So I have a td04 97 miata with a 99 engine swap.

I had the turbo and manifold out of the car for a week. In that week I changed the engine mounts to the upgraded AWR mounts. Also I was welding the turbo manifold because It had a crack.

When I started it after putting it all together, everything sounded normal. But I noticed smoke coming from the general location of the turbo. I couldn't say where exactly from the turbo the smoke was coming from. Also a lot of black soot was on my garage floor from where the exhaust tips are. Also there's oil in my intercooler piping. I probably haven't even put 100km on my new intercooler set up.

My td04 has some shaft play but not a lot. I picked up a spare td04 from a wrx. apparantly in good shape according to the previous owner who is a friend of a friend. It has just a tiny bit less shaft play than mine, if there is any difference. So i'm guessing my seals miiiiiiight be okay?!?

What's the best way to diagnose my problem if it's not the turbo? (i'm going to do a compression test today.) Some people say might be valve seals, how do I check the condition of my valve seals without doing major surgery?

Also I'm trying to clock the new td04 but I can't seem to get the exhaust housing off after removing the v-band clamp... has anyone else clocked a td04 before?

thanks in advance!

 

Oh yea I also noticed the PCV on the valve cover isn't sealing properly. would that cause that much oil to go into the intake that it would throw black soot?

 

If there is oil in the intercooler pipes then the turbo needs rebuilding.

 

Yes you can clock that turbo. To separate, it usually takes lots of penetrating oil, Kroil, if you can get it; heat; and hammering. If you clock the compressor, you will need to drill a new alignment hole in the comp housing for the pin that is in the CHRA.

 

Leakdown test.

 

That is not necessarily true.

 

I noticed my pcv valve on the valve cover doesn't seal as well. So i'm going to try changing out that first before continuing to try to clock my new to me turbo.

I used lots of PB and lots of hammering and lots of heat from my torch (yellow tank, not the blue propane one), and it won't budge!!!! I even took it to my supra friend who has lots of knowledge about turbo's and he said he's never seen a turbo that stuck :/

 

I took a cold chisel to the joint of mine and tapped around the interface to get it to start separating. It was really bad, as well. I used nickel-based antisieze when I re-assembled, so if I have to take it apart again, it should be easier.

 

Mine is so stuck, that I think I will need Jeremy Clarkson to bring his hammer and do it for me...

 

Soooo I did my compression results and I got

160
150
150
160

Good numbers right? Should I even bother to continue with the leak down test?

 

Btw that's with the engine cold and a dry test. I didn't have time to do a wet test yet.

Also incase I forgot to specify, it's a 99 motor.

 

Well it is consistent, and not really low, so I think youre good.

 

Thats what I was thinking. I tried googling the compression specs and I found ppl saying close to 200 is brand new. Is that true?

Does anyone know the exact wet/dry specs for the 99-00 engine?

 

When you check the turbo play, you know you're looking for thrust play not lateral play, right? In other words, don't wiggle it back and forth. Push and pull along the axis of the shaft. If you can feel movement, it needs rebuilt.

Compression numbers aren't confirmation it's the turbo. Could be a valve guide(s) or venting issue as well.

 

Ohh really? I didn't know It was lateral play.

Off topic question but ball bearing turbos are supposed to have no side to side play but lateral play is normal right?

And by venting are you talking about the PCV? Because I already discovered my pcv was bad. I bought a new valve, just haven't had a chance to start it yet.

 

what if the oil was coming form the breather line from major blow by around the rings?

that would enter intercooler pipes.

 

So I started it up today and it was still smoking from the turbo. I opened the oil cap while it was running and air was coming out... Bad valve seals?

 

All engines do that to varying degrees.

Are your intercooler pipes and intercooler still oily or did you remove the intercooler, stand it on end, and flush it yet?