I am one lucky SOB! You're not gonna believe this!
#1
Elite Member
![](/mt2011/images_td/ranks/supporter1.gif)
Thread Starter
iTrader: (7)
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: VaBch, VA
Posts: 6,456
Total Cats: 325
![Default](https://www.miataturbo.net/images/icons/icon1.gif)
All right, this is too good not to start a new thread... continued from here: https://www.miataturbo.net/forums/showthread.php?t=9904
I started to diagnose my smoking problem and follow some advice I'd just posted in another thread... so I bought a 323GTX PVC valve on my way home just to rule it out as a cause and found this when I pulled out my stock PVC valve:
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/diy-turbo-discussion-14/4989d1188617392-i-am-one-lucky-sob-youre-not-gonna-believe-dsc03324-small-.jpg)
So, I assumed that's not what it's supposed to look like and wondered where the guts were... yup... you guessed it:
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/diy-turbo-discussion-14/4990d1188617439-i-am-one-lucky-sob-youre-not-gonna-believe-dsc03328-small-.jpg)
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/diy-turbo-discussion-14/4991d1188617444-i-am-one-lucky-sob-youre-not-gonna-believe-dsc03329-small-.jpg)
How ******* lucky am I? I am about 2mm from needing a new engine. Check out where the PVC plunger hit the camshaft and scored it:
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/diy-turbo-discussion-14/4992d1188617482-i-am-one-lucky-sob-youre-not-gonna-believe-dsc03332-small-.jpg)
So what was happening was that I was putting 12psi directly into the valve cover and then down in to the crankcase, up the oil drain and into the CHRA, preventing oil from draining and BLOWING MY TURBINE SEAL! So I guess that's why I just started smoking. I'm not sure if I caught it in time. I can't drive it tonight cause I'm waiting for the RTV on the valve cover to dry. We'll see tomorrow if it's salvagable.
I also did a compression check. 187/190/191/193... I guess that's pretty good. My valvetrain also looks like brand new. I love this motor.
I started to diagnose my smoking problem and follow some advice I'd just posted in another thread... so I bought a 323GTX PVC valve on my way home just to rule it out as a cause and found this when I pulled out my stock PVC valve:
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/diy-turbo-discussion-14/4989d1188617392-i-am-one-lucky-sob-youre-not-gonna-believe-dsc03324-small-.jpg)
So, I assumed that's not what it's supposed to look like and wondered where the guts were... yup... you guessed it:
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/diy-turbo-discussion-14/4990d1188617439-i-am-one-lucky-sob-youre-not-gonna-believe-dsc03328-small-.jpg)
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/diy-turbo-discussion-14/4991d1188617444-i-am-one-lucky-sob-youre-not-gonna-believe-dsc03329-small-.jpg)
How ******* lucky am I? I am about 2mm from needing a new engine. Check out where the PVC plunger hit the camshaft and scored it:
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/diy-turbo-discussion-14/4992d1188617482-i-am-one-lucky-sob-youre-not-gonna-believe-dsc03332-small-.jpg)
So what was happening was that I was putting 12psi directly into the valve cover and then down in to the crankcase, up the oil drain and into the CHRA, preventing oil from draining and BLOWING MY TURBINE SEAL! So I guess that's why I just started smoking. I'm not sure if I caught it in time. I can't drive it tonight cause I'm waiting for the RTV on the valve cover to dry. We'll see tomorrow if it's salvagable.
I also did a compression check. 187/190/191/193... I guess that's pretty good. My valvetrain also looks like brand new. I love this motor.
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/diy-turbo-discussion-14/4993d1188617500-i-am-one-lucky-sob-youre-not-gonna-believe-dsc03327-small-.jpg)
Last edited by samnavy; 08-31-2007 at 11:33 PM.
#13
Boost Czar
![](/mt2011/images_td/ranks/supporter1.gif)
![](/mt2011/images_td/ranks/admin.png)
iTrader: (62)
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Chantilly, VA
Posts: 79,688
Total Cats: 4,113
![Default](https://www.miataturbo.net/images/icons/icon1.gif)
That's insane....Sam, I turst the turbo is ok now. You've rebuild one, the seals aren't really seals....there's nothing to "blow," thing just got overloaded and now everything should be ok.
holy crap on the pcv....i was actually spending most of the night last night looking for a better solution than the gtx valve....if anything get a factory Mazda piece....but I was considering "gutting" my OEM pcv, and putting this brass check valve inline: http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku
another thought....behind the pcv valve should be a screen and compartment bolted to the cover from preventing "things" to enter....how the hell did it get past that?!
holy crap on the pcv....i was actually spending most of the night last night looking for a better solution than the gtx valve....if anything get a factory Mazda piece....but I was considering "gutting" my OEM pcv, and putting this brass check valve inline: http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku
another thought....behind the pcv valve should be a screen and compartment bolted to the cover from preventing "things" to enter....how the hell did it get past that?!
#19
Boost Czar
![](/mt2011/images_td/ranks/supporter1.gif)
![](/mt2011/images_td/ranks/admin.png)
iTrader: (62)
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Chantilly, VA
Posts: 79,688
Total Cats: 4,113
![Default](https://www.miataturbo.net/images/icons/icon1.gif)
they weren't intended for boost from the factory....but technically they are just a check valve so should be fine....but too much postive pressure can still force somehow force it's way past the plunger into the crankcase....
this will either:
A. dump LOTS of oil into your intake
B. dump LOTS of oil up back into the turbo.
C. shoot your dipstick out and dump LOTS of oil up the tube.
D. damage rings, valves, etc.
D. combination of A,B,C & D
Most people here upgrade to a 323 GTX PCV valve as it was our same engine boosted 7psi from the factory...The tend not to leak under boost...
this will either:
A. dump LOTS of oil into your intake
B. dump LOTS of oil up back into the turbo.
C. shoot your dipstick out and dump LOTS of oil up the tube.
D. damage rings, valves, etc.
D. combination of A,B,C & D
Most people here upgrade to a 323 GTX PCV valve as it was our same engine boosted 7psi from the factory...The tend not to leak under boost...
#20
Elite Member
![](/mt2011/images_td/ranks/supporter1.gif)
Thread Starter
iTrader: (7)
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: VaBch, VA
Posts: 6,456
Total Cats: 325
![Default](https://www.miataturbo.net/images/icons/icon1.gif)
CRAP!!! HOW DID I MISS GOING OVER 1000 POSTS???
^Well, I'm not sure how long this thing has been broke. My last turbo started to smoke and I thought it was bad, but I was running it well past 10psi and after a couple weeks it started to smoke. Maybe it's been broke for a long time.
On the other hand, I'm pretty sure I've had the PCV valve out in my hands a time or two since then. Every time I pull the fuel rail, that little hose comes off. I'm not really sure how long it's been broken.
Here's pic of the thing with the valve cover on:
^Well, I'm not sure how long this thing has been broke. My last turbo started to smoke and I thought it was bad, but I was running it well past 10psi and after a couple weeks it started to smoke. Maybe it's been broke for a long time.
On the other hand, I'm pretty sure I've had the PCV valve out in my hands a time or two since then. Every time I pull the fuel rail, that little hose comes off. I'm not really sure how long it's been broken.
Here's pic of the thing with the valve cover on:
Last edited by samnavy; 08-01-2007 at 09:52 PM.