Burning lots of oil

[tekdeus]

Since coming back from Vegas, and putting in a test pipe, I have noticed that my 7MGTE is burning a lot more oil than it used to. Probably 1-2 quarts per 1000 miles. It does not smoke at startup, but smokes a fair bit once warm, and doesn't seem related to boosting. It will smoke at idle and while driving normally, as well as when revving the engine.

I suspected the 57 trim turbo, as it has a lot of shaft play, but there is only a tiny amount of oil in the pipe before the intercooler. I also pulled the downpipe and there was no oil or wetness on the hot side of the turbo. Would a smoking turbo be oily?

I did a compression test that ranged from 130-140 psi after 6 cranks. I am told the engine has a Greddy 2.0 head gasket. Would this gasket cause lower compression?

Is it likely the valve stem seals/guides? Recently my boost controller has bad a tough time maintaining a steady boost level, and the boost tends to drop off and fluctuate 2-4 psi in the upper gears. Could this mean that boost and oil are getting past the valve stems?

 

[Mr.PFloyd]

even if the gasket caused the lower compression, your numbers aren't bad at all if they are even.

 

[easternguy2005]

biiMine had a rebuilt c26. Ran catless and I could smell oil more than before the downpipe w/cats. Thought it was because the catalytic was burning it "away". Later on I had no smoke at startup for the first 10 mins. After it was hot ole' smokey would start at it. At idle I would give it a little gas (rev it a little), let off, give it a little gas again and there would be a noticeable amount of smoke following that second gas. Some oil consumption but I didn't watch the miles vs. oil addition.

Pulled turbo and it had shitloads of play. The compressor side wasn't too bad at all but the exhaust side had lots of play. Also the downpipe wasn't 'oily' at all. There was a ton of carbon in it though....slippery dry graphite type carbon. Turbo shaft had damage.

Additionally there was really no oil in the intercooler or 3000 pipe. I suspect it the oil would leak past the hot blades and burn instantly on the hot elbow and downpipe.


My boost seemed a little slow getting started....It seemed stickier on the stock boost gauge. Although I would get to my stock 6 to 8 boost it wasn't as "fluid". When I took the turbo out and spun it you can see that it doesn't "spin" like it did when it was new - it's more resistant to spin.

I wish I had taken a smoke picture but it got to a point where I stopped at a light at night and you "brace" for the cloud whether little or big (hoping it wouldn't come and the car was healed).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7g-8FmoryU

 

[tekdeus]

So a turbo leaking/smoking oil may not show oil or wetness on the exhaust side?? If my car doesn't burn any oil at startup for for at least 5 minutes, maybe it is the turbo, since it needs to heat up enough to burn oil? Anyone else had this experience?

 

[adampecush]

no, it probably wouldn't show any noticable "wetness". With EGTs in the neighborhood of 800C, there isn't a lot of hope for that oil hanging around. You will just end up with carbon deposits.

 

[nightmare]

Your car sounds exactly like mine. I'm saving up to buy my parts now. But... I took it out for a spin last nite.... smoked alittle when it started, it was fine while it was cold. But man... after she warmed up. I would stop at a stop sign and you would think my car was on fire! I didn't see much burning on accel. And my compression was a low of 150psi and a high of 160psi. And I have verylittle shaft play on the compressor side. But since the turbo's still on the car. I can't check the exhaust side. But I also have problems boosting and building power sometimes around 3,000rpm. Keep us posted if the turbo is your problem... When I first said my car was smoking.... Everyone threw the BHG flag:sarcasm:. But I tested and I believe it's my turbo also.

 

[Rennat]

tek - what do your plugs look like? any misfire at cruising, or idleing?

 

[tekdeus]

tek - what do your plugs look like? any misfire at cruising, or idleing?

Mostly a light brown. The car runs very well. I'm probably going to replace the turbo anyways. It has so much shaft play, it doesn't seem possible that it will last much longer.