Piston rings fried?
 

I've put 20,000 miles on my turbo kit and my motor is smoking now. It was fine until I took it home for Christmas break and I think I overboosted several times because the pressure changed and the turboedit chip burped the motor meaning it boosted over 10 psi. (run-on sent., I know)

Smoke is coming from the breather on the valve cover (very noticible) and it smokes bad now when I come to a stop. It doesn't smoke when I'm actually driving it down the road, but when I come to a complete stop, smoke poors out of the exhaust. I put some of that no-smoke in the oil and it hasn't smoked lately, but I think it's time for a new motor. The compression last time I saw it was around 120 in each cyl... but I know it's worse now.

I'm thinking of swapping in a used ZC or a SOHC vtec.. I don't know. I don't want to spend more than $1200. That includes the cost of new seals and parts to make it last. Has anyone else been able to get more than 20,000 miles on their HMT kit? I feel proud telling people that, ha.. but then again my kit outlasted my motor.

Re:Piston rings fried?
 

only way to really tell if its the rings or the valve stem seals would be a leak down but 120 is incrediably low, i would suggest to either rebuild what you have or drive it while you rebuild a new motor or find a healthy used one

Re:Piston rings fried?
 

i had the same problem when i first boosted on stock internals with my h22.
smoke from breather and rough idle.
i busted my ringlands. get it sleved and new pistons and no more worries about 10psi

Re:Piston rings fried?
 

sleeves for 10 psi? ::)

Re:Piston rings fried?
 

I said get it sleved..... so you dont have to worry about 10psi... I never said he had to keep it at 10psi. Im sure he has the extra special turbo that can umm i dunno be set to higher boost? ;D

Re:Piston rings fried?
 

120 is bad already there busted. Just get a nice clean jdm block and slap the kit back on and watch out for the boost creep.

Re:Piston rings fried?
 

definatly, I'd go with a dohc zc and reuse your old turbokit, do a bit more tuning and keep the boost creep to a minimum. (buy a external gate if you have to)

Re:Piston rings fried?
 

I know a lot of people who hate the dohc zc, but I don't know why... it's a great little motor. I realize it's not exactly strong for high boost, but it makes good overall power with a turbo for the street. My rex is only my daily driver and if I can make it last, that's all I want. I'm addicated to boost (literally) and I won't go around without having it.

Should I get one off ebay or should I get it from nipponmotors or some other known name places?

Re:Piston rings fried?
 

man, if your into rebuilding your motor, you might get lucky and just need a new set of rings. i'd take it apart and inspect everything before blowing money you might not have to. Good luck man.

Re:Piston rings fried?
 

where are you located. Nippon is a good but I have a place that has cleaner motors at better pricing. Pm me I'll give you the 411