Whats causing my engine to burn oil?

stevew145

Member
:
Mazda Protege ES
A few days ago I was pulling onto the highway at about 10 psi, and noticed a bit of smoke behind me. Let off throttle, and there was no smoke. When I touched the throttle again its made a big plume behind me. Cold start no smoke, normal driving no smoke. Only when in higher rpm with boost, and when I press the gas after a hard run. There is oil coming out of the bov. (Vented To Atmosphere), and there is oil in my injen intake pipe. The catch can is empty, as it always has been, and the pcv valve seems to be fine. Is my turbo seal leaking?
 
That is what i was leaning towards, but not what i was hoping to hear. I need to take some time off work so I can pick at the car a bit.
 
Yea I would definitely park it. I ended up ignoring obvious signs because I didn't have time at all and ended up having to take it to a mechanic to deturbo it. One day it started smoking really really bad at a stop. Once I took off it was fine but at a stop light I created a MASSIVE cloud. Good luck man and keep us updated.
 
I actually work at a dealership. Its funny how when you work around cars all day long, your own is the last one you want to look at... I have a few things I want to look at tomorrow. Ill keep you posted.
 
99.999999% sure I found the problem. Tonight I went for a short drive, when I got home, I decided to test my pcv valve. I replaced it a few days ago with another I had lying around. I hauled it out while engine running (driveway on steep hill, and hand brake not the best, so I dont leave it running like that often), and the surge of air coming out of the head was astonishing. Pcv valve was functioning fine, lots of vacuum, valve closes fine. Took off oil cap and the pressure coming out was unreal, put a piece of paper over it, and it blew off right away. normally, at idle the pcv valve should be sucking enough air out of the engine to keep pressures in the negative! One or more of my piston rings are shot. Not to worry, I bought a 1 year warranty when I bought the engine less than a month ago! Parts and labor! So now I sit back and let them supply an engine, and install it where I work! The engine will only smoke when in boost after 3-4 psi, and during the first seconds after boost when I get back on throttle(clearing out cold pipe of oil that was forced through turbo seal but did not make it to engine during boost.) I can let the car idle for hours and it will not smoke, no smoke on cold starts, however if the engine is cold and I go into boost it will smoke like a freight train! Perhaps my issue will help someone else solve a problem of their own one day. The reason my turbo is leaking is because the excess pressure in my crank case, is either
1) Causing my oil return line to back up, and thus force oil through the seal, or
2) The excess pressure in the crank case is causing excess pressure on the inside of my turbo pushing the oil past the seals.
 
Last edited:
Back