Hey guys, I blew my HG due to excessive crank case pressure. Does anyone have links to tech article about engine rebuilt and parts check list like the one on vfaq for timming belts? I need to do a cost analysis so I can determine if I can afford to rebuild or just pull the head and change the HG. Thanks.

no you blew your headgasket due to excessive combustion chamber pressure, or excessive knock..

that being said, you may want to seak professional help to get the job done.

if the motor isn't making any knocking, then yes you can replace the headgasket only so:

mitsubishi multilayer headgasket --> $95
ARP head studs --> $90 1g -- $110 2g
mill the head --> around $100
timing belt kit ---> $200

I blew my HG because moisture got into my ebay oil catch can (the cheap one's with sponge filter) and it froze. I still yet have to do a compression and leak down test as soon as the wheather gets nicer but I'm pretty sure it's the HG because I'm burning antifreeze every time I accelerate. (white smoke) Since HG is not a small job and I do plan on rebuilding the head and the block in the near future, I was contemplating of doing them now if I can afford it. The key being the affordability.

The engine seem to be in good shape. I only drove the car for about 5 mins total on the way to work, turned around immediately to my drive way when I saw big cloud of white smoke. Oil was pushed out of the oil cap all over my engine bay.

oldman said:

I blew my HG because moisture got into my ebay oil catch can (the cheap one's with sponge filter) and it froze. I still yet have to do a compression and leak down test as soon as the wheather gets nicer but I'm pretty sure it's the HG because I'm burning antifreeze every time I accelerate. (white smoke) Since HG is not a small job and I do plan on rebuilding the head and the block in the near future, I was contemplating of doing them now if I can afford it. The key being the affordability.

The engine seem to be in good shape. I only drove the car for about 5 mins total on the way to work, turned around immediately to my drive way when I saw big cloud of white smoke. Oil was pushed out of the oil cap all over my engine bay.

Click to expand...

If this is the case then just remove the catch can and see if ther problem goes away as you could just be burning oil at a high rate due to excessive crankcase pressure. I would also do a leakdown and compression check. A block PCV or crank breather cant cause a blown HG AFAIK. It can only cause issues while it is blocked such as popping out the dipstick. Your dipstick shopuld have popped out if the pressure was high as well along with pushing oil past the oil cap.


Later

Batty200 said:

If this is the case then just remove the catch can and see if ther problem goes away as you could just be burning oil at a high rate due to excessive crankcase pressure. I would also do a leakdown and compression check. A block PCV or crank breather cant cause a blown HG AFAIK. It can only cause issues while it is blocked such as popping out the dipstick. Your dipstick shopuld have popped out if the pressure was high as well along with pushing oil past the oil cap.


Later

Click to expand...

I've removed the catch can for two days now still smoking, white smoke only when I hit boost. My dipstick was ok because I've pinched the top of the tube last year to avoid poping out. If I'm burning oil, I should be smoking blue instead of white, right? I agree that crank case pressure shouldn't blow the HG but I'm pretty sure I'm burnning antifreez, I can smell it and see it at the exhaust tip.

Can cranck case pressure get to the turbo seal? If so, can coolant leak out of the turbo if the seal is blown. Am I right to assume HG is the only place coolant could get into the system?

Oh, thanks.

It prob just so happened that your catchcan was frozen when your turbo died. Mine boosted fine and ran great but it had a ton of shaft play and it did a HUGE spyhunter smoke cloud after boosting only. Check the turbo.


Later

Could be excessive pressure on the valve seals causing oil to leak down into the combustion chamber? maybe?

Does your car overheat easily? Keep an eye on your coolant level.

I'm putting my money on the excessive crankcase pressure blowing your turbo seals. The keywords you gave were "only when boosting". I did the same thing once (forgot to drill a vent hole in my home made catch can), and it blew the turbo's seals right to smitherines. Car would do exactly as you describe (smoking at idle, and puffing while boosting). Pop your turbo outlet pipe off and see if there is any oil up in thurr..

oldman said:

white smoke only when I hit boost.

Can cranck case pressure get to the turbo seal? If so, can coolant leak out of the turbo if the seal is blown. Am I right to assume HG is the only place coolant could get into the system?

Click to expand...

That's a thought, both oil and coolant run through the turbo center section. Pull one of the intake hoses and see if it smells like what you were smelling out the exhaust.

Steve

pinknuggit said:

I'm putting my money on the excessive crankcase pressure blowing your turbo seals. The keywords you gave were "only when boosting". I did the same thing once (forgot to drill a vent hole in my home made catch can), and it blew the turbo's seals right to smitherines.

Click to expand...

, If you've ever rebuilt or seen the insides of a turbo you know this is total crap. High oil pressure will not blow the seals out, however, the gaps in the piston rings (thats what turbo "seals" are called) allow oil to pass through when exceptionally high oil pressures are reached. Run the car for awhile and see if the smoke goes away slowly. Blue smoke only comes from oil when it is burned. White smoke can come from oil when it is "smoldering" in the exhaust. This is likely the case with you. Clean your IC pipes out too. While the exhaust is normally the culprit when itcomes to oil leakage, the thrust collar piston ring can leak too (into the intake). Maybe you'll get lucky and it will not be the HG!

Thanks guys, a lot of info here. I probably won't be able to get to it until saturday but I will pull the ic pipes and check the turbo before compression and leak down, I hope it's not the HG. I'll get back to you guys ASAP. Thanks again.

Tallen said:

, If you've ever rebuilt or seen the insides of a turbo you know this is total crap. High oil pressure will not blow the seals out, however, the gaps in the piston rings (thats what turbo "seals" are called) allow oil to pass through when exceptionally high oil pressures are reached. Run the car for awhile and see if the smoke goes away slowly. Blue smoke only comes from oil when it is burned. White smoke can come from oil when it is "smoldering" in the exhaust. This is likely the case with you. Clean your IC pipes out too. While the exhaust is normally the culprit when itcomes to oil leakage, the thrust collar piston ring can leak too (into the intake). Maybe you'll get lucky and it will not be the HG!

Click to expand...

so my turbo, which had alot of miles at the time, just magically started pouring oil and water out the compressor the same moment I put the non vented catch can in?

You bet your ass high oil pressure can blow out old/wornout seals in a turbo..

Please, dude.. I don't know what turbos you're rebuilding, but mitsu turbos use rubber O-ring seals, two to be exact(not "piston rings" ??), and they do not have gaps. The only things that have gaps in mitsu turbos are the circlips, and they don't have any affect on sealing at all. The circlips hold the journal bearings and the center (thrust) cap in place. The center o-ring is what keeps oil from coming past the thrust bearing into the compressor. However, if your thrust bushing is worn, it can cause a little bit of oil to come through.
For some pictures so you can see what I'm talking about, you can check out the VFAQ for a turbo rebuild..

I re-read your paragraph, and it makes no sense at all. High oil pressure won't cause blowby past your piston rings, but high crankcase pressure will.

Ok guys finally got around to the car and this is what I found,

1. I think I was burning both coolant and oil and it's mainly oil now after a week of driving.

2. No mix of oil and coolant.

3. Compression test yields 165 160 155 160 dry, 185 181 175 187 wet.

4. Oil in compressor housing and ic pipes.

I guess the conclusion is a blown turbo seal which is much better than a HG so it's good news. I just have some questions before I start pulling stuff.

1. Do you guys agree with my conclusion?
2. New turbo or can I fix the seal?
3. t04b or 20g?

Thanks.