what the hell is wrong with my car?

[myfirstmazda]

yes, it's fuel, but I wouldn't say, "raw", more like, "incomplete combustion". it smells like the exhaust from a cold engine. it does not smell like a spill of gas on the ground.

[Inodoro Pereyra]

Hmmm, it still sounds very strange to me...
You'd have to literally be dumping buckets of fuel into the engine, to have such a thick smoke. I have worked on carbureted racing engines (that typically use A/F ratios of 8-9 to 1), and I've never seen smoke so opaque.

I still think there's something else there...

[myfirstmazda]

that's why I'm so confused. what else could it be? you can see why I want this fixed...

[Inodoro Pereyra]

My money is still on oil. Maybe a combination of the car running rich and the piston rings getting stuck when cold could cause such an effect...

[myfirstmazda]

but why is it running rich in the first place? got new plugs and wires, new o2 sensor, all 4 injectors cleaned, this thing should be running perfect! the thermosensor I tested is in the intake manifold near #1 injector, is that the right one? also, is there another o2 sensor I should be checking? I only saw the one right there in the exhaust manifold.

[wytbishop]

Why are you convinced that it is running rich? The strong smell of fuel could just be incomplete combustion...which could be explained b a few things. I agree that thus volume of smoke can only be explained by burning coolant or oil.

[Savin]

I think its the piston rings as well. It looks like it smokes almost as bad as my RS did, and its rings are definitely done. My RS smokes continuously though.

[Inodoro Pereyra]

I agree. I said maybe it's running rich as a possibility, but I still think the main issue here is oil related.
Sometimes, the grooves the piston rings sit in get full of gunk, and when your engine gets cold enough, the rings get stuck. That makes the engine smoke for a while, until the heat and the vibration free the rings again.
I would, like I said before, recommend you to run Z-Max in both the oil and the fuel, at least once, to know for sure. I know it's expensive, but it's gonna be much cheaper than opening up the whole engine just to find out.

[myfirstmazda]

maybe I'll go ahead and do the z-max then. I've got no better idea. but I did run seafoam through it a couple months ago, I would think that would clean it out.

Why are you convinced that it is running rich? The strong smell of fuel could just be incomplete combustion...which could be explained b a few things. I agree that thus volume of smoke can only be explained by burning coolant or oil.

I've been saying all along that it's incomplete combustion. you're saying that could be explained by a few things. I want to know what things! that's what I've been asking for the last 6 pages! please let me in on the secret here.

[Ryan]

Have you done a compression/leakdown test? Have you looked at your plugs yet?

[myfirstmazda]

I haven't done any compression test yet, but I have changed the plugs. pictures of the old ones are a couple pages back. they weren't too bad. -edit- they're on page 2.

[wytbishop]

Timing is the most obvious. If the timing is retarded the spark arrives too late and the air/fuel mixture starts to burn as the exhaust valve is already starting to open.

Insufficient spark strength is also a possible cause. I would consider trying a known good distributor to see if there's any change.

I would definitely do a compression and a leak down test. Theres no point worrying about timing and ignition if the engines got no compression.

[myfirstmazda]

Insufficient spark strength is also a possible cause. I would consider trying a known good distributor to see if there's any change.

THANK YOU!!! finally someone making a little sense here instead of trying to tell me I don't know what I'm talking about.

that is a distinct possibility. on a similar note, I think my alternator is dying. it squeals pretty bad every time you start it lately. it's also got a brand new belt on it. a dying alternator wouldn't affect the spark that much, would it? unless the battery gets pretty seriously drained.

[Ryan]

your last post annoys me a bit.

Just because someone tells you what you want to hear doesn't make them right, or have better advice. Although, Charlie is right.

And if you think a squealing belt means a weak alternator, you do sound a little like you don't know what you're talking about. Have you checked the condition of the belt, and the tension?

[Inodoro Pereyra]

your last post annoys me a bit.

x2