Turbo bad idea w/ engine that eats oil?
#1
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Turbo bad idea w/ engine that eats oil?
Like the title says. My 1.6 drips a little oil and consumes about a quart every oil change or so. Should I not turbo the miata? Are there people here who have similar problems, but have gone the turbo route? Thoughts are appreciated as I was going to place my order with Begi tonight.
P.S. 145k on motor. Good compression. Runs good also.
P.S. 145k on motor. Good compression. Runs good also.
#6
Mine also consumes a reasonable amount of oil. Significantly less now that I fixed the valve cover gasket leak at the CAS, but it still eats quite a bit. Planning on doing a compression/leakdown test. The motor dyno'd at 105whp stock baseline, so I'm thinking it's healthy, just a bad seal somewhere that's causing the oil consumption. If the compression test comes back positive I'll probably just boost it and deal with the frequent top-offs. Or else do a couple possible fixes, cam seals, valve seals, etc and see if the consumption problem goes away or at least lessens.
#7
Mine used to eat oil but thats usually from the oil overheating. Go ahead and turbo it but get an oilcooler or a coolant reroute or both as a combo. It'll keep it a bit happier with the added turbo heat. It may lose more oil after boosting but you should be fine. Once it blows just get another cheap engine or rebuild yours *within reason on the rebuild yours statement*. I think turboing your own car is something every car guy should experience atleast once. Much knowledge gained and good fun to have. I say go for it.
#8
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uh, fix the oil leak...how hard was that? I paid $80 for a water pump gasket, oil pump gasket, oil pan gaskets, front main seal, rear main seal, rear main gasket, cam seals, mixing manifold gasket, a bunch of o-rings, and a bottle of gasket sealer from NAPA. I don't think that's too bad a deal, and with a $20 valve cover gasket, $80 head gasket, and a few misc. o-rings you've essentially sealed the entire engine, sans piston rings, for around $200. Well worth it in my opinion, and if you're in that deep (most likely have the engine on a stand by now), might as well do the piston rings, and if you've got the money, forged internals. Boom rebuilt engine for $200, and little to no worry about turbo charging, as long as your tune is good.
Note: FM's rebuild kit is $612, and as far as I can tell well worth it. I'd rather have an amazingly solid and clean NA engine than a leaky turbocharged one. If anything your knowledge of the car more than triples during the rebuild process.
Note: FM's rebuild kit is $612, and as far as I can tell well worth it. I'd rather have an amazingly solid and clean NA engine than a leaky turbocharged one. If anything your knowledge of the car more than triples during the rebuild process.
#9
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Before turbo mine ate almost 1 quart between oil changes.
After turbo it eats at least 2 quarts between changes.
Moral of the story is:
Don't be a *****. Turbo it and have a blast, just make sure the tune is good and it'll last you a while. I've been beating the F&%$ outta mine for almost 30,000 miles and I have run it around 14psi pretty much all summer.
After turbo it eats at least 2 quarts between changes.
Moral of the story is:
Don't be a *****. Turbo it and have a blast, just make sure the tune is good and it'll last you a while. I've been beating the F&%$ outta mine for almost 30,000 miles and I have run it around 14psi pretty much all summer.
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