HKS Breather Pipework
 

Comments on the setup, specifically the tee that connects to cam cover and dipstick pipe. Is this needed? Just purchased the car and it has a HKS kit fitted with a garrett turbo.

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https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1348517909

Apologies for the link, hope it works. Using iPad and getting images to work is not easy.

Ok, that's super goofy looking.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1348415699

Its a widely believed fact that these engines will push the dipstick out if they have tons of pressure going into the crankcase. This could be from completely worn out rings, valve seals, valve guides, lack of PCV system, broken PCV valve (dumping boost from intake manifold to valve cover) or any combination of the above.

The only one of these that has a cheap and easy fix is the broken PCV valve. Find a PCV off of a Mazda 323 GTX (its a turbo) that was built to handle boost if you want to retain a functional factory style PVC system. Everything else on that list can be diagnosed with compression and leakdown tests, and will then require engine disassembly and machine shop work to fix.

You better figure out WHY someone thought that was a good idea, because they thought they were being incredibly clever, or its incredibly stupid and they may be trying to cover up one of the above problems. My humble internet mechanic recommendation would be compression and leakdown tests ASAP!

How do you check the oil anyway? I would imagine that if its intercooled, you may be in for a surprise when you pull the pipes off the intercooler core.

Just bought the car, real good bargin so not too bothered, oil is checked by taking of pipe and inserting dipstick. Drove 200 miles when purchased and some but not a lot of oil was used.

This is the same set up that the previous owner, an unmechanical person, has run for the previous three years. I have receipts for rebuilt turbo and full services going back through her ownership period with no obvious reports of any problems.

Anyhow it was purchased with intention for complete going over, maybe striping back to original NA spec.

The only reason for someone to do that is if the engine is so badly damaged that it's blowing the dipstick up.

Well guys after doing some searching it appears that the strange setup is a standard HKS instal.

I thought they used the dipstick hole as the oil drain, not the breather line.

Thats just dumb

Assuming it's not there to cover up another problem such as trashed PCV or a bad piston rings, I dont see a problem with that setup. It will give you some nice vacuum at the piston rings.

it's technically going to the same place. the top breather is directly connected to the dipstick port...just a pool of oil between them.

it wont add any vacuum anywhere.

It will add another path for air to be pulled therefore less resistance.

But do I need it? Pain in the butt having to take pipe off to check oil :-)

No?

Take it off and plug it, put your dipstick in, drive car.

If dipstick pops out and blows oil all over your turbo and lights the car on fire and burns it to the ground... you'll know you have a blowby problem.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1348520153

Well, that's just one possible outcome. Maybe it does nothing?

Okay, point well made and image has been implanted in my brain :crx:

I would just put in the dipstick, go for a drive, see if it pops out. If it does, its there for a reason (masking other problems) if not my guess is somebody had some other random turbo car that this was a common mod for and thought it was necessary on all turbo cars.

That's pretty much what I said, but I did it with scary pictures of fire! :firedevil

Scary works :)

However I will try a short run with the dipstick in and see what happens. Like I said car is new to me so will check out compression etc the coming week and see what the results are. Might even make up some sort of gauge and attach to breather and see what pressure is there.

Thanks for,the input guys, appreciated.

Theres words in your post? Somehow I was distracted