I have read other posts but thought I would run this past the experts as I have leant out my haynes manual.
1.8 1993 S LTD with K&N filter and twin exhaust from MX5 parts. Was running great until today in the sun with top down when i noticed a little puff of smoke on way into work. Am on the second tank full of fuel mixed with Redx fuel cleaner so thought it may be this. Put one part of additive in a few weeks ago with a full tank of fuel and second one earlier this week. However on way home from work tonight huge clouds of smoke. Am working nights so could not tell if white smoke or not. Could not smell anything so wondered if this could be steam and head gasket. Cannot check until my nights finish and can have a proper look in the day.
No smoke on start up - smokes alot on acceleration and when slowing down. However stopped just before i got home. Kept eye on temp gauge and no problems there. Can only think it was fuel additive and a good thrashing the other week. It has blown a gasket with previous owner and fully repaired and no problems with me - covered over 1500 miles driving reasonably hard.
I will check coolant levels and quality of coolant (hopefully no oil in there)
Will check spark plugs, and PCV valve and rocker cover gasket and oil levels
Any other ideas?
Anyone else with similar problems of having used redx? It was the one for petrol fuel injected engine.
Rule of thumb says white smioke = water loss. However Redex does give off a white smoke, so could be the cause. Keep a close watch on coolant levels, check that the radiator is as full as you can get it, don’t rely on the overflow tank.
Cheers Mate.
Thought you would be on line as everyone in Blighty is asleep - benefit of shifts here I guess!
If everything else checks out and it is the Redx do you think it is worth adding more fuel to dilute it or drain it? Good job there was no one on the dual carriage way behind me tonight it was like thick fog at one point!
I have just googled Redex problems and found someone with a similar issue. Although in his case he got the fuel additive ratio way wrong. I followed the instructions with only half the bottle on a full tank and did the same again this week.
Pollyana who posts on here swears by Redex, but I’m pretty sure he uses 1/4 bottle per tank
You are correct Geoff. Unfortunately some people pick up a bottle of REDEX and there are different bottles for cleaning different things. I always use the green label bottle for cleaning the injectors. always check and read the labels to make sure you get what you need.
Thanks - cannot remember what colour label it was but did check it thoroughly for unleaded and fuel injection. Only thing I can think of is that the fuel tank is small on an MX5 and maybe there was a little bit of additive left in the tank from the previous weeks fuel which added to this weeks may have been too much. Will take a trip out later after work and see - if it is foggy later you know that was down to me!
just had a look in the daylight.
Oil is fine no milkshake in there. Radiator is empty. Refilled with water and waited a while. Sure enough looks as though there is a leak on one of the hoses at the back of the engine under the camshaft sensor. As you stand at the front of the car and look at the engine it is the one on the left of the two that go through the bulkhead and above the manifold - hence plooms of white smoke on the way home. Thank god it was a short journey otherwise i would have cooked the head. No other leaks that I can see.
engine starts and runs fine but i just need to replace the hose - will do both to be on the safe side. Any ideas about the pipe on the right which goes back into the engine below the exhaust manifold - it seems a bit loose where the metal pipe goes back into the engine. Does not appear to be anything coming out but does not seem right it is loose unless that has been designed for when the engine flexes? Sorry no pics as the bluetooth dongle has stopped working.
Those are the heater feed and return pipes, can’t remember if your car is a 1.8, but if it is it’s quite common for a small oil leak from the CAS to drip onto the pipe nearest the engine and rot it through. Be very careful removing the hoses, the pipe through the bulkhead is a very thin walled copper and easily damages. The best way is to loosen the clip and then carefully split the pipe with a Stanley knife. Change both pipes as a precaution. Then re fill with distilled/de ionised water and anti freeze, the directions are here. let us know how you get on
Thanks,
I was going to replace them with silicon hoses but mx5 parts are out of stock of one of them and i only want to do this job once having read and seen how difficult it is to get myhands in there. may have to employ my 8 year old daughter who has tiny hands! i will try the tip about cutting the hose.
Thanks. Bleeding lucky i did not seize the engine or blow a head gasket!
Did replacing the hoses fix the problem? Got the same symptoms on my mx5, been through the hassle of swapping over the cylinder head for another 1 and replacing the head gasket and after putting it back together found a leak under the cas on the left of the 2 pipes coming from the bulkhead. Hoping that if this fixed your problem it’ll sort mine!
Thanks