Can crankcase pressure be blowing my camshaft seals? - Miata Turbo Forum - Turbo Kitten is watching you test compression.

buffon01 · **Can crankcase pressure be blowing my camshaft seals?**

I seem to have a recurrent problem with oil leaks while turbo. When I first bought the car I currently have I did not experience leaks of any sort, at least no so prominent as the one I experience once the turbo was installed.

Last weekend I replaced the front main seal, camshaft seals, and the valve cover gasket hoping to stop the oil leak. At first all seemed to be going well. After the car ran again there were no visible leaks nor any trace of oil in the front of the engine. Today when I parked the car after an afternoon drive I notice droplets of oil on the floor. I open the hood to inspect the engine bay, and there it was again. The same picture of before and a leak prominent from the same spot.

After reading a bit on other cars with a similar problem, the idea of too much crankcase pressure was brought forward to explain the constant failure of seals. In my current set up I have the stock pvc valve and a filter covering the driver side exit on he valve cover.

I have experience this type of leak only after the car was boosted. Could failure in my ventilation system be causing the seals to continue failing?

Oscar · 05-11-2012, 08:08 PM

Wouldn't you be popping out dipsticks and spewing oil out the driversside breather before blowing out tight cam seals?

buffon01 · 08:47 PM

I don't know, but all was fine after the replacement. After driving the car the leak came back

Edit: After further search I've com across this

Quote:
	Originally Posted by iblameadd Blocked off intake manifold port, ran both valve cover vents to a filter. Been that way for a year and vent hoses are still dry.

It seems that if the stock PCV is still being used while on boost leaks on the front of the motor are common. Should I replace cam seals again while I block off the IM and run the valve cover to a filter?

*Techsalvager* · 05-11-2012, 09:22 PM

unless they were pushed out of place, I'd leave them and see if the leak goes away.