This has been happening for quite some time, my car smells like burning oil when engine braking. It doesn't smoke as far as I can tell, but last year it almost always smoked when the engine was cold after startup. No noticeable power loss or other symptoms. I'm thinking it's something to do with the valves, but who has any other insight before I take the head off?

Thanks

 

How's your PCV system routed?

 

I'm using the standard Miata PCV valve, it works only when I blow in from one side, so that's fine. I just have a breather filter on the other valve cover port though, could that be where my problem is?

 

im pretty sure you're suposed to route that somewhere and remove the filter because it causes a large vacume leak.

 

I'm not so sure about the vacuum leak, as it idles fine. I'll find some hose and route it to the intake though, does it go before the turbo inlet?

 

yeah, on the intake...it could be that the pcv valve is possibly not sealing under higher pressure (you cant blow 9psi) if that is the case then the pressure entering the crankcase might make it hard for the oil to drain out of the turbo and it burns up a tiny bit.

 

Speak for yourself. :gay:

I'll pick up a 323 gtx PCV valve at work tomorrow, thanks.

It doesn't smell in boost though, only at high vacuum while engine braking.

 

Valve seals? If you are not running the MAF, then the filter on the driver side of the valve cover isn't a big issue, if you have the MAF then you should reconnect it to the intake tube before the turbo.

On decel, there should be high vacuum sucking the PCV open into the intake, so I'm not sure if a stronger PCV will solve the issue. The GTX PCV is a good idea, anyway.

 

FYI the number on the autozone replacement PCV valve is 2196. This is the number printed on the PCV valve itself. For turbo Miatas use part number 2190. They look the same but the 2190 will function as a check valve when pressure is on the manifold side. The 2196 will not fully seal under pressure. Looking at values in my EMS I show no change in manifold vacuum at idle. I can pull one of the smaller vac lines and see it in map reading.

 

When you get them at autozone or pepboys or wherever, open teh package and try to blow through it. 9:10 says it won't seal.

 

I work at Advance Auto Parts, so I'll get it there with my 20% discount. I'll def try blowing before I go home though.

 

Do you get a bigger discount by blowing?

 

Only if i blow both ways

 

Digging up an old thread. Did you ever solve this? I can smell a lot of oil too. I'm wondering if it is from my valve cover breather. I've never used one before having a turbo. Do they smell? It smells like hot oil rather than burning oil.

 

I got rid of the breather and routed it to the intake, I think it helped a little but I'm pretty sure my valve seals are worn.

 

I'm noticing the oil smoke is only when the engine is cold and warming up when the oil pressure is high. Does this indicate that I need an oil restrictor?

The smoke clears when the idle and oil pressure drop after the water temps rise closer to operating temps.

 

where is the smoke coming from?

 

It's coming out the exhaust - blue, so it's going through the engine. My engine was perfectly fine before the turbo install.

 

Oil seeping through turbo seals?

 

Most likely. No abnormal shaft play. Just wondering if I need a restrictor. Oil pressure is up around 80psi when the engine is warming up. Down to 15-20psi at hot idle.

I think I clicked on the wrong thread when asking this question, ooops