Unknown Oil Burning Issue

[FourWeeks]

Need help diagnosing a problem. My SR is shooting white and blue smoke out the exhaust when I'm cruising, never when I'm idling. Doesn't smell sweet at all so I don't think it's coolant, definitely oil and some vapor.

I have done a compression test with 140 across all cylinders and a leak down test showed everything was below 10%. I have replaced the valve seals and I got a used t28 to replace my turbo because I thought it was blown. Pulled off my downpipe and there is no oil so it's probably not a blown turbo.

Wtf could it possibly be???

[cbeuglas]

Check pcv valve on valve cover. Also could be rings but your compression seems OK . To do compression only crank over 5 times full rotation.

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[FourWeeks]

PCV valve still rattles so I don't think that's it. I've done a compression test along with my tuner and another shop and both have said that my numbers were fine.

[Primo's Silvia]

Oil catch can?

[FourWeeks]

I've thought about putting one on, but I could never decide where I would put it. Where do you have yours?

[cbeuglas]

Catch can runs from diver side valve cover to catch can the the other side of catch can to the intake.

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[FourWeeks]

Yeah that's what I figured. I have my valve cover teed off on the right side so I think I'll run it in line with the stock air oil separator. Doubtful it will clear up my issue but I guess it doesn't hurt to try.

[cbeuglas]

My opinion is the intake creates a vacuum to release head pressure and the catch can will catch the oil. A good catch can should keep things working as they should.

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[cbeuglas]

Cheapest place to start is best in trouble shooting.

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[lansleepxces]

I think I'll run it in line with the stock air oil separator. Doubtful it will clear up my issue but I guess it doesn't hurt to try.http://goo.gl/CNYTA7

[cotbu]

for the valve cover t and needing a catchcan in the op case would mean that, the oil has to travel all the way through the pipe work, intercooler and intake manifold, sucked into the combustion chamber to the become the, blueish/gray(white) smoke. This is possible, but since there is no oil in the down pipe. Pulled off my downpipe and there is no oil so it's probably not a blown turbo
The op should've looked in the, turbos intake, turbo compressor, hot pipe, cold pipe, intercooler,and intake manifold for signs of oil, this can confirm and eliminate the cause of the smoke. if there is oil? And if there is oil, get to cleaning.

[FourWeeks]

The op should've looked in the, turbos intake, turbo compressor, hot pipe, cold pipe, intercooler,and intake manifold for signs of oil, this can confirm and eliminate the cause of the smoke. if there is oil? And if there is oil, get to cleaning.

No oil in piping, but there is residual carbon deposit from when I drove it with the cracked valve seals. I ran seafoam through the throttle body on Saturday and it seemed to reduce smoking to only highway speeds. I'm gonna run seafoam through the brake booster vacuum line as suggested on NICO and report back.

[Nikzilla]

Gasket?

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[FourWeeks]

No loss in coolant.

Seafoam through vacuum line didn't really help. I'll be taking my turbo off and looking at related parts to see if my turbo has blown seals. Tuner took a look at my lines and said my oil feed didn't have a restrictor on it so the oil pressure could have possibly done some damage.

[Nikzilla]

You could blow a HG without coolant loss if it's only contacting oil channels.

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[FourWeeks]

Wouldn't a blown head gasket reflect on a compression or a leak down test though?

[Nikzilla]

I'm going to say that "it doesn't have to". Since you have an alluminum block/head, the SR is especially prone to warping. If the deck is warped, but not cracked, you could have oil leaking past only after it's been heat soaked.

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[Nikzilla]

But don't quote me on that. I'm just theorizing.

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[FourWeeks]

Hmm that's interesting. It seems that it does smoke more after it's been running for a while.

[Nikzilla]

Try to compression test it when it's really hot.

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[FourWeeks]

I've only compression tested it when it was hot. I'm thinking about running thicker oil to see if it stops the problem.

