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-   -   Blew my head gasket (https://www.miataturbo.net/diy-turbo-discussion-14/blew-my-head-gasket-35151/)

E=MC^2 05-20-2009 08:53 PM

I did a compression test today cylinders 1-4 183-175-185-190 warm it still smoked after i drove it around the block what the heck it passed both the compression and cooling system pressure test.

Braineack 05-20-2009 09:26 PM

post a picture of your engine bay.

E=MC^2 05-20-2009 09:39 PM

3 Attachment(s)
But ive been running filters on both sides of the head.

E=MC^2 05-20-2009 11:20 PM

see anything odd

NA6C-Guy 05-21-2009 01:17 AM

Too much dirt and oil.

I'm going to go a different way than everyone else and say its the rings...

You also need to do a leak down test, not just a compression test.

E=MC^2 05-21-2009 02:30 AM

bad rings dont burn coolant. how am i getting collant into my cylinders if its not the head gasket?

NA6C-Guy 05-21-2009 03:13 AM

How do you know its coolant? I say just have a HG ready, and pull the head and check it out. Clean up some junk while your at it. Bolt it back up and see what happens.

E=MC^2 05-21-2009 03:25 AM

My coolant was the only fluid that showed a change of any kind it was slightly lower the oil is perfect. Normal level, color and smell. on the dip stick and cap.

Braineack 05-21-2009 08:53 AM

can you blow through your pcv?

BenR 05-21-2009 10:30 AM


Originally Posted by E=MC^2 (Post 410640)
My coolant was the only fluid that showed a change of any kind it was slightly lower the oil is perfect. Normal level, color and smell. on the dip stick and cap.



There are alot of things that would create a low coolant level including the water pump weeping fluid from it's filthy weep hole. To determine if the coolant is getting into the combustion chamber at all you can rule it out by pulling the spark plugs and cranking the motor, if there is any coolant in the cylinder because of a head gasket you'll have a gusher.

Alta_Racer 05-21-2009 11:48 AM


Originally Posted by Braineack (Post 410664)
can you blow through your pcv?

The PCV hose looks kinked/collapsed to me.

What is the hose laying on the valve cover behind #1 sparkplug wire?

Have you pressure tested the cooling system for an extended time, to see what it drops in say 1/2 hr to an hour?

I didnt see where there were results from a leakdown test.

Pull the plugs, look down the holes with a flashlight and see if there are any discolored piston tops. Oil burn = black, coolant leak = white, bad coolant leak the piston tops can be cleaned to almost new looking. A closeup pic of the plugs out may reveal something.

E=MC^2 05-21-2009 10:35 PM

I just took my turbo off cylinder 4 seems to have a blackish gray soot in the exhaust

dustinb 05-21-2009 11:26 PM


Originally Posted by E=MC^2 (Post 410893)
I just took my turbo off cylinder 4 seems to have a blackish gray soot in the exhaust

well it is the exhaust side... I don't think that really means anything. And yah, your PCV hose looks like it's screwed.

E=MC^2 05-21-2009 11:41 PM

I did another coolant system pressure test for about an hour it was set at 15 psi i checked it after 15 minutes it was down to 14 then i checked a half hour later it was still at 14 after an hour it was still at 14. I dont run it with the bend tube i have filters on both pcv holes

BenR 05-22-2009 11:03 AM


Originally Posted by E=MC^2 (Post 410906)
I dont run it with the bend tube i have filters on both pcv holes


Stop that, return it to at least the stock greddy configuration, make sure the pcv valve is functioning correctly and report back.

Joe Perez 05-22-2009 12:03 PM

I'd advise at least a 323GTX PCV valve with a non-kinked hose going to the IM.

I personally don't like the idea of running the hotside breather into the compressor inlet. I don't want to be sucking oily air through the intercooler if I don't have to. So I run a little filter on that side as pictured.

E=MC^2 05-22-2009 05:19 PM

i have filters on both sides

LOOINEY 05-28-2009 03:25 AM

I'am having the same problem as this and everything I could check is ok. So the last thing I can think of is bad valve stem seals? because its only under a vac. that it will burn some oil. Its the only other source oil can enter the combustion chamber.

Also when you pull the head you can do a simple ring test of turn the engine till all the pistons are about the same hight, Then poor oil in each till the top of cylinder. Let sit overnight than see if levels change at all.

E=MC^2 05-28-2009 06:49 PM

I took the turbo out and have not seen smoke or burned coolant since

Joe Perez 05-28-2009 08:40 PM


Originally Posted by E=MC^2 (Post 412967)
I took the turbo out and have not seen smoke or burned coolant since

Then it probably wasn't coolant to begin with.


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