Single Turbo RX-7's Questions about all aspects of single turbo setups.

Are turbo oil seals done?

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Old Apr 27, 2009 | 07:12 PM
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Angry Are turbo oil seals done?

well my car has been smoking like crazy lately, ive recently switch to synthetic premix and figured maybe it was that. i went to back to same one i used to use and still smoking.
so i checked my plugs and they weren't really to wet, so im like maybe its the turbo?

so i removed air filter and there was a tiny winy bit on the compressor intake, maybe normal?

then i decided to removed and found a small puddle on vband clamp, inside downpipe and back of turbo on the bottom of turbine.
shaft has some play top and down and more side to side.

here is a pic of pressure hose and drain, does the drain look ok?

i used to have a oil pressure problem before where it used to reach 125 psi at 3k COLD!!! so i removed fd OPR and put in a crushed T2 one. also turbo had a unrestricted oil pressure flange, so i put a restricted one bout 2 months ago.


here are my plugs

REAR ROTOR




FRONT ROTOR


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Old Apr 27, 2009 | 08:45 PM
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Sounds like you're turbo needs a rebuild. Is there any oil in your intercooler plumbing? How is the in and out shaft play on the turbo?
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Old Apr 27, 2009 | 08:53 PM
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the turbo doesn't seem to have play in and out. i tried pushing it in and pulling and doesn't seem to move. but does have up/down and left/right however.

i removed the pipe right after compressor and doesnt seem to be wet.
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Old Apr 27, 2009 | 08:58 PM
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That sounds like your motor then. You can very visibly see oil on the spark plug threads in your last photo.

Try this; clean those spark plugs. Take off your throttle body elbow. Just idle the car. If the car still smokes, check your spark plugs. If the plugs are wet again your motor is burning the oil...
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Old Apr 27, 2009 | 09:36 PM
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well i put another set of plugs in last week, ill pull them tomorrow and check if there wet.

wouldnt it keep smoking if it was the turbo even if i took the tb off?
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Old Apr 27, 2009 | 09:48 PM
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Yes, its possible it could be both.

" then i decided to removed and found a small puddle on vband clamp, inside downpipe and back of turbo on the bottom of turbine "

That statement sounds like the turbine seal on the turbo.

However there is oil on the spark plugs indicating an engine problem too.

Does your dipstick stay in place after boosting the car?
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Old Apr 27, 2009 | 09:50 PM
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those plugs have bout 4k miles, same ones as when i had high oil pressure problem, think it could have stayed on the plugs?
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Old Apr 28, 2009 | 12:59 AM
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Check the new plugs and go from there.

How much of a restrictor did u put in the turbo line? Unless the turbo is ball bearing it shouldn't need a restrictor. I had a problem with my previous turbo started smoking and I put a restrictor in thinking less oil less smoke, but it just got worse. I have a masterpower turbo now and the rep said they like a lot of oil so don't run a restrictor, no problems not running one and no smoke.

When was the last time you changed your oil? Sometimes all the fuel dilution can make it leak past the seals and start smoking. If it's about time, or you suspect extra dilution from rich mixtures/tuning etc then you might change the oil. I've also wondered if heavier oils might be better/worse in this regard. like if you're running 10/40 maybe switch to 15/50. Shrug
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Old Apr 28, 2009 | 09:00 AM
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im running 20w50 now, and i changed the oil last week.
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Old Apr 28, 2009 | 01:49 PM
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ok i put everything back together and let it idle till it got warm. the whole time it was smoking.
pulled the plugs and they were pretty dry, slight moist on the washer but very minor.

here is the puddle of oil


and the smoking


removing the oil filler cap didnt help.
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Old Apr 28, 2009 | 04:41 PM
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ok i removed turbo and manifold. exhaust manifold was dry, exhaust ports look dry, rotor faces seem clean (some minor carbon on pockets, maybe from dumping fuel under boost?)

the entrance to rear turbine (where turbo bolts to exh. manifold) is wet and also right after the rear turbine is wet.
i ran car for a few minutes and removed downpipe and there was a few drops of oil that came out of dp.
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Old Apr 29, 2009 | 05:25 PM
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You could pull the CHRA and put a plate over the area where it goes into the turbine housing. You'll then also have to seal off your oil feed from the front iron. I would honestly go this route to confirm it's the turbo and not your oil control rings...
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Old May 2, 2009 | 07:36 PM
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ok i found a NA header. i threw it on and ran it for a few mintues and no smoke came out. i guess its safe to assume that it is the turbo
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