Crank Case Pressure and General Running Issues After Resetting Cams

[rico05]

So, I had my cams out to redo the cam seals and now I am having some issues.

#1: I am getting some oil spewing out the exhast side valve cover vent. I have a filter on it, but there is an oil mist all over the turbo.#2: The motor just runs like ***. I have to max out the CAS to get it to idle and run for ****. I am 100% sure the cams are set correctly.

Any ideas? I'm stumped...

[boost_boy]

So, I had my cams out to redo the cam seals and now I am having some issues.

#1: I am getting some oil spewing out the exhast side valve cover vent. I have a filter on it, but there is an oil mist all over the turbo.#2: The motor just runs like ***. I have to max out the CAS to get it to idle and run for ****. I am 100% sure the cams are set correctly.

Any ideas? I'm stumped...

If you are 200% sure your cam timing is spot-on, then it'stime to check the exhaust cam's CAS key to make sure it is broken. Let's hope and pray you didn't screw-up some valves or something like that. But as for crank case pressure building-up, it sounds like something is not right with your bottom end. I would check and re-check your cam timing and then check your compression to make sure nothing is wrong with the pistons or their rings.

Dee

[rico05]

Yeah, I am 250% sure. I lined up the crank pulley and even put a socket extension in the #1 bore to verify TDC. I never had an issue before I redid the cam seals and pulled 2 lifters to clean them up. I heard no contact or odd noises.

[rico05]

The thing I forgot to mention about the oil: I noticed the issues after making a 3.5 hour drive on the highway with more than a few high speed passing manuvers.

[boost_boy]

The thing I forgot to mention about the oil: I noticed the issues after making a 3.5 hour drive on the highway with more than a few high speed passing manuvers.

Thanks for being honest, man . Focus on cylinder compression as this will tell you enough about your car's issues. But if not, you can always do a leak down test as well.

Dee

[rico05]

The thing that just has me baffled is that I had no issues at all until I reset my timing. My intake cam was a little advanced when I last set my cams. I dunno this is just weird.

[Buddyworm]

Well there's only a limited number of things that were changed when you messed with the cams. The cam gear alignment, the CAS key, the CAS itself, and the crank gear alignment so it has to be one of those things. Did you turn the engine over twice by hand after putting the belt back on to see if everything lined back up properly? It's possible to have one of the cam gears off by a tooth and not hit valves (I've done it, but discovered my error by turning the engine by hand). And that would totally ruin your idle. But so would the CAS key being broken. Take the CAS off and have a peek.

[boost_boy]

The thing that just has me baffled is that I had no issues at all until I reset my timing. My intake cam was a little advanced when I last set my cams. I dunno this is just weird.

If your timing was on the advanced when you were running it hard, there's a good chance you hurt a piston or two; it doesn't take much you know.

Dee

[rico05]

Yes, I cranked the motor over. And like I said Dee, it ran fine for two years with the cams as they were. The cam gears will only go back on one way. I will get a compression tester after I get my life figured out (I may be taking a new job and moving to a new city in the next week haha).

[progman]

Sounds like the timing belt could be off by a tooth. This has happened to me before. runs like crap + the CAS has to be maxed out.

Also, I just had a problem were I could not set my timing anywhere close to what it should be and I found out my CAS was broken.

Are these after martket cam gears? how did you advance the intake?

[rico05]

I set the cam a little off haha. No, stock cam gears. I am going to try a new CAS and take a 75th look at the cam setting Wednesday when I get back home.

[r34 gtr]

Dude this HAS to be the timing being off. Ive had mine off by a tooth and it ran exactly like yours does. Had to max out the CAS, car ran really lumpy, etc. The stuff jumps around and re-positions itself as soon as you release the tensioner. I was 1000% sure the timing was right, and it wasn't. Bumped the intake cam back a tooth and it puurs.

[rico05]

Damn. Ok, ok. Ill redo it Wednesday. I have an interview tomorrow and then I have to drive back home (3.5 hours...with no a/c...or cruise...but damn my car is a BLAST on the open highway!!!!). I will post up after.

[r34 gtr]

You are going to drive your s13, with potentially bad timing, 200+ miles tomorrow? Good luck man.

Mine quit on me on the trip back home friday night. Left me on the side of the interstate at 130am. The cops were not helpful. Try to avoid this at all costs, it sucks.

[rico05]

I drove it Friday and I had 0 issues today. My car rocks on the open interstate. I will dig in tomorrow. Tonight is time with the lady friend.

[r34 gtr]

Actually mine did too. Totally solid for any length of time, be it 3 or 20 hours. The fuel sender quit on me and I misjudged the amount of gas I had left. Freaking ran out on the side of the interstate. I didn't have time to fix it, so I took the e30 back to school.

[rico05]

Haha. Awesome. Oh, I have made this trip like 10-12 times. My gf's family lives in Dallas, so I have driven up there. The only suck is the no A/C thing. And yesterday was a freaking Biblical downpour for over half the trip. Glad I don't run RT-615s anymore haha. The ZE-912s were great in the rain at 80+ haha.

[rico05]

Yeah, exhaust cam was retarded one tooth. Awesome. I am waiting for my buddy to get here to give me a hand with resetting them. Again. Haha.

[r34 gtr]

I knew it had to be timing.

I still run RT-615s in the back, but I am running BFGoodrich KDW2's in the front. They dominate the rain and wear like rocks. Grip is a little lacking, but thats to be expected when the other tires are as ridiculous as the 615s.

[rico05]

I balded a set or RT-215s and then upped to the 615s. I LOVE those tires. But the 915s are very nice on their own. I like em so far.

But yeah, totally timing. It was just one tooth. I feel like such a noob. But she runs SOOOO much better. And only half way on the CAS Haha

[r34 gtr]

There ya go. Those cam gears can be mighty slippery.

[rico05]

It's almost woth the $900 for the Snap On tool to set hold the cams in spec. Argh. Every time....DOHC cams pwn me.

[r34 gtr]

The key is to be exactly the same level of drunk that your friend who is doing the other side is.

[psilocyben]

Its to bad I wasnt drunk , that would have been nice. I think rico owes me booze

[rico05]

Haha. Nice. Thanks for all your help Cisco.

[psilocyben]

Any time man

[rico05]

And to think....it only took like 8 tries to get it right haha. At least we figued out how to do it right the first time next time. FSM pwns me.

[Hillkill]

Cheers to drunkin car fixing, for some reason it usually takes me 2-3 times to get things right.

[rico05]

Cams is really it for me. I hate setting them haha.

I had to replace my manifold to turbo gasket, and that only took like 40 minutes to get the turbo off. Haha.

[asher4857]

Yea, after installing my water pump last night, we had to redo the timing belt luckily, it wasn't only me and my friend helping me do everything, but also one of my other friends had stopped by since he just got out of college for the year. 3 people really made that process so much easier...