Today after seeing some nice weather in amongst a freezing winter I thought i'd take the 8 on a drive though immediately I could tell something was wrong as the gear stick was vibrating alot more than usual and at low revs 1-4k when cluth was being released between gear changes it would completely shudder...Eventually after awhile I put my foot down and masses of smoke started pouring out behind my car. I firstly thought the gearbox was ruined with the shuddering and vibrating but fingers crossed I hoped it was just a major carbon buildup...anyway I just did a major redline session driving and stopped in neutral and holding revs and redlining it until the smoke eventually ceased...the shuddering at low revs has gone and the smoke has gone with the driving more smooth...has doing this benefitted my car or somehow wrecked it in the long run without using seafoam or anything related? Sorry for the long message!

 

If high RPM wrecks your rotary then there is something wrong with it


No, the smoke was more likely unburnt gas or coolant that leaked into the housings while it was sitting, then got dumped into the exhaust, with the engine struggling to have proper combustion. It then cooked off in the exhaust, generating smoke.

 

Haha thanks for the peace of mind

 

Well, not entirely. It's something you want to watch for. If you are getting coolant in the engine it could be just the low temps shrinking the engine enough (yeah, it expands when hotter, contracts when colder) that it was letting coolant past a coolant seal, and isn't something to worry about. But it could also mean a failing coolant seal.

Keep an eye on it. Might want to do an oil test after your 2nd or 3rd oil change once it gets warmer and you drive it more.