Why is my Miata burning oil and how severe is this?
09-14-2010, 07:54 PM
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Why is my Miata burning oil and how severe is this?
I've never noticed this before. I decided to finally take a video of my OBX duals with turbo and I noticed this when I watched the video.
I'm mainly asking the question how severe is this, because I know there are a million reasons it would be burning oil.
Just some info, in relation to the oil system:
Stock PCV valve drilled out and routed to catch can
Valve cover breather tube routed to catch can.
I believe there's an oil restrictor in the fitting for the turbo. No idea what size it is.
Also, for reference, I don't actually put oil in it all that often, it tends to stay fairly consistant, but this may not apply if the problem has just arisen.
Also, another bit of information. This video was taken after having been driven hard for 10 or 15 minutes. Could it have been built up oil in the intake track or exhaust that burned off when I revved it?
About 3 or 400 miles ago I overheated, 250* coolant temps for about 2 minutes before I shut it off. I'm sure this could have something to do with it, but what does it have to do with it, what could it cause?
I'm going to see if I can get a compression test later this week.
Summary
-How bad is this, in terms of oil burnage? Is it undrivable bad or is it pay attention to but not 100% serious bad?
-Could too large (Big, as in not enough restriction) of an oil restrictor cause this?
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09-14-2010, 08:07 PM
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Ok, just pulled all the plugs no more than 20 minutes after this video was taken. Luckily, they are all white. So this is probably post-engine, thank god. I'm going to guess that it's the oil restrictor (Or lack thereof. My last fitting broke and I replaced it in haste with a different kind so I'm honestly not sure.)
I don't think it's the turbo seals because last time I had a turbo with bad seals it smoked around the compressor housing, not out of the exhaust. Well, it leaked out of both, but that was with a REALLY badly blown turbo.
Can someone confirm or deny the first part of this post?
I don't think it's the turbo seals because last time I had a turbo with bad seals it smoked around the compressor housing, not out of the exhaust. Well, it leaked out of both, but that was with a REALLY badly blown turbo.
Can someone confirm or deny the first part of this post?
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09-14-2010, 08:20 PM
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Hmm.... Thanks for the words there Dopple. So an oil restrictor causing the problem is now less likely, but not out of it. Anyone have any more to add? I'm going to throw a restrictor in anyways (obviously), but I'll keep an open mind as to what the problem is.
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09-14-2010, 10:50 PM
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Hmm I'm pretty sure this as a fluke oil blowing. I'm still going to check everything over, but the oil level is still at full after filling it up about 200 miles ago. And trust me, I rag on this car and it's in boost a lot. If it was loosing it consistently it would be a lot lower than what it is now. I'll check in a couple of days but I doubt this is anything serious.
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09-15-2010, 07:49 AM
#7
Well, I don't know if you know or not but since I see you have "2560" listed in your sig, I dunno if it's a chingchongcharger or the read deal-
The oil restrictor is a must have is your turbo is a ball-bearing. If it's journal-bearing, you shouldn't need a restrictor and probably don't need to add one because the high oil pressure floats the bearing. On a BB turbo, they only need to have oil keeping them lubricated and too much pressure can cause oil to start getting by the seals. The [very highly rated and respected] shop I got my restrictor from was quite shocked that I had run 60k miles on a BB turbo (2560) without the restrictor as they've never seen one go much over 30k without one.
Is your breather/PCV catch can routed back to the intake to keep vacuum on it or vent to atmosphere?
The oil restrictor is a must have is your turbo is a ball-bearing. If it's journal-bearing, you shouldn't need a restrictor and probably don't need to add one because the high oil pressure floats the bearing. On a BB turbo, they only need to have oil keeping them lubricated and too much pressure can cause oil to start getting by the seals. The [very highly rated and respected] shop I got my restrictor from was quite shocked that I had run 60k miles on a BB turbo (2560) without the restrictor as they've never seen one go much over 30k without one.
Is your breather/PCV catch can routed back to the intake to keep vacuum on it or vent to atmosphere?
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09-15-2010, 04:11 PM
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Well, I don't know if you know or not but since I see you have "2560" listed in your sig, I dunno if it's a chingchongcharger or the read deal-
The oil restrictor is a must have is your turbo is a ball-bearing. If it's journal-bearing, you shouldn't need a restrictor and probably don't need to add one because the high oil pressure floats the bearing. On a BB turbo, they only need to have oil keeping them lubricated and too much pressure can cause oil to start getting by the seals. The [very highly rated and respected] shop I got my restrictor from was quite shocked that I had run 60k miles on a BB turbo (2560) without the restrictor as they've never seen one go much over 30k without one.
Is your breather/PCV catch can routed back to the intake to keep vacuum on it or vent to atmosphere?
