2006 MPS3 excessive oil consumption - 1L per 1500km, need help

[Byrd]

Hi all,

I own a 2006 MPS3 with 172K, largely stock - CorkSport TMIC, BEGI intake, Hypertech generic tune. The VVT was replaced @ 165K and the turbo rebuilt @ 170K (at the turbo time new intake and turbo inlet pipes were found to be leaking and replaced). Around the time of the VVT being replaced, oil consumption has slowly become worse over time, now consuming approximately 1L per 1500km. I refill with 5W/30 full synth.

Some comments:

- The car drives smoothly and responsively
- When the turbo was replaced, a compression test was done - all cylinders reported excellent health, however the mechanic noted the spark plugs were very unhealthy, covered in black soot (they were only replaced ~ 10K ago)
- There is no oil leaking around the engine, I can smell oil when garaged but not around the exhaust.
- There is large long cloud of black smoke at WOT, this occurs with a stock tune as well. The smoke cloud is big enough to make me cringe every time I give it some beans.

I'm not that hands-on with my car and will be taking it back for assessment, but trying to avoid a fishing trip.

Googling around suggests my issue could be:

- Valve guide seals
- PCV valve
- carbon buildup
- Oil rings

I'm of course hoping it's some sort of seal/build up that can be rectified without an engine rebuild.

Have anyone else experienced same, any advice?

Thanks in advance,

J

[shaneski]

Has it had a leak down test? Any oil in the intercooler pipes? Also maybe try a thicker oil a 10w/40w, i'm no expert but on an aged engine 5w/30w seems a bit thin.

[Byrd]

It hasn't had a leak down test. No oil in the intercooler or around (new) turbo. The mechanic usually puts 10w/30w in

[Dog]

It hasn't had a leak down test. No oil in the intercooler or around (new) turbo. The mechanic usually puts 10w/30w in

Shyt mate, not good. Hopefully just valve stem seals and a head reco fixes it, but it could be oil rings. Still, with good comp not a lot of oil should be burning.
Does it blow smoke on takeoff after sitting at the lights? Thats a sign of the valve stems and seals...

[Byrd]

It blows a small amount of smoke off the lights ... oil loss has been pretty sudden. This occurred "around" the VVT replacement but the smoke plume has become more obvious over the past 5000km covered.

It's been a babied car too, I might add.

[Dog]

Whats the prognosis mate?

[MPS2NV]

What where the comps?

Another set of comp and cylinder leakage tests wouldn't hurt and may give you an indication of which step to take next.

[Byrd]

Hi all,

An update on this, it was taken to a dealership who spent a considerable amount of time trying to diagnose the fault. Compression dry was ~ 200psi all cylinders rising to ~ 240 - 250 psi wet; seemingly this confirms oil burning and potential worn rings. As mentioned the turbo, VVT were only recently rebuilt and checked out fine along with the overall pollution system.

They felt the compression was overly high; as noted the car continues to drive well but does blow a heavy plume of smoke at WOT. They also noted that even if a rebuild was done, the richness of the car was still a concern and a rebuild wouldn't fix this, but surely it would?

10W40 oil has been put in to full and I'll return the MPS after 1000km to demonstrate oil loss. I can continue to top up the oil and drive happy enough but it does seem a rebuild is in order.

I'm in a difficult situation - love the car, feel I need a second opinion, any recommendations in Melb for engine tuners/rebuilders?

Thanks

JB

[Nexus]

I'm curious for recommendations re: service agents in the west Melbourne and Geelong regions myself, haven't been a local long enough to recommend yet.
I'm thinking from your description of issues that valve seals are the issue. 200 to 250psi compression suggests to me there's nothing wrong with the rings. I'd definately get a second opinion if a service agent told me good compression was really bad compression, which seems to be what they are suggesting in a slightly roundabout way. I'd suspect they actually have no idea so are throwing theories around. It happens.

I've got a shim in my driveshaft because a service agent freaked out over the amount of (normal) shaft play and decided the shim was necessary to prevent the excess movement.

[Byrd]

Thanks Nexus, appreciate your input - so you are in Melbourne too? We should do an OzMPSClub meet one day.

