I'll spare the back story unless anyone REALLY wants to hear my crappy story w/ cheeky comments. Basically I have not driven my miata very much in the last 2 years for lots of reasons.

it has a 1.6l Japanese motor in it bought from some warehouse in canada and slapped in 2 and a half years ago. While idling if i pull my dip stick out smoke comes puffs out like a little locomotive . My breather valve filter driver side is pretty much black & does the same. If i pull off my oil fill cap it also puffs smoke & little bits of oil pretty significantly.

I'm pretty sure those are all really bad signs. I also can't ever keep my coolant reservoir full & have been unsuccessful on determining where it's actually going. My oil does not appear milky or smell odd.

With all said please advise. Am i better off getting a new motor? I know there are some tests i can do to confirm but any wasted money in testing could go towards a new motor and seeing as how they are relatively inexpensive by the time i spend $100 testing i've just spent 20% of what could have gone to my new to me motor. thoughts please or questions.

After i hear some thoughts i have another question regarding a new motor but I'd like to hear some technical information first.

 

Pick up another motor or build that one... with forged internals and add boost.

A compression tester is $15-20. You may just need a head gasket for $40.

 

i have a compression tester. i guess tomorrow i'll start with that.

 

A. Clean PCV valve/system.
D. Change Oil? How old is it?
D. Check Compression.
Test Coolant.
B
O
O
S
T

 

I guess that's a good point i'll change my oil first. I don't remember quite how old it is and it's viscosity could be out he window causing some of the smoking i suppose?

 

cylinder 1: 175
cylinder 2: 170
cylinder 3: 165
cylinder 4: 90 (boooooooo!) w/ oil in cylinder 150...

 

These motors are a dime a dozen. Get a new one. Feel free to do a comp test before you buy it. Even if its on a shelf at a JY, or where ever. They will still turn and give you an idea of the condition.

Or rebuild this one.

 

i've gotten a quote for a rebuild before it seemed unreasonable... what should a reasonable price be? Also if i were to go with a 1.8 is there any additional costs outside the conversion kit from flying miata and me having to get a new turbo manifold? think i read i can use my same clutch and what not