Back in February I went to VIR. I was pushing the car hard and ended up blowing the passenger side turbo. I just got the car back from the shop that did the install, the turbo rebuild was done by Blaush turbo in PA, a highly recommended shop, and the install was done by a performance shop here in Richmond. They build lots of high power FI mustangs/saleens/cobras and have a racing team, so I felt safe leaving the car with them for essentially a turbo swap.

When I dropped the car off it was smoking REALLY bad, the whole time it would be on. It was determined the turbo blew because of oil starvation.

The turbo was reinstalled, all fluids were changed (oil, cooling, tranny, diff), compression/leakdown test (passed with "flying colors").

I picked up the car and it was still smoking at startup, with a significant amount of smoke. When the car warms up, the smoke goes away. When I am stopped at a light for more than a minute or two, a light amount comes out.

I put about 20 miles on the car yesterday, and on the way home it threw 3 codes:

P0057
P0441
P0300

I searched on here for those codes and think that it may be something to do with my valves - I checked this morning and there was a pool of oil in the intake plenum a little larger than a quarter, near the cylinder closest to the driver.

I also think it may have something to do with my catch-can setup. It is a "DIY" setup, and the hoses that were used appear to be a refrigerator water line, something that was not meant to hold heat or pressure. When the car was running the lines were being crushed by the pressure and I could hear a whistling noise, I used my hands and opened them and the whistling went away.

Anybody have any ideas?

I know this is a long post, but I appreciate any help!

 

did you check and clean any oil that may have gotten in the intake and exhaust system?

 

I have not checked the exhaust system, but wouldn't that burn continuously until it is all gone (if it was just residue)?

Other than the plenum, where can I check for oil? I read a thread about checking the intercooler. Any other trouble spots?

 

Can you give a brief description of how you ran the DIY catch can hoses and
if there is a check valve being used to prevent pressure from entering valve covers?

 

Get the catch can out of there, and go back to OEM PCV operation for now. You need to step backwards, and isolate things. 1 by 1.

Check oil return lines for proper gravity flow. could some of this oil be leftover in the exhaust system, and just burning off?

 

https://my350z.com/forum/engine-driv...catch-can.html

This is the thread that was used as a guide. The issue I believe lies with the type of hose used. It is not fuel grade hose, it is more of refrigerator water line type hose. I bought some 3/8" fuel hose today to replace it with.

What is the OEM PCV configuration? Is it in the service manual? I think I still have a copy of that.

 

What is the OEM PCV configuration? Is it in the service manual? I think I still have a copy of that.[/QUOTE]

The hose comes from the pcv valve to the intake plenum.

 

To eliminate crankcase pressure as the source of your problems, you can put a breather on either the PCV nipple or the driver's side vent. You will need to clean out your plenum and IC piping. Smoke should go away immediately (if that was the issue).

Using poor quality hose will result in collapse under vacuum under high temps. Use fuel injection hose SAE30R6 or better (SAE30R7 or R9 are best).

I've run into problems with a clogged PCV also.

 

I spent some time on the car tonight.

I removed the homemade catch can and replaced it with goodyear quality fuel hose, rubber and braided. I felt pretty good about that result, so I moved on.

I opened up the plenum again, and what I thought was how the inside of the plenum was suppossed to look was actually a thin layer of dried oil. I cleaned it all thoroughly, closed it back up.

I took off the front bumper and removed the intercooler pipe coming out of the front, driver side of intercooler. Yep, oil in there too. Fresh, even a small amount in the intercooler.

Here's where it gets really good. I realized that the shop had not reinstalled my OEM air diffuser. While looking under the car, I noticed a small oil drip on the ground. Nothing big, I figured it was leaking somewhere since I saw it smoking somewhere, but I decided to check it out.

By this time it is dark, so I'm sorry these pictures aren't great.

I jacked up the car and saw oil all over the bottom of the car.



So I decided to go in and get my blackberry and take some pictures of the places I couldn't see... i.e.... the turbo.

This is what I found. Warning... Graphic.














That's when I lost it. I couldn't believe this bullsh!t.

I'll update when I have updates.

 

That on top of a major portion of the undercarriage missing? Your hose clamp on the turbo is about to pop off too.

Damn. I'd be on the phone real quick.

 

Here is a link for some Nissan related codes Pratt
http://www.troublecodes.net/OBD2/Pcodes.shtml#300

Hope that helps or even if you can relate for future reference.

 

hard to tell with the blury photos but looks like they ghetto riged the oil supply/return lines. id be heated

 

That is not the shop you told me you were taking it to!

 

rut roh

 

wow. just wow!

 

Well I spent a good deal of time at the shop today. They had the car towed from my house over there and got it up on the lift immediately. I, the shop manager, and the tech that worked on it, all were checking out the turbo install.

There was oil all over the placem even on top of the turbo, but there were no loose hoses or connections. Then we decided to run the car while we were under it so we could see where it was coming from.

Bad news.

It was seeping out of the connection between the turbo and the exhaust manifold. Regardless of the issue of it not being tightened down enough so there is not leak... there was oil coming from the engine... in a place it really wasn't supposed to be.

So, they still think it may be the valve seal, but at this point not likely. They pull all the plugs that were just replaced less than thirty miles ago, and discover that on the passenger side, middle cylinder plug is covered in oil.

This prompts them to do another compression test. The results were a little different this time.

Driver side, all 127-130 lbs. Passenger side front 125 lbs rear 115lbs... middle was 90 lbs. Low compression.

So, at this point it could be a number of things. They are getting a bore camera to see if they can find anything without tearing into the motor.

They were very professional in handling the matter and were extremely apologetic.

At this point, depending on what's wrong, it may need to take a trip to Shariff's shop... or get sold for a stupid low price, since I already have so much money tied up in the repairs.

I'll update when I have some.

 

sucks a lot man, sorry to hear about that!

 

If your Having issues like this for just a turbo swap (missing diffuser, clamp about to come off because they couldnt get things lined up), Thank them for the compression test, and bring the car elsewhere..
Dont even think about having them do anything motor related.. Go to Sharif.

 

Sorry to hear of your troubles man. I think you just converted this into a track car right? Either way I hope your repairs are minimal and you are back on the road soon, although I may be living in fantasy land right now.

It seems that the problem was related to install and not with the turbo re-build is that correct? I am the one that has been saying how great the guys at Blouch are, so if they did something wrong I want to make sure they hear about it.

 

their work seemed to suck but barring them dropping anything into the engine, this doesnt seem to be caused by them. Just a hell of a coincidence.