I'll give it to the dealership in that they spent a considerable amount of time checking out the car (and didn't charge much) but, yes, many theories were presented to me on pickup. They didn't say compression was "bad" but felt too high for a turbo engine and maybe ... that tune ... that intercooler ... that intake ... that smoke ... they aren't sure.

If a big dealer knows nothing about an MPS it doesn't inspire much confidence taking it to another.

There are two of us now. Does anyone know of a mechanic anywhere in Melbourne/Geelong that deals with MPS on a reasonably regular basis? Even another Mazda stealership.

JB

[MPS2NV]

That's insanely high compression, that's what i would expect from oil been introduced heavily into the intake system.

Ship the car to Newcastle, there is a handy bloke up there!

[Nexus]

That's insanely high compression, that's what i would expect from oil been introduced heavily into the intake system.

Ship the car to Newcastle, there is a handy bloke up there!

Ahhh, that makes sense to me now. It's inhaling enough oil to raise the compression ratio.....where would that be likely to come from?
There'd be a risk of hydrulic lock if it inhales enough oil?
That's a lot of oil for it to be inhaling ?!

[MPS2NV]

Not volumes of oil but enough to create excessive carbon build up. Usual suspect items would be breathers, turbo, pcv or valve stem seals. Visual checks starting up stream would be the first easy steps to take.

What kind of measuring was done during the build process?

[Byrd]

Thanks MPS2NV. If I took the car to a reputable rebuilder, would they be able to further diagnose the fault with the manifold off? In your opinion (noting compression, black smoke, high oil consumption, black plugs) are rings likely gone, or would just a top end/valve rebuild be enough? As noted the mechanics visually can't see any source of oil leakage, noted PCV/pollution/turbo all OK. Never had a CEL.

Its getting me buggered, all this. It's my daily and always a pleasure to drive. I'm in $$$ deep enough with new VVT and turbo so short of a rebuild I can't see myself coughing up for a second hand engine (health, turbo, VVT unknown).

[SarcasticOne]

Thanks MPS2NV. If I took the car to a reputable rebuilder, would they be able to further diagnose the fault with the manifold off? In your opinion (noting compression, black smoke, high oil consumption, black plugs) are rings likely gone, or would just a top end/valve rebuild be enough? As noted the mechanics visually can't see any source of oil leakage, noted PCV/pollution/turbo all OK. Never had a CEL.

Its getting me buggered, all this. It's my daily and always a pleasure to drive. I'm in $$$ deep enough with new VVT and turbo so short of a rebuild I can't see myself coughing up for a second hand engine (health, turbo, VVT unknown).

might be worth getting a leak down test done as well

[MPS2NV]

before you go getting to far ahead I would prob suggest doing some DIY investigation (if you're comfortable doing so)

Your intake may be well polluted, cleaning the full intake system may benificial so you can monitor the condition more closely to help identify the cause of your oil consumption issue.

[Byrd]

Leak down test ... I somehow thought it was done, needless to say I am inexperienced with this stuff.

With kids/work and this being my daily I've little time to diagnose, but what would be the DIY steps to fully clean the intake? It has been suggested to put in a OCC, but obviously not yet ...

Thanks

[Dog]

Leak down test ... I somehow thought it was done, needless to say I am inexperienced with this stuff.

With kids/work and this being my daily I've little time to diagnose, but what would be the DIY steps to fully clean the intake? It has been suggested to put in a OCC, but obviously not yet ...

Thanks

Byrd, are you on facebook? On some of the MPS pages you could contact Mev Karupovic. He lives in Noble Park and runs Blockhead motors....Im not sure if youll find a listing for them. He is a full time mechanic @ a dealer from my understanding but does specialise on mps' in his own time.
He is very reputable and highly reccommended.

[Byrd]

Thanks Dog, that's just the info I was after I'll get in touch with Mev and obtain that important second opinion ...

[Dog]

Thanks Dog, that's just the info I was after I'll get in touch with Mev and obtain that important second opinion ...

Any feedback Byrd? I hope nothing too bad....