Well, being that I am pressed for time, and have basically only one car I could drive to work today, I had to try starting the car. Around 9:30 I purged what ATF I could. Unfortunately...I probably dumped a bit out the exhaust as well.

Started it up, and holy hell...after a little more than a minute of it running, I couldn't see anymore...There was white smoke all over. The wind carried it one way, then back the other, thankfully. A neighbor came out and started looking toward me, so I figured now is as good a time as any to get friendly and introduce myself.

Fortunately it was an older guy, with a bit of a sense of humor for these kinds of things. Was worried there was a fire, he was on his back porch. Came over and looked at the car and asked about it and such. Didn't phase him that I had been trying to salvage a dying car and smoking up the neighborhood.

After several more minutes of it running, the choke pulled in, and finally it was idling. At first it sounded like it might have worked...seemed smoother. Not sure what to think of it, I decided taking it for a drive would probably be the only way to really tell.

Pulling off the grass I had to go easy, but it was appearant after no more than a few houses, that it wasn't much better, if any at all. I went around the block, then pulled the plugs. I did the sound check for compression again. Front was fine, rear was the same as before.

Maybe it's loosened more carbon or something...maybe it's salvageable. But I still have to get to work today unfortunately. So I'll have to drive the RX-7. And unless something drastic changes tomorrow, I'll have to drive it all weekend as well, and probably next week, etc.

Hopefully the smoke clears up or I'll probably end up with 10 tickets before I get to work today ):

 

The longer you let that ATF sit the more of that carbon is going to get eaten up . If at all possible I'd let the RX7 sit with the ATF in there for a day or 2 . Then try again .


Your problem sounds more like a thrown Apex seal though so the ATF is probally not going to work . Its usually used to turn engines over thata re locked up because of carbon . Using it on an already running engine doesnt tend to do much but maybe clear up the housings/rotors a bit .

 

I know...but it just isn't working out well to have time to let it sit. I have to drive every day. That's why I've put 6,000 miles on it since I bought it.