Need help from some of the experts

[Sideways s12]

Hey guys I bought a ca18det powered s12 a few months back. With what was supposed to be just a blown turbo issue turns out the turbo was fine , no shaftplay at all. But what I did find was low comp on cyl #4 and oil being dumped into the comp side of the turbo. I know how to fix the low compression, what I need to know is what would cause oil to be dumped into the turbo like that? It's a crap load of oil too, to give you an idea of how much oil it is my dipstick read full when I topped it off took it for a drive after thinking I fixed the problem only went a few block and the dipstick read empty. Neeed to know if anyone else has experienced this if so how did you fix it. Also if not where should I look to solve this problem. Oh and btw the car idles fine and drives decent even with the low comp and this turbo issue if I fires it up for you right now you wouldn't even know there was a problem other than smoke out of the exhaust. Please help lol thx

[r34 gtr]

I would say your engine seriously needs a rebuild. Pull it out, assess the damage, and go from there. When there is that much oil consumption, things are seriously wrong.

[Sideways s12]

Well the oil consumption is because the oil is gettin dumped into the comp side of the turbo that much I know what I need to know is what would cause this or where to look

[CakeEater]

How low is low compression?

If its really low then your oil could be coming from dead rings on #4. It would explain a lot of your issues.

[Sideways s12]

The comp is 60psi iirc also I know I have a blown head gasket as well not sure if that has anything to do with it but I thought I'd throw that out there

[ca18detgabby]

time for a rebuild.

no sense in playing around with it.

[sjbsuperman1425]

I would say your engine seriously needs a rebuild. Pull it out, assess the damage, and go from there. When there is that much oil consumption, things are seriously wrong.

[bentvalves]

time for a rebuild.

no sense in playing around with it.

cakeater, while burnt rings would explain the oil consumption, they wouldn't really explain oil being poured into the turbine housing.

I think the op meant to say turbine housing.

edit: if you do mean the compressor side of the turbo then the seals must be fubard? And if your compression is low, and headgaskets jacked up, then pull it.

On a side note It would be worth taking the cams out, and blowing air down into #4 cylinder to rule out pumped up lifters causing the low or no compression reading there, even with the cam on its basecircle if the lifter is pumped up Im pretty sure it will still hold the valve open But if its really POURING oil into the turbo, then i doubt its pumped up lifters. Whats does it pull for vac at idle?

Modified by ks13 at 7:27 PM 3/23/2010
Modified by ks13 at 7:38 PM 3/23/2010

[CakeEater]

cakeater, while burnt rings would explain the oil consumption, they wouldn't really explain oil being poured into the turbine housing.

I think the op meant to say turbine housing.

It sure can. With the quantity of oil being consumed a good amount of that wont get burnt up and make its way into the turbine. Not a far distance to make it to the turbo.

A dead HG can let enough oil pump in and make its way to the turbine as well.

OP, tear it apart and rebuild. Only way to fix the problem.

[bentvalves]

I stand corrected

[CakeEater]

I stand corrected

I re-read my response and it sounded d!ck. Not at all what I was going for.

[bentvalves]

no man, not at all in the LEAST.

i woulda been pissed if you didnt step in and correct me, ya know?

honestly, cause thats what these forums are about, helping and learing, period.

[Sideways s12]

cakeater, while burnt rings would explain the oil consumption, they wouldn't really explain oil being poured into the turbine housing.

I think the op meant to say turbine housing.

edit: if you do mean the compressor side of the turbo then the seals must be fubard? And if your compression is low, and headgaskets jacked up, then pull it.

On a side note It would be worth taking the cams out, and blowing air down into #4 cylinder to rule out pumped up lifters causing the low or no compression reading there, even with the cam on its basecircle if the lifter is pumped up Im pretty sure it will still hold the valve open But if its really POURING oil into the turbo, then i doubt its pumped up lifters. Whats does it pull for vac at idle?

Modified by ks13 at 7:27 PM 3/23/2010

Modified by ks13 at 7:38 PM 3/23/2010

Yes I meant turbine housing (the intake side of the turbo?) huge amounts of oil in thier that's where the majority of the oil consumption is at. Also IIRC the vac at idle is 20 but I didn't really look when I had it running I'll check it and let you know.

My other question is with all this oil being dumped into the turbo how will this affect the turbo? I have spares which is no big deal as well as a buddy of mine has spares as well we prob have about 8 turbos between us lol but if it doesn't affect the turbo negatively then i can put the bb t28 back on and be fine after the rebuild of course.

Thanks for all the input guys I guess rebuild it is I figured as much but was just curious as to what would cause the problem.

[float_6969]

Compressor side is where the intercooler piping connects too, turbine housing is where the exhaust connects to.

If there is oil in the compressor housing it's because the blown rings/cracked ring land/damaged piston in #4 is increasing the blowby to the point that the oil can't drain out of the turbo like it needs to. Something that everyone needs to know, the oil seal rings on a turbo are NOT designed to handle any kind of oil setting up against them. They are NOT a positive seal, and if oil doesn't drain out of the turbo as quickly as possible, it WILL leak past the seals. This doesn't mean the seals are blown. Actually, if the turbo is so worn that the seals leak oil, the blades of the impellers would be contacting the housings. On the other hand, if the oil is backing up into the turbo, it will very easily just leak past the seal.

If it's in the turbine housing, it's probably from the blown rings drawing oil up into the combustion chamber. This is highly unlikely though, unless you've got like 0 compression.

Regardless, the only way to really fix this is to rebuild the motor. At the least it's going to need re-ringed.

[Sideways s12]

Compressor side is where the intercooler piping connects too, turbine housing is where the exhaust connects to.

If there is oil in the compressor housing it's because the blown rings/cracked ring land/damaged piston in #4 is increasing the blowby to the point that the oil can't drain out of the turbo like it needs to. Something that everyone needs to know, the oil seal rings on a turbo are NOT designed to handle any kind of oil setting up against them. They are NOT a positive seal, and if oil doesn't drain out of the turbo as quickly as possible, it WILL leak past the seals. This doesn't mean the seals are blown. Actually, if the turbo is so worn that the seals leak oil, the blades of the impellers would be contacting the housings. On the other hand, if the oil is backing up into the turbo, it will very easily just leak past the seal.

If it's in the turbine housing, it's probably from the blown rings drawing oil up into the combustion chamber. This is highly unlikely though, unless you've got like 0 compression.

Regardless, the only way to really fix this is to rebuild the motor. At the least it's going to need re-ringed.

So then I was right its the compressor side of the turbo the side where the intercooler hooks up to so basically a rebuild is needed that's what I thought as well so I guess she'll be gettin torn down thanks guys for all the help.

Now off to find some rings you guys have any suggestion on good rings that won't break the bank I'll even settle for stock if they can be found thx.

[Sideways s12]

Does anybody know if that much oil going into the turbo will cause the seals to go bad or would it be safe to say I can still use the turbo with no issues

[r34 gtr]

I would give it a try, but just be ready to swap it out if it smokes like mad. Granted, it will likely smoke for a bit until the new rings seat properly, but if it still smokes after a few days, you will probably want to try a new turbo.

[Sideways s12]

awesome thanks!

[Sideways s12]

just to update this it was destroyed ringland lol I have the block back together just need to finish up the motor by installing the head.