I bought the zed back in august. I came here to say hello promised pictures but never did that. To be honest i only made a handful of photos on my iphone during the time and that was it.

So originally this had a new second hand engine back in 2014 June if i remember correctly with rebuilt turbos and a fresh MOT. It was running great except for a slight blue smoke on gear changes. I was told by previous owner that it must be oil in exhaust from the last turbos, so since it was running good i assumed that was it. But it never stopped, just kept getting worse. So i changed PCV valves with new hoses, done a compression test all good leakdown test good as well, intake hoses clean of oil. So i kept driving it looking embarrasing. Tried to use my other cars whenever I could.

 

Now the more I look into it the more dodgy the car looks to me.

 

I was promised fresh engine which has a knock if i don't run it for a couple days coming from top so i assume it will be valve tappets. Turbos that are allegedly rebuilt that smoke and to add to it was all 4 brake calipers siezed which made me think how it passed the MOT.

 

So i moved house a month ago and the car started misfiring which was a last drop for me. And since i dont live on a 3rd floor anymore and i have a driveway i got a hold of car ramps. What i found left me shocked.

 

 

 

Those are both turbos with oil all over them.

 

 

 

And that is the actual zed and its heart. Devil in disguise.

 

 

So i bought second hand turbos that have no play at shafts at all. have been rebuilt by turbo technics some time ago but very low mileage.

So i am on a mission to get them changed with engine still inside. I know it is a mission i have seen it. But i heard stories it was done.

That will be where I start and I have a feeling this is going to be a lenghty project.

 

Any tips are welcome. and i will keep you updated with as much information as i can provide

Sorry to hear this mate, it's part and parcel of owning these cars, on a positive note, you're on the best car forum for these cars, plenty of knowledgeable and helpful people here.:thumbup1:

I only wish I lived in the UK near them all. The Irish scene is non-existant:no:

Get yourself a compression test done. That's exactly how my rebuilt turbos now look after a cylinder died last summer. Excessive crank case pressure stops the turbos draining properly and it bleeds out the real seal into the exhaust housing, on overrun where there is lots of crank case pressure you loose more oil and it pools out the core like that. I believe that's what mine are doing anyway as as long as you don't let the car over run it doesn't smoke. Turbo real seal failure is typically light grey smoke that wafts at idle or billows out as you pull away after prolonged idle. If it's blue smoke then it's likely ingested oil that has been combusted, either from it being sucked into the cylinder, Pcv and blow by etc.

Second hand motors are always a gamble, a great looking block may have been sat on the shelf for 3 years to run great for ten minutes then start failing. Conversely they can be a great solution if a rebuild isn't financially feasible. Rebuilt turbos are always a bit hot and miss, failure rates are quite high sadly. The quality of the rebuild preformed and the subsequent rebalancing have a big impact on that. If they were rebuilt by turbo technics though you would assume it was done to a fair standard.

My money is on excessive blow caused by low compression.

Oh and btw it will almost certainly be quicker to pull the engine and you will get a better job in the end. Unless you've simplified the bay ALOT pulling the tubs in situe is a notorious pita.

Sorry to hear this mate, it's part and parcel of owning these cars, on a positive note, you're on the best car forum for these cars, plenty of knowledgeable and helpful people here.:thumbup1:

I only wish I lived in the UK near them all. The Irish scene is non-existant:no:

 

We'll I'm over near Dublin next week mate, not bringing the zed though, but another zed owner will never the less be in Ireland!

I only wish I lived in the UK near them all. The Irish scene is non-existant:no:

 

Not for long though eh?

We'll I'm over near Dublin next week mate, not bringing the zed though, but another zed owner will never the less be in Ireland!

 

The more the merrier Chris:cool3:

Not for long though eh?

 

It all depends on whether the ship gets here Dutchy!! Pirates, Icebergs ships sinking or capsizing!! You know the usual stuff!:boat:

It all depends on whether the ship gets here Dutchy!! Pirates, Icebergs ships sinking or capsizing!! You know the usual stuff!:boat:

 

That's my biggest fear at the moment!

I actaul know this zed. it was running sound no knocks or bangs. it just passed mot calipers were an advisory so P.O was given another full set. the engine was not a brand new rebuilt engine at all the P.O was talking crap. it was a replacement engine with standard bottom end it had some hybrid turbos fitted they were running 10psi he was told NOT to turn the boost up as he was still on stock tt injectors and he totally ignored it and turned the boost up and booted it at a roundabout lost control (sh*t himself) and sold it. and he had been talking rubbish.

I have never mentioned a rebuilt engine i said a secondhand engine. I am well aware what is on the car at this point. Rebuilt turbos is i meant i bought them now to replace the ones that are on. And advisory was on brake discs. Which i was given by previous owner anyway. The boost the car is running is 11psi and it did hold it steady.

 

I will try doing the compression test again but as i said it was done with the leakdown test about 4months ago and came back very good. I dont remember the actual values. And the PCV system was changed with brand components

 

- - - Updated - - -

 

I have never mentioned a rebuilt engine i said a secondhand engine. I am well aware what is on the car at this point. Rebuilt turbos is i meant i bought them now to replace the ones that are on. And advisory was on brake discs. Which i was given by previous owner anyway. The boost the car is running is 11psi and it did hold it steady.

 

I will try doing the compression test again but as i said it was done with the leakdown test about 4months ago and came back very good. I dont remember the actual values. And the PCV system was changed with brand components

I don't think danoo.zx was having a go at you mate, i'm assuming the PO in his post stands for Previous Owner:mellow:

Since it was a nice day I went outside after work and done a compression test.

 

Cylinder 1 : 155/160

Cylinder 2 : 145/155

Cylinder 3 : 160/160

Cylinder 4 : 140/145

Cylinder 5 : 160/160

Cylinder 6 : 150/155

 

First value is dry test, second is wet test.

 

It looks like piston rings are doing their job very well. and compression is high enough.

 

Should i be concerned about cylinder 4 being lower than others or would that still be acceptable? What do you guys think?