Burning oil, but I dont know why.

[DROPthatCLUTCH]

The last few weeks my car has been burning a little bit of oil. first i thought maybe it was rings, so i tested compression, and it was 140-145 across the board. (im aware that the service limit is 121)

After that, i checked the valve seals. The valve seals looked good, no chunks or anything around, it was all nice and clean in there, and everything was in tact.

Then i checked for shaft play. Just the slightest bit from side to side (wasn't rubbing on anything), and im sure thats normal, and no play at all going in and out. I did see a little bit of gummy oil sitting just inside the turbo inlet though. It didn't seem fresh at all. It was sort of sticky, but nothing inside the IC piping.

I also took off the turbo return line to check for any blockage, or restriction, but it was all good too.

Oh ya. When im driving and i get up to exactly 2500 RPM, i hear a sound, it sounds like maybe, a metal on metal sort of rubbing, or scraping. It's not really an ugly sound. It's not very loud at all. I'm not sure if its coming from the turbo or what? Any gear, 2500 exactly, I can hear it until it drops below, or goes above 2500. And it's only when i slowly accelerate to it.

Edit: The rubbing/grinding sound i thought i heard, was just a shield vibrating.

Thanks for reading.

 

[Kod]

Your not leaking at all?
Rear main, oil pan, oil sending unit?
Or the turbo itself?

 

[DROPthatCLUTCH]

No leaks from the pan. I put teflon tape on the sending unit when i got the car. And im not sure about rear main.. Would it cause and puddles? Because, i park my car in the same spot everyday, And before yesterday i didn't drive it for 3 days, and no puddles at all, and no oil drops on the ground.

I recently removed my cat. and i can clearly smell the burnt oil from the exhaust, and see the blue smoke. Sometimes worse than others. It doesn't smoke bad, but i would like to fix this problem, so i can move on to other things.

 

[coryd21]

Try doing a cylinder leak down test. That should help you pinpoint where the oil is getting into the cylinders.

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/articles-engine-fuel/338152-compression-leak-down-testing.html

 

[DROPthatCLUTCH]

Try doing a cylinder leak down test. That should help you pinpoint where the oil is getting into the cylinders.

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/articles-engine-fuel/338152-compression-leak-down-testing.html

Alright, I'll go pick up a leak-down tester tonight or tomorrow.
So, the leak-down test will pretty much just verify whether it's my rings, or cylinder walls that's causing the burning. Correct?

 

[my dreamt dsm]

I have no oil drips anywhere. But when you pop the hood it is visible that my valve cover to head is not sealing well. As oil drips it gets caught by the exhaust manifold and is burning. Smells when i have the heat on or go to high rpms.
Just a though for you!

 

[Below Ambient]

Alright, I'll go pick up a leak-down tester tonight or tomorrow.
So, the leak-down test will pretty much just verify whether it's my rings, or cylinder walls that's causing the burning. Correct?

While listening for leaking air on each cylinder, the following guidelines will help identify potential problems. This isn't 100% foolproof, but does give you a good place to start looking for issues.

1. Air whistling out of the intake filter, at the intake manifold, or through the intake piping - probable leak at the intake valve
2. Air heard hissing out of the tailpipe, turbocharger, or exhaust manifold - Probable exhaust valve leak
3. Whistling or hissing out of the PCV valve, oil filler cap hole, or dipstick tube - Worn piston rings or cylinder wall.
4. Air bubbles in engine coolant at the radiator cap or in the coolant overflow - Possible blown head gasket. May also indicate a crack in the cylinder head or cylinder wall.
5. Air escaping from the spark plug hole of an adjacent cylinder - Likely a blown head gasket between cylinders.

 

[DROPthatCLUTCH]

I have no oil drips anywhere. But when you pop the hood it is visible that my valve cover to head is not sealing well. As oil drips it gets caught by the exhaust manifold and is burning. Smells when i have the heat on or go to high rpms.
Just a though for you!

Ya that makes sense. I do notice burnt oil smell somtimes when i turn on my heat, but not at high RPM's. I usually notice the smell with my sunroof open.

But there is also smoke coming out the tail pipe. That's my concern.

 

[DSM1G90]

Change out your PCV valve - oil consumption increases with a plugged valve along with the main seals could get blown out with too much crankcase pressure.

But, if you see smoke, could be that the oil rings are tired since your compression rings are good.

 

[HooKnBooK]

Just because the turbo doesn't have shaftplay doesn't necessarily mean it isn't the turbo burning the oil. The turbo would be my guess.

 

[DROPthatCLUTCH]

Okay.

Just wondering, if you remove the head and the oil pan, can pistons be pulled?
I'm thinking about spending some money and rebuilding..
Nothing to exciting. Maybe just some rings and/or pistions, see how the valves are doing, maybe some valve seals, and 3g lifters while I'm at it.

And when thats done if its still burning, I'll pick up a new turbo.

I'm not trying to have the worlds fastest DSM I love my car, and just want it to be running nice and clean. I'm sure everyone understands.