Exhaust Smoke

Jerome

Jerome

Greenie N00B Member
Greenie Member
Hey all I’m new to the Mazdaspeed community. I’ve owned a 2014 Mazda 3 skyactiv hatch in the past. I currently have a 2008 Mazdaspeed 3.

Some info on the car and what’s done to it:

165k original miles
Mazdaspeed intake - eBay TIP
New k04 turbo(was told)
HKS Sequential BOV
HDI SUPER INTERCOOLER GT2 kit
Corksport HPFP internals (I bought)
APv3 (I bought)
Freektune 93 pump gas (I am still getting revisions)
Stock downpipe straight pipe after stock pipe size
Installed a new PCV valve (just recently)
Damond RMM ( I bought)
Damond banjo bolt (I bought)
Rotella T6 5W40 (I switched to this)
Oil Catch Can (not sure of brand)

i am having an issue with smoke and was hoping someone could help me pinpoint this. I get blue smoke after I’ve idled for a little while and it’s only a puff when I hit the gas (stop signs or stop lights)

No smoke when coasting down a hill 3k or above. When heavy accel I will get some white/gray smoke. Cold start I have some white smoke but it’s not a lot. I can provide vid or pics if needed.

I am mechanically inclined but still new to the auto world. Only been at it for 3 years. I am a VW main shop technician and this is my only Mazdaspeed/turbo car I have owned so far. Compression test showed 155psi across all 4 cylinders a few days ago. Back in May someone else did it and was “Apparently” 180psi across all 4 cylinders. I do not make it to the next oil change with how much oil it burns. I notice a significant level drop in 2-3 days. There is oil on the engine but has never made a puddle or dripped on the ground. Was told the head of the car was new/redone. Not sure if the guy did it himself and messed something up or what.

There is some shaft play in the turbo. Side to side only, no in and out play. No oil in any pipes or couplers. Turbo drain is wet at the side that goes into the block. Coolant looks fine. Have not done a leak down test yet since I do not have a tester or money to get one at the current moment.
 
Oil on the engine, probably worth tossing some UV dye in there and seeing where the leak is from (appreciate it's not making puddles) exhaust side seal of the turbo could be the issue if you're getting all that blue smoke in the exhaust but none in the boost tubes. Makes me wonder if the turbo was actually replaced.

As for compression I presume your test was done with a hot engine?
 
Don't worry about your compression test being low what is important is that all four cylinders are consistent

I would start with the catch can routing. There are some guides out there that frankly make it worse. Make sure that you are getting good crank case vacum from the tip. Hopefully the eBay one had the nipple in the right place. There was a revision in the location of this nipple on gen 2s which appears to have helped with smoking at idle

Also rotella t6 is no longer a recommended oil. There is a thread around here to help you choose
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Easter Bunny said:
Don't worry about your compression test being low what is important is that all four cylinders are consistent

I would start with the catch can routing. There are some guides out there that frankly make it worse. Make sure that you are getting good crank case vacum from the tip. Hopefully the eBay one had the nipple in the right place. There was a revision in the location of this nipple on gen 2s which appears to have helped with smoking at idle

Also rotella t6 is no longer a recommended oil. There is a thread around here to help you choose
Click to expand...
I haven’t taken the greatest look at the TIP so that will be my next step. The OCC is kinda shit with makeshift PVC hose cut up like Freddy but it works and no kinks in the hoses. I will take a look at the threads. I’m coming from Facebook Mazdaspeed owners page so a lot of info received could be false or old.

Awafrican said:
Oil on the engine, probably worth tossing some UV dye in there and seeing where the leak is from (appreciate it's not making puddles) exhaust side seal of the turbo could be the issue if you're getting all that blue smoke in the exhaust but none in the boost tubes. Makes me wonder if the turbo was actually replaced.

As for compression I presume your test was done with a hot engine?
Click to expand...
I don’t think it was warm at the time. Had been sitting for a week prior and wouldn’t stay running so I’ll say it was not warm this time.
 
Awafrican said:
Oil on the engine, probably worth tossing some UV dye in there and seeing where the leak is from (appreciate it's not making puddles) exhaust side seal of the turbo could be the issue if you're getting all that blue smoke in the exhaust but none in the boost tubes. Makes me wonder if the turbo was actually replaced.

As for compression I presume your test was done with a hot engine?
Click to expand...
Is there a way to check if the hot side of the turbo is in fact the culprit?
 
Awafrican said:
Yeah it's a PITA, gotta take DP off turbo and look for oil in the bell mouth and in the hot side of the turbo.
Click to expand...
This is what the smoke looks like on heavy accel and downshifts. Blue when at a stop and go to pull off.
 

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No doubt it's oil, if you've got no other leaks it's the turbo if you don't see it in the intake it's your exhaust side.
 
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