So where do i go from here

[digitalslacker]

So I took my car to the shop today to get the smoking fixed. I was under the assumption that it was valve stem seals due to all signs pointing that way. I get a call this afternoon saying that they think its a ton of blow-by due to piston rings. So does anyone have any suggestions on where to go from here? I was prepared to put about a grand into it to get it to stop but if the recommendation is a new motor I will just put more oil in it. It burns about a quart of oil every 1000-1500 miles right now and big white clouds every time i start it up. Once the car is warm it doesn't smoke at all and gets 35-38mpg on the highway. The guy at the shop said that the smoke, to my surprise, will not make it fail inspection. So as long as it doesn't throw a code it seems to be okay inspection wise.

Thoughts?

[P-Funk!]

Is the PCV really oily/wet? If so - yes it is blow by.

Are the plugs oil fouled?

[digitalslacker]

Plugs are not fouled, they are in good condition.

PCV is quite wet and oily.

[azuelke]

Re-build that bitch up from the ground up. Those SVTs can push big numbers if built correctly.

[CRGkart44]

hes talking about his P5..


if this was happening on his SVT i would kick him in the nuts for not doing anything.

[digitalslacker]

Yeah,

this is an issue with the mazda.

I mean i'm all for getting it fixed but I really don't want to drop more then about 1,000$ to get it fixed.

[yellow pro5]

see iam haveing the same problem but i only have 55,000 miles on the car, i did a leak down test and it is my valve seals,, better watch em (some shops will say one thing to get your bussiness then get you in and say its this and that goin to be more money,, and then they do only what is needed,,) becareful

[azuelke]

Re-build that bitch up from the ground up. Stock Mazda engines can't do 20 PSI.

FIXED! (thumb)

[digitalslacker]

Yellow,

I love your grill, which one is it / where did you get it?

[yellow pro5]

i dont know lol i got it with the kit used but already sold to another member they didnt waste no time in getting it on there car lol.... i sold it cheap too lol

[yellow pro5]

the name is eribuni i think thats how u spell it

[CRGkart44]

Doug, its the same grille i had on my P5 at carlisle. Only mine was crappily painted black and not body matched. Idk if you were one of them but its also the one everyone on CEG was hateing on. lol

[digitalslacker]

Doug, its the same grille i had on my P5 at carlisle. Only mine was crappily painted black and not body matched. Idk if you were one of them but its also the one everyone on CEG was hateing on. lol

I want one, makes it look more updated.

[CRGkart44]

yeah. i liked it, but i didnt like how it wasnt color matched. which i could have done. but much easier to sell.

the fitment was weird though. but i think the one i had was a ebay knock off, i dont remember.

[P-Funk!]

Plugs are not fouled, they are in good condition.

PCV is quite wet and oily.

Good!

Buy a little aftermarket PCV filter and install it in place of the PCV. Plug the vacuum line.

Or spend a bit more for an oil catch can.

You can drive it like this for a quite a while!

[SirDaft1]

i dont know lol i got it with the kit used but already sold to another member they didnt waste no time in getting it on there car lol.... i sold it cheap too lol

that was me!!! I love the grill too, it def cleans up the front end and updates it a bit. Thanks yellow.

[digitalslacker]

I will look into the PCV filter.

[bazooka joe]

oil is cheap, run it till it dies or won't pass inspection any longer

[P-Funk!]

^THe porblem is doing nothing puts oil in the intake manifold and junks up the engine.

[digitalslacker]

Okay.

Went to a buddys shop and had a compression check done. 225-220-220-220 so it seems like piston rings are out if I an thinking this through correctly

Symptoms:
Smoking like crazy at start up
Not smoking once up to operating temperature

Tests:
Compression check - 225/220/220/220

Things i've tried
Thicker weight oil
High mileage oil
Engine sealant junk made by the company that makes sta-bil


I'm nearly 100% positive its valve stem seals, which at this point I am 100% okay with. 1200$ to fix is much less then a new engine.

Is there anything else I could be missing?

[P-Funk!]

Comp is good. Did you do the test when warm or cold?

Oil control rings are worn.

[youngbull]

u said white clouds at start up? white is usually coolant, do u get a sweet coolant smell?. has it ever overheated? could be internal cracks. and best test for stem seals ( which dont show in leak down test, the valves should be sealing them...) is go down hill, in a lower gear not pushin on gas and at bottom of hill punch it a bit if big blue cloud shows its stem seals.

