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After overheating engine cranks but does not start and code P0117

Tiny
STEVEN1984
  • MEMBER
  • 2011 MAZDA CX7
  • 2.5L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 148,545 MILES
So was driving fine. Nothing wrong! Had car come up beside me flashing me down. Had white smoke coming from under car. Pulled off interstate came to stop to wait for traffic. Car shut off and would not start back up. White smoke was coming out of oil cap. Has oil in it reads full on dip stick. Coolant was little low but not bad. Been setting now two weeks. It turns over but won’t fire. Almost sounds like no compression. Hooked code reader up cause now engine light on. Gives me one code P0117 Engine Coolant Temperature sensor. Any ideas on what could be problem? I’m stuck :( Thanks
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Monday, November 22nd, 2021 AT 3:06 PM

50 Replies

Tiny
SQM
  • MECHANIC
  • 6,383 POSTS
Hello,

It sounds like you might have a blown head gasket.
Did the engine overheat?

Many times, with blown head gasket the coolant will enter the engine and mix with oil. This will make the oil a milky color. What color is the oil?

Also blown head gasket can wrapped the cylinder head and that can lead to no/low compression. Which can impact the start up.

Here is a helpful guide on how to test for blown head gasket:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/head-gasket-blown-test

Please let me know what you are experiencing.
Thank you.
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Monday, November 22nd, 2021 AT 7:51 PM
Tiny
STEVEN1984
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  • 29 POSTS
So no, the car never has overheated whilst I have owned it! The oil looks just like normal burnt oil. Nothing looks to be mixed in oil, Was driving 70 on interstate then had lady pull beside us and said we had white smoke coming from under car. So, we exited the interstate Immediately and came to a stop and won’t start now. But tomorrow I can take some pictures during day light and send. If that will help?
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Monday, November 22nd, 2021 AT 8:49 PM
Tiny
STEVEN1984
  • MEMBER
  • 29 POSTS
Also, now this happened have several dash lights on. Oil, battery, check engine, and traction control. The check engine light blinks seven time after turning key. The traction control stays blinking.
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Monday, November 22nd, 2021 AT 9:02 PM
Tiny
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Are getting any code besides the P0117?

First make sure all the fluids are at correct level. Typically, you will see smoke when there is fluid burning. It could be oil that got on the exhaust or coolant.

A faulty coolant temperature sensor can prevent the engine from starting, but it does not explain the smoke.
I have attached the troubleshooting steps for the code P0117 below.
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Tuesday, November 23rd, 2021 AT 11:07 AM
Tiny
STEVEN1984
  • MEMBER
  • 29 POSTS
No sir that is only code it said. But of course, this is without car running as well! But when car stopped took oil cap off and it was coming out the hole. But dipstick read full. And coolant was little low but not bad. Water still in overflow. Thanks, I may get that part and try it!
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Tuesday, November 23rd, 2021 AT 11:50 AM
Tiny
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I have seen cars to not start at all due to a bad coolant temperature sensor. As the sensor can send signal that the engine is 'too hot' to start.
Let me know if you are able to go through that trouble shooting guide.
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Tuesday, November 23rd, 2021 AT 12:00 PM
Tiny
STEVEN1984
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  • 29 POSTS
No with more work. I pulled spark plus and cylinders are full of oil!
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Thursday, December 9th, 2021 AT 9:28 AM
Tiny
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That is a sign of leaking valve cover gasket, or the sparkplug tube seals. Which allows oil to enter.
Is it on all of the cylinders?
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Thursday, December 9th, 2021 AT 10:35 PM
Tiny
STEVEN1984
  • MEMBER
  • 29 POSTS
Number 2 and 3 are full of oil. 1 and 4 look clean.
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Friday, December 10th, 2021 AT 9:50 AM
Tiny
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So, it is likely due to leaking spark plug tube seals. Which is a part of the valve cover gasket.
Try cleaning out the plugs and the hole and make sure they are dry and see if you are able to run the engine. Then check again for the leak.
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Friday, December 10th, 2021 AT 11:55 AM
Tiny
STEVEN1984
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  • 29 POSTS
What would be best way to get oil out of cylinders?
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Saturday, December 11th, 2021 AT 9:51 AM
Tiny
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You can try cleaning it out with a rag, or a shop vacuum to suck it out if possible.
Best course of action would be to remove the valve cover and replace the seals.
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Saturday, December 11th, 2021 AT 8:49 PM
Tiny
STEVEN1984
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This would cause no start?
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Sunday, December 12th, 2021 AT 9:33 AM
Tiny
STEVEN1984
  • MEMBER
  • 29 POSTS
Very odd I go out to clean out the cylinders and now no oil in them? Odd
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Sunday, December 12th, 2021 AT 9:48 AM
Tiny
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Too much oil in the plugs can cause no start. As the plugs will not produce good enough spark to start the engine.

Interesting. It is possible for the oil to drain back into the engine. Usually they just don't drain back, unless if the leak is large enough.
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Sunday, December 12th, 2021 AT 5:55 PM
Tiny
STEVEN1984
  • MEMBER
  • 29 POSTS
So, the best action now would be to take apart and change gaskets. I cleaned spark plugs and still no start. But I think the plugs are bad now from being floating in oil basically. I'm getting new ones today and also start taking car a part.
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Monday, December 13th, 2021 AT 6:28 AM
Tiny
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Unfortunately, until you figure out the oil issue, it will be hard to determine if something else might be the issue. And yes, oil fouling the plugs will prevent it from producing spark.

Let me know how it goes.
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Monday, December 13th, 2021 AT 6:55 AM
Tiny
STEVEN1984
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Here is what looks like with valve cover off.
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Tuesday, December 14th, 2021 AT 8:24 AM
Tiny
STEVEN1984
  • MEMBER
  • 29 POSTS
I’m not sure how to tell if bad. But I’m sure the three in the middle should not have that oil there? Right? Would this have caused the white smoke from the oil cap once it blew filled with oil and caused smoke? Thanks for all the help so far!
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Tuesday, December 14th, 2021 AT 8:27 AM
Tiny
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You can kind of see the oil mark on the inside. So that is where it is likely leaking.

So, did you get smoke out of the oil cap but not the exhaust right?
The oil can smoke if it is under excess heat.
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Tuesday, December 14th, 2021 AT 12:45 PM

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