I have an 87 n/a I just recently bought it and the previous owner said there was a coolant leak. I don't believe its coolant, I have no bubbles when i remove the radiator cap, my coolant level doesn't seem to be changing, and my running temperature seems alright. The other option is its my oil rings, I don't know how to check that buts its possible because it smokes on decel. Third it could be that its burning fuel. This is what I hope and am thinking because I put 3 gallons of premium out my gas can before this video, and at the end of this video its sputtering because its out of gas already. Any suggestions on figuring out whats going on here?

oh and also whoever owned it before me did a pretty haggard job on emissions removal

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGU02Bhoxg0

 

https://www.rx7club.com/2nd-generation-specific-1986-1992-17/smokie-starts-910224/

That said, looks like coolant and that coolant in your cooling system looks funky....

 

smell test can go a along way.

If your familiar with what burnt oil smells like.

 

Putting premium in it wouldn't cause that.

Smell this 'smoke'... does it smell sweet? Kind of like toasted almonds in sugar? Coolant.

Does it smell heavy and thick? Like frying fish? Oil.

You have an S4 temperature gauge, and it isn't likely it's too inaccurate considering that S4 temperature gauges are accurate in their own way... unlike the S5 temperature gauge (and yet I swapped an S5 cluster into my S4 car anyway). It should sit at 1/4 on the gauge. If you don't know what 1/4 looks like...
http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r...l/4b745991.jpg
http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r...l/bb22c1b6.jpg

Your coolant looks fine, by the way. Not to make you too uncomfortable, but just because you don't have fizz or bubbles at the coolant neck while running doesn't guarantee your seals aren't blown.

Update us later.

 

That could be several things. Have you looked at / examined the spark plugs? They might give you a better idea of what's being burned.

If it has a hacked emissions removal, you might want to go through and make sure all of the stuff is right.

 

^^Both true^^ I totally forgot to mention those.

 

Yea i figured it was still possible, but I also checked the oil to make sure coolant wasnt leaking into it, and the oil seemed fine. and my temperature guage does stay 1/4 up where its soppose to be most the time. Yea it kind of smells sweet its a different type of a smell. I cant really explain it. I just need to figure out if its coolant or oil.

 

Go get some almonds.. put them in a pan over medium-high heat, add a few tablespoons of sugar and two tablespoons of water... then you'll know what coolant smells like lol