Where is my oil going? Turbo seal or motor issue?

[Acejam2k]

Hey all,

I spun a bearing on my RAW Street Series block. I recently put in a new Vigilant Motorsports Street block to replace it, along with a new timing belt, oil pump, water pump, etc. I had the car tuned about a month ago and it makes great power and pulls very hard. However I've noticed recently that when I start a WOT pull, quite a bit of smoke comes out of the exhaust. It's a bit hard to tell from my rear view mirror what color it is, but it appears to be a white / blueish color. After a 300 mile road trip this weekend, I burned almost 1 full quart of oil, according to my dipstick.

I followed the break-in procedure from my builder, but I did add some boost here and there because I wanted to ensure my rings were seated properly. To be clear, I don't think this is the problem at hand. I haven't done a compression test yet, but I think the motor is OK. I suspect however that the turbo might be on it's way out, since I've read smoke when starting a WOT pull can be turbo seals. To be clear, the car does *NOT* smoke during idle or cruise, at least from what I can see, only under hard boost / WOT. I'm running the stock VF-43 on my 2007 STI. It was replaced a few years ago when I cracked a stock block, so it has about 60-70k miles on it being run @ 21psi on my old tune. The car is my daily driver, but I autocross it heavily during the summer months, and I'm currently running Rotella 15W-40 oil.

I took the downpipe off last week but didn't find any noticeable wetness on hot side of the turbo. I took a few pics which can be found below. Sorry for the iPhone 4S focus/quality. (my point and shoot battery died) Does this hot side look out of the norm? There is it a tiny bit of side-to-side shaft play, but I have read this is normal. There is no "in and out" shaft play at all.

Any thoughts? I am actually hoping it's the turbo since I'd really like to keep this motor in the car.

Thanks,
Josh


PS: You can see some smoke during one of my dyno pulls in the video below. Notice how the smoke goes away after the car gets into boost / upper RPM.

2007 STI Dyno Pull @ BrenTuning - YouTube

2007 STI Dyno Pull @ BrenTuning - YouTube

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[bako]

subscribed.

I burn 1 quart per 600 mile. pcv is disabled, breathers are vented to atmosphere, no smoke at all, no weakness of engine, great compression, turbo hot side looks like this. and I ahve shaftplay, the impeller is almost touching housing. completely oil free coldside.
5000 miles after proper break in...
using Delvac 15w40.

[Acejam2k]

Originally Posted by bako

subscribed.

I burn 1 quart per 600 mile. pcv is disabled, breathers are vented to atmosphere, no smoke at all, no weakness of engine, great compression, turbo hot side looks like this. and I ahve shaftplay, the impeller is almost touching housing. completely oil free coldside.
5000 miles after proper break in...
using Delvac 15w40.

What turbo are you running? Stock?

[bako]

yes, stock td04 with 70k miles. my car is 02 jdm

[fastblueufo]

That hot side looks coked. It should be rusty red to gray color.

[Acejam2k]

Just tested my #4 cylinder for compression. It's making a healthy 140-145psi warm, which is pretty good.

[findurpath]

Are you running an AOS by chance?

[timeXlost]

Do a leak down test by chance?

[Acejam2k]

Originally Posted by findurpath

Are you running an AOS by chance?

Yes - Crawford V2 AOS.

[Acejam2k]

Originally Posted by timeXlost

Do a leak down test by chance?

I don't have a leak down tester or compressor.

[Acejam2k]

I went out for a drive and had my friend follow me. The smoke was grey/black and very thick. I'm sure there was some blue in there, but it was a bit dark. I also read that oil can be white if there is a lot of it and its not combusted in the cylinder. (Ie: coming from turbo)

I think I'm going to order a new turbo before I pull mine, so I have a new one on hand in case I need it. I will have to check the dealers return policy.

[Acejam2k]

I put a new VF43 on last night. I primed it this morning and took it out for a drive. On the first pull there was a ton of smoke, but after that, pretty much none. My guess is that it was all residual and probably clogged/burned off from the cat in my downpipe.