[digitalslacker]

Update:

I bought a compression tool from harbor freight today.

Compression when cold is 180-185psi between all 4 cylinders. I did a cold check due to a friend telling me that a warm test wouldn't help me specifically due to it not really smoking when at operating temp.

When I pulled the plugs I inspected each one and they are only about a month and a half old. When standing looking at the front of the car the 3rd Plug ( 1 - 2 -3 -4 ) looked pretty burnt. That was the same plug that was black when i replaced plugs due to a misfire. I will be doing another test tomorrow with the engine warm.

I am still suspicious of piston rings but since I am still getting good MPG, wouldn't that rule it out? I would think if my rings were going bad i would be getting worse mileage then what I am currently, 29-33mpg.

[mWxo3]

If it's not worth fixing, just keep feeding it oil. 1 qt every 1k is nothing. Drive it to the ground and rebuild or trade it in when the time comes.

Have you checked your air filter and vac lines? Maybe your PCV is getting backed up?

I just picked up a P5 as a beater and it has a intermittent smoke at idle. PCV has a little fresh oil in it. Been checking the oil daily and it doesn't seem like it's burning much if any at all.

Another way to check the rings is to put a little oil into each cylinder while doing the compression test.. the oil will help seal the cylinder and if it does.. then your rings are done.


I'm rebuilding my G35 right now for the 2nd time. This time, it's piston rings. (track/street car). 600 rwhp puts a toll on the engine.. even if it's built lol.

[Matt V]

I've heard you can put a spoonful of ATF in the spark plug valley (with the spark plugs removed) and then put your plugs back in and essentially it creates a seal when you start the car up again. This is what I've read up on on a few domestic boards. Wouldn't hurt to try it out at this point.

Here is a link that explains it further:

http://www.aaroncake.net/rx-7/atftrick.htm

[Mikovin]

I have poured through the threads I could find on this smoking problem. I have not yet seen a definitive solution.

I have a 2003 P5. I observed it smoking badly at start up and had high oil consumption.

I assumed it was the guides and purchased a rebuilt head from Clearwater Head in Florida. New gaskets and installed everything. During the removal of the previous head I found a small amount of fresh oil on the #3 and 4 pistons.

Upon restart the conditions are worse. Compression checks are even across all four.

This evening I discovered there is actually oil laying in the dish area of the piston after shutdown. The oil is only laying on #3 and 4. 1 and 2 are clean and dry.

So here are the question:

If it is the rings blowing by why is oil only in two cylinders?
-I assume blow by would push oil through the pcv into the intake and cylinders which shouldn't be preferentially putting only in one cylinder or another.

If it were the valve guides on #3 and #4 then a new head should have fixed that, right?

I am at a loss now. What else is there?

Thanks!

[slavrenz]

I have poured through the threads I could find on this smoking problem. I have not yet seen a definitive solution.

I have a 2003 P5. I observed it smoking badly at start up and had high oil consumption.

I assumed it was the guides and purchased a rebuilt head from Clearwater Head in Florida. New gaskets and installed everything. During the removal of the previous head I found a small amount of fresh oil on the #3 and 4 pistons.

Upon restart the conditions are worse. Compression checks are even across all four.

This evening I discovered there is actually oil laying in the dish area of the piston after shutdown. The oil is only laying on #3 and 4. 1 and 2 are clean and dry.

So here are the question:

If it is the rings blowing by why is oil only in two cylinders?
-I assume blow by would push oil through the pcv into the intake and cylinders which shouldn't be preferentially putting only in one cylinder or another.

If it were the valve guides on #3 and #4 then a new head should have fixed that, right?

I am at a loss now. What else is there?

Thanks!

Get a new engine.

To the OP, $1200 is about what it would cost to swap in a used engine from a junkyard, so I say you should go this route.

[digitalslacker]

Okay.

I did a compression check at operating temp.

Cylinder 1 - 2 - 3 - 4
180 180 180 190

I also took a picture of the cylinder 3 plug in the middle of 2 and 4 so they go 2 -3 -4. These plugs are a month and a half old.
http://i417.photobucket.com/albums/pp259/thedigitalslacker/IMG_0012.jpg?t=1263745433

[Mikovin]

Get a new engine?

hmm...