[Nikzilla]

Do this. Popoff your cold pipe, open the the throttle, and see if there is any oil pooling up in the manifold (I'm assuming you have am S13 SR with the plenum at the bottom)

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[FourWeeks]

I have a blacktop. Am I supposed to be able to see oil inside through the throttle body?

BTW I'm assuming the plenum is the intake mani based on google images lol

[Nikzilla]

SRs have a 2 part intake. It has the plenum and the runners. The plenum is what the throttle body is conmected to, and it sort of "pools" the air before it goes to the engine through the runners. S14s have plenums at the top, and runners at the bottom. S13s have runners at the top and plenum at the bottom. If there is a lot of blow by, it will blow more oil with it, which gets sucked up by the intake through the pcv and the lines on the exhaust side of the valve cover. If you have a plenum on the bottom, you should easily be able to see if there is any oil build up. Run your car untill it starts shooting blue smoke, then shut it off and take a look.

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[FourWeeks]

Ah okay will do. I might as well check my turbo while I'm at it.

[FourWeeks]

http://i.imgur.com/CU5yWP5l.jpg

Checked throttle body and plenum and there wasn't any standing liquid, though it appears there was at one point. Pulled off turbo and there wasn't anything outstanding there either. I'm going to buy a catch can today and see if it fixes anything.

[Nikzilla]

Did you run it before you checked? Also did you check shaft play in the turbo?

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[FourWeeks]

Yes I drove around for 30 minutes before popping the piping off. There was shaft play on the exhaust side I think, but I read that ball bearing turbos are supposed to have some when there's no oil in there?

[Nikzilla]

How much shaft play?

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[FourWeeks]

It felt very minimal. I would say less than 2mm

[Nikzilla]

2mm is a lot. Does the turbo make any noise when running?

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[Nikzilla]

If you can visually see the shaft move, then it's fucked. If you can only feel it, then its ok.

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[FourWeeks]

No noise whatsoever except after I turn the motor off, I can hear it still spinning.

[Nikzilla]

With 2mm I would say its your turbo. I would have someone check it out

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[FourWeeks]

Ah man don't say that lol well I guess it's better that it's the turbo than something internal.

Wouldn't blown turbo seals shoot smoke out my exhaust even at idle?

[Nikzilla]

Smoke is always more noticable at higher rpm because there is more gas flow

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[anti tyler]

I wouldn't be hoping a catch can fixes your problem because it wont...

If it's smoking theres an issue. Just throwing on a catch can and covering up the underlaying issue isn't solving your problem.

Have you been watching your oil levels at all?

I mean it's obviously burning oil and there's really only 2 places that oil can burn from internally or in the turbo.

I'd be willing to say your turbo seals are shot. If you're getting good, well lets call it decent compression then rule that out.

Just curious, when you did the compression test, since your burning oil, did you do it with your dip stick out to see if it blows oil up the tube?

That's what I would do before you go spending money on stuff.

Also, If you buy anything, buy an oil pressure/temp gauge.




Ah man don't say that lol well I guess it's better that it's the turbo than something internal.

Wouldn't blown turbo seals shoot smoke out my exhaust even at idle?



And no, it doesn't have to blow smoke 24/7 to be turbo seals.

[FourWeeks]

I did the compression with the oil cap and the dipstick out. No oil came out of either.

Thanks for the input guys. I'm gonna see about borrowing a buddy's turbo and putting it on mine to see if that's the problem.

[anti tyler]

I did the compression with the oil cap and the dipstick out. No oil came out of either.

Thanks for the input guys. I'm gonna see about borrowing a buddy's turbo and putting it on mine to see if that's the problem.


I still seriously suggest using a pressure gauge... Your line may or may not have a restrictor and that may or may not be what is causing your issues.

Also look at the return line. Make sure it's big enough and not clogged or caked up with oil causing oil to stay in the turbo.

[FourWeeks]

Iirc a restrictor is required for ball bearing turbos. I have suspicions that my turbo is indeed blown because I have been told that it's been running without one for a month or so now.

[scott883]

Just buy a ka, problem solved