Checking with my tuner now to see if it requires any changes. I'll keep an eye on the oil level as well.

[bako]

please, report back after 500 miles.

[biodude]

I'm having similar issues, I've lost almost 2 1/2 qts in the past 3K miles

I get occasional heavy puffs of smoke on warm restarts, and I've recently noticed smoke on hard accel, similar to your dyno vid.

I'll be checking compression and stuff this weekend, I hope its my VF


anyway, in for updates.

[Flat 4 Motorsport]

Originally Posted by biodude

I'm having similar issues, I've lost almost 2 1/2 qts in the past 3K miles

I get occasional heavy puffs of smoke on warm restarts, and I've recently noticed smoke on hard accel, similar to your dyno vid.

I'll be checking compression and stuff this weekend, I hope its my VF

anyway, in for updates.

That's excessive, who built the motor, more importantly who set the ring end gaps? What pistons/rings

How did you break the motor in?

Is your pcv system functioning properly? I.e. hoses routed correctly?

-Phil

[Acejam2k]

After some more driving yesterday I noticed a tiny bit of smoke under WOT. I'm betting its just unburnt fuel, since I'm tuned rich to be safe. It's MUCH MUCH less smoke than before. It could be old oil burning off too, since I'm sure there is a quart or more of oil cake up inside my downpipe and exhaust. Hopefully my cat isn't clogged with it. (Car pulls fine)

[biodude]

Phil

all was fine until the last 3k miles. (no noticeable oil loss or burning until the weather change)

the motor is a MPS built EJ22. Running V7 heads. For the break in I did this (quoted from a PM from Dom):

10-40 conventional oil with a break in additive. We use ZDDPlus. others are out there. Any V8 machine shop should have them.

change oil at 100miles and 700miles.

maintain 10-40 until you are ready for synthetic (around 4k miles)

during the break in: 7-10psi and 5k rpm for 700 miles.

my break in seemed to go well, I get about -20inHg warm at idle so I'm thinking the rings seated nicely.

PVC is in the stock 2.0 configuration, however, I don't not have the 2 extra ports on the V7 valve covers connected to anything (capped off) since the ej22 doesn't have the 2nd crank case port. Its been this way the whole time.

Besides checking compression, I plan to add a catch can or two and get those two other breathers tied in, if I've read right, they are more for pressure balance and to aid in oil drain back in the heads, but being blocked cant be helping. I'm also going to pull the top mount and see if its swimming.

[Flat 4 Motorsport]

Sounds like it was broken in properly, MPS builds quality motors, i would definitely start looking at the crankcase vent system.

Check the pcv itself, when was the last time it was replaced?

[sackytar]

Not good at all. Do a compression/leak down test, have you smelled burning oil at all.

[biodude]

Originally Posted by Flat 4 Motorsport

Sounds like it was broken in properly, MPS builds quality motors, i would definitely start looking at the crankcase vent system.

yup, things do happen, but I don't think its a motor issue

Originally Posted by Flat 4 Motorsport

Check the pcv itself, when was the last time it was replaced?

its new with the build , which now has about 7500 miles on it.

thanks for your input, i do appreciate it.

[biodude]

Originally Posted by sackytar

Not good at all. Do a compression/leak down test, have you smelled burning oil at all.

under normal conditions nope and with that amount lost, I would think I'd see a smokescreen. I just have the puff burned off on the warm restarts, or under heavy accel I've been able to see some.

either way, I'll be doing a comp and leak down test this weekend

[bako]

anu news herE?

[biodude]

no updates from me other than the fact that I can do a pretty good spy hunter impersonation under hard acceleration in 1st or 2nd gear.
screeching, cel flashing, and a light smoke screen under boost

[Flat 4 Motorsport]

Originally Posted by biodude

no updates from me other than the fact that I can do a pretty good spy hunter impersonation under hard acceleration in 1st or 2nd gear.
screeching, cel flashing, and a light smoke screen under boost

uhh that's not good.

[scooBeeWRX]

Isn't a flashing CEL usually a clear indicator that there's something catastrophic about to happen