[ZCar]

Well, I just picked up an 83 ZX turbo which is a very clean car with a true 69K miles. I performed an Oil change, minor tune up (timing check, new plugs, distributor cap and rotor, fuel filter) and ran several bottles of fuel injector cleaner through it in the last 340 miles since I got it. However, I was horrified tonight to find that it burned slightly more than 1 quart in 340 miles! Plugs are clean, no smoke during normal driving (haven't seen any under hard acceleration either), no leaks. Also, oil has turned dark very quickly (synthetic blend). Car seems to run decent, however it may be a little down on full thottle power, with some surging under full throttle above 4000 rpm (which was the reason I suspected dirty/clogged fuel injectors)

Are these symptoms of a bad turbo? I'm getting that sick feeling..... How much is it going to cost.... and if so, can someone guide me through the do it yourself process?

Thanks to all on this list.
Zcar

 

[ZCar]

Come on guys.....Anybody want to put thier two cents in? I need some help diagnosing this. I'm new to Turbos
Zcar

 

[huilo]

Hello, check your compression. Pull the new plugs, check for the wet look. I would not run syn oil in your turbo, I do not. I am afraid it will fry my turbo bearing when real hot? No oil cooler yet so this complicates the problem, anyhow I burn to much anyway to think syn.

Oil aside, the consumption, if your not filling the street up with a cloud of smoke is from one or more sources. There is a procedure to narrow it down. The exact details should be looked at. It involves addeding oil to the chamber after the initial comp. test. If you see an increase after a few cranks then it points to rings. Check the postings for this procedure, it has to be done carfully, not to much oil.

 

[greydog]

Well----Let's look at a couple of items. First, synthetic oil is both a blessing and a curse. It will work very well with your oil cooled turbo, its high flash temperature keeps it from forming the sludge that often blocks the oil lines and causes bearing failure. Unfortunately, in a worn or aged engine, it will find a way to leak out. You'll see oil seepage with synthetic that you wouldn't see with "regular" oil.
If you're loosing oil, its either leaking out or being burned. At a quart per 400 miles, I'd bet you'd notice smoke at the exhaust. Is the exhaust pipe oily? Is there any sign of oil or sludge in your coolant? If the answer to those questions is no, then I'd suspect a leak.
I suspect the change in coloration of the oil is due to its picking up deposited contaminants in the engine. If you continue to use it and change it at or more often than the recommendation, you'll probably notice it will remain clean longer. Remember however that the oil will pick up compustion byproducts and begin to change color almost immediately. If you use a lightly colored or nearly clear oil (Valvoline for instance) you'll notice it darkens quickly. Also, its not unusual for a change in oil brands to account for some quick darkening, the issue will usually resolve itself in a few oil changes.
BTW, you always install a good quality oil filter when you do an oil change don't you?
Dan