Calling all MS3 Owners with smoking Turbos...
- Thread starter AutoXRacer
- Start date
I'm in the same boat now. Bah. I'm on the edge with it...
Bad news is, most dealerships I don't think will do preventative warrenty work short of a recall or TSB. So I don't think I can just go in to the dealership and ask "hey, can you do the upgrade?"
AutoXRacer
Member
(attn)
I spoke with Jon from CP-E and he said that Hitachi-Warner (the manufacturer of our turbos) had a bad batch of turbos. He said that Hitachi is recalling these turbos which wound up on our cars.
He said its not a normal condition for our cars to smoke!!!
That would explain the new part number Mazda is using for the replacement turbos.
I spoke with Jon from CP-E and he said that Hitachi-Warner (the manufacturer of our turbos) had a bad batch of turbos. He said that Hitachi is recalling these turbos which wound up on our cars.
He said its not a normal condition for our cars to smoke!!!
That would explain the new part number Mazda is using for the replacement turbos.
Of course putting the cats back on stops it from smoking, that's what the damn things are there for!! To stop overpolution!
It has nothing to do with backpressure or whatever... it means the cats are doing their job.... the turbos are still leaking, it's just not visible anymore and more than likely your cats will be ruined from the added oil... its only a matter of time...
It has nothing to do with backpressure or whatever... it means the cats are doing their job.... the turbos are still leaking, it's just not visible anymore and more than likely your cats will be ruined from the added oil... its only a matter of time...
+1, Agree 100%
What I don't get is why people are saying they WON'T mod their exhausts because of the possibility of the smoking issue. I say you NEED to mod your exhaust so you can determine whether your turbos seals or leaking or not and if they are, get that replacement turbo right away. I would hate to have the turbo seals blow right after my warranty expires. I WANT the new, revised turbo.
The only reason I can somewhat understand for people to not want to mod their exhausts is if they think no dealership will warranty the turbo with aftermarket exhaust pieces on their car. But the thing is, exhaust components should not cause turbo seals to leak. If it does, then its a flaw in the turbo seal design, NOT the exhaust. And besides that, quite a few members on here have gotten their turbos replaced under warranty with no hassle. Mazda KNOWS that the turbo has a flawed seal, that's why they have a revised part. They know its a problem and shouldn't fight you on it. If they do, go to a different dealership. I know I would put up a hell of a fight if they tried to blame an aftermarket exhaust for a turbo seal failure.
Nice work! Until now all of us could only speculate what was causing these issues based on theory and experience, but this was a nice piece of info.
As far as determining if your seals are going bad, I don't think anyone answered my question yet about oil consumption. Basically, is it a safe assumption that if you are not losing any oil between oil changes that your seals are in ok condition?
Do you think the VIN# range of bad turbos will be released? Perhaps the first set of models off the assembly line?
AutoXRacer
Member
I could see if the leak is only a few drops here and there where your oil level won't get affected.
Josh @ CP-E did say that the smoking is only during idle...that when the engine is under load, there is no smoke...
I know that one drop of oil creates a huge smoke cloud...so maybe the oil leaking through the seal is minor in terms of amount and thats why no one is noticing a reduction in oil levels...?
I think that would be a very good idea!!(yes)
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My MS3 burns almost zero oil. Every oil change, I check the oil level before they change it. I'm pretty posistive I'm not leaking oil.
knowledge007
Banned
knowledge007
Banned
Turbo is not defective. It is the seals.
AutoXRacer
Member
You are correct, but the turbo is an assembly with the seals...thus it only has one Mazda part number. If seals go bad, the whole turbo needs to be replaced. Hence, turbo is defective...
knowledge007
Banned
I know that, already had mine replaced...just wanted to be clear that the turbo itself is not defective.
Hey Knowledge, been a while since we chatted.
So I've gotten in on the GB for the mani, and I'm getting a CS downpipe for Xmas. I'm concerned about opening up the breathing on my turbo, the back end. What's a good plan/series of events to cover my ass? Should I talk with my service guy first about the two parts, he/they are really understanding about mods. He said provided I treat my car like his daughter and don't abuse her and respect her that they and I will have a long and fruitful partnership. Should I be up front about this smoking issue and the board's histories with it, and the seals, and tell him my concerns? How would you play it, from a fellow cool-with-my-dealer relationship standpoint??
