need to be sure what caused it or it will happen again. If it was flooded the gas in the chambers will leak past the oil control o-rings and get into the oil pan. There are several reasons it could have flooded. My old GSL-SE would do it every once in a while and my FC does it also. My other FB doesn't even though it runs extremely rich with dual Weber carbs. The fuel injectors on the SE and the FC's have a tendency to leak down and cause flooding in cooler weather and short cooldown periods.