The oil restrictor is a must have is your turbo is a ball-bearing. If it's journal-bearing, you shouldn't need a restrictor and probably don't need to add one because the high oil pressure floats the bearing. On a BB turbo, they only need to have oil keeping them lubricated and too much pressure can cause oil to start getting by the seals. The [very highly rated and respected] shop I got my restrictor from was quite shocked that I had run 60k miles on a BB turbo (2560) without the restrictor as they've never seen one go much over 30k without one.
Is your breather/PCV catch can routed back to the intake to keep vacuum on it or vent to atmosphere?
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09-15-2010, 06:04 PM
#9
A) Valve guides worn out of spec
B) Valve seal failure
C) Oil control rings worn/seized shut
D) Turbo seal failure
That's really all that could cause the problem you're having, assuming you are venting blow-by to atmosphere. If this is a brand new problem you just found out, I would suspect turbo seal failure.
Mine used to smoke like that, though not nearly as bad. I put in new valve guides and seals, and never had a problem again. 140,000mi engine.
B) Valve seal failure
C) Oil control rings worn/seized shut
D) Turbo seal failure
That's really all that could cause the problem you're having, assuming you are venting blow-by to atmosphere. If this is a brand new problem you just found out, I would suspect turbo seal failure.
Mine used to smoke like that, though not nearly as bad. I put in new valve guides and seals, and never had a problem again. 140,000mi engine.
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09-16-2010, 08:58 PM
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Hey gays, I was just out thinking about this and working it out.
Turbo has an oil restrictor. Good. This is a good start.
What isn't good? A noise. Specifically, a noise from 1,400-1,800ish RPMs. Doesn't happen in high RPMs or at idle. It sounds almost tinny, but more solid... It sounds like shaking a couple of BBs in a bottle, though not quite as aggressive. I'll get a video in a sec. It's coming from the back of the head. (EDIT: Vid upping now)
I was also thinking, I don't think they're valve seals. If it were, wouldn't it smoke a lot on startup and then a little bit at idle? It does neither of those things. Same with the worn/seized oil control rings. The car only has 86k miles (Just rolled this morning
) so it really shouldn't have any of these things wrong with it.
Still, compression test is coming soon.
I'm leaning towards turbo seals (Or just hoping...) but that noise in the head really bugs me.
EDIT2: Here's the video:
I also just went out and pulled the plugs again, after it had been driven 93 miles since I noticed that oil was being burned. The good news is that all the plugs were white/tinted SLIGHTLY gray. Just a hint. This means that the problem is post-engine (Thank ******* god). Must be the turbo seals in this chinacharger. It's a Journal bearing turbo, and I was under the impression that they need an even bigger oil restrictor than BB turbos, contrary to what doppleutezegeartetar said. Could I need a slightly larger restrictor? Could the current one be putting too much pressure in the turbo and causing it to leak past the seals? Could Hustler actually be a real person?
Turbo has an oil restrictor. Good. This is a good start.
What isn't good? A noise. Specifically, a noise from 1,400-1,800ish RPMs. Doesn't happen in high RPMs or at idle. It sounds almost tinny, but more solid... It sounds like shaking a couple of BBs in a bottle, though not quite as aggressive. I'll get a video in a sec. It's coming from the back of the head. (EDIT: Vid upping now)
I was also thinking, I don't think they're valve seals. If it were, wouldn't it smoke a lot on startup and then a little bit at idle? It does neither of those things. Same with the worn/seized oil control rings. The car only has 86k miles (Just rolled this morning
) so it really shouldn't have any of these things wrong with it.Still, compression test is coming soon.
I'm leaning towards turbo seals (Or just hoping...) but that noise in the head really bugs me.
EDIT2: Here's the video:
I also just went out and pulled the plugs again, after it had been driven 93 miles since I noticed that oil was being burned. The good news is that all the plugs were white/tinted SLIGHTLY gray. Just a hint. This means that the problem is post-engine (Thank ******* god). Must be the turbo seals in this chinacharger. It's a Journal bearing turbo, and I was under the impression that they need an even bigger oil restrictor than BB turbos, contrary to what doppleutezegeartetar said. Could I need a slightly larger restrictor? Could the current one be putting too much pressure in the turbo and causing it to leak past the seals? Could Hustler actually be a real person?
Last edited by rider384; 09-16-2010 at 09:31 PM.
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09-16-2010, 10:53 PM
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I think it something loose. If you think its the turbo making noise, push on the compressor axially. Check everything for tightness, including the cam pulleys.
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09-18-2010, 02:06 PM
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In case anyone has this same problem, my turbo's seals are bad. I just idled it for about 15 minutes in my garage (oil, coolant ect fully up to temp after 5ish of lding) and it smoked out of the seam on the hot side housing.
******* seals are blown. 2nd turbo in 3k miles with blown seals.
******* seals are blown. 2nd turbo in 3k miles with blown seals.
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