So, I pulled my motor because it was making angry noises and my tuner said the bearing was spun. There were copper shavings in the oil.

This is what I see when I took the front cover off. That rust isn't normal right? The motor was sitting on and off for months at a time, could that cause this?



These pics are of the oil pump on the new motor. Can I just clean that stuff off? it looks like surface rust...





Front counterweight on the new motor.



Also, I am switching front covers, which is why I took them off in the first place. I know the s4 and s5 covers are different, but they're interchangeable right? For some reason mine (s4) doesn't seem to want to fit on the new motor (which had an s5 cover, but I was told it was all s4)

Also, there was a bronze colored "guard" on the new motor's oil pump between the chain and the turbo oil drain line. it's just held on by 2 bolts and is super easy to remove. Do I need that? My engine didn't have one...

 

The "guard" that you speak of is an oil baffle I believe.

The rust is probably from the engine sitting for long periods. If there is moisture in the internals (like the oil and internal passageways) and the engine isn't warmed up to "boil" off the excess moisture, the internals could potentially rust like that. I would be skeptical of what the insides (Rotors, irons, e-shaft, etc.) look like though seeing the amount of surface rust on that counterweight.

 

I know the front covers are different, that's why I'm switching them. But the difference is the turbo oil drain landing, and the OMP.

They can't be different as far as mounting to the front plate goes because they use the same gaskets... right?

 

false, i'm not sure where you heard this but please do not repeat it. all the irons are similar and front covers can be swapped between virtually any engine from the early 70's through 2011.

the rust is from condensation from sitting and short drive trips, it could have been there for years. wire brush it off and forget it.

 

Karack, you're my hero.

Do I need the oil baffle that goes over the oil pump chain? it looks like it would block flow from the turbo oil drain...

Also, could that surface rust have flaked off and caused bearing damage?

 

no, they put it on the S4's but not on the S5's or the FD/cosmo

 

I have an s4... so does that mean I should put it on?

What does it even do?

 

sorry it means you don't need it. i think its supposed to keep the hot oil coming from the turbo from offending the oil pump chain.

 

i've rebuilt many s4 turbo motors without the baffle as they usually go missing during previous rebuilds and not had any complaints.

rust pitting on the e-shaft could have caused the flaking, just inspect the shaft thoroughly for any pitting scars as they will cause aeration of the oil on the bearing and cause excessive wear in some spots. e-shafts are cheap so i wouldn't worry much about pitching it and finding a replacement.

i believe the chain cover is the reverse actually, it helps keep oil from slinging into the drain hole, blocking oil drain flow from the turbo. mazda was very thorough in making sure that the turbo drain was free flowing.

 

yeah its like the second hardest part on the car to install, without removing the sprocket from the oil pump which would be the hardest!

hmm i guess it could keep the chain from offending the turbo oil drain? since mazda deleted it, i'm going to say its hard to tell!

 

well, the S5 moved the drain further in front of the sprocket so the oil coming off the chain doesn't sling into the port.

 

My apologies. I can't believe I said that, I don't know what I was thinking. I'll try not to post on such little sleep next time; I should've known better.