Cooked engine?

[ImportModder]

I have a 96 GST and I had to make a trip from Michigan to Wisconsin. For the first part of the trip, the car ran really good. Then, all of a sudden, the turbo stopped working. I didn't notice until I tried to speed up to catch up to someone. I was just cruising at about 75mph at the time. I was getting no response and no boost. It was like I was driving a NA car. It wasn't a boost leak, it was if the turbo had siezed. I pulled over and pulled off the intake. I checked for shaft play and there was obviously shaft play, but the wheel did spin. I got back onto the freeway, still without any boost. Then, after about 5 minutes, while I was trying to speed up again in 4th, I started to get boost again. Then, after awhile, I started to lose boost again. I still had some, but it struggled. I started to notice that when I let off the throttle, a large puff of whitish, blueish smoke came out my tailpipe. By the time I got to where I was going, I was smoking REAL bad. I leave a smoke screen behind me. I burned about a quart and a quarter that trip. I haven't been able to do a compression check yet, but I was hoping that somebody recognizes this and can fill me in. With this much smoke, it looks like I need a new engine. My rings are probably gone and maybe a headgasket too? I mean, its a LOT of smoke. I haven't been having much luck with cars lately. I already lost two trucks this past month. Both engines died. Great timing....

 

[allwheelTSI]

sounds like your turbo is shot.

 

[ABK]

shot turbo, the puff of smoke is mostlikely from the oil leaking into the exhaust side

 

[Enigma_Man]

It's most likely the turbo, you aren't getting reliable boost, and when they go, they can let loose a lot of oil into the exhaust.

Forced upgrades aren't always bad Now you can get yerself a 16G, and be happy with it. They're the best turbo for the buck (can be had for 500 or less if you look hard), you don't need any mods to support them (if you promise to keep the boost down) other than the 2g install kit for you, and they're good for some very respectable power numbers once you do start really modding hardcore.

Just try to get that done asap, so that you _don't_ end up with a cooked engine (if any debris from the turbo decides to work its way all up in there), and so people behind you can see.

-Jesse

 

[ImportModder]

Ok, I couldn't wait until after work, so I went out and did a compression test on my car. I got 130 across all cylinders. I bumped the engine 4 times, each cylinder jumped to 120 on the first stroke, and built up to 130 by the fourth. According to this, my rings and valve seals are still good then, right? Isn't stock compression 170? I topped off the oil when I got to work and just by driving home, to the store, and then back to work, I had burned a quart of oil. Where am I burning all this oil? I still get clouds of smoke when I drive around. This isn't a headgasket is it? The smoke has a blueish tint to it. I also noticed another thing. The upper radiator hose is hot, of course, but the lower radiator hose is cold. It hasn't even gotten warm yet. So my thermsostat hasn't opened right? Could I be overheating? The engine getting so hot that it burns the oil? My oil has a burnt smell to it. The PCV valve would then suck all the smoke into the intake and out the exhaust? Could that have also caused my turbo to start dying? The temp gauge in the car says the temp is at normal operating temp, but can I really trust those factory gauges? Can somebody put my mind at ease please?!?

 

[ImportModder]

Ok, ok, I was wondering about the oil and the turbo. I wasnt sure if when a turbo dies, it lets loose alot of oil into the exhaust. That explains alot. Thanks alot. I'll stop driving it until I get the new turbo.

 

[Defiant]

I don't get people driving damaged cars, especially after doing a roadside diagnosis.

Thank god you don't ride horses.

 

[ABK]

go for 16g and a fuel pump

 

[ImportModder]

Originally posted by Defiant
I don't get people driving damaged cars, especially after doing a roadside diagnosis.

Thank god you don't ride horses.

I wouldn't normally, but I needed to get to work. I had already missed 2 days. Having a job is more important than a car. Besides that's what pays for it. I'm sorry if I forgot to include that bit of information. I wouldn't want you to get a bad impression of me without fully understanding my situation.

Thanks everybody for the help. I was planning on getting a 20G as my first upgrade, but I need a turbo sooner than planned and I don't have all the supporting mods yet. So it looks like I'll be getting the 16G for now. Now I just have to wait for the funds to come.

 

[dj_lethrow]

Wierd thing was when I got my Laser drove it home from the junk yard turbo was shot but not a single trace of blue smoke out of the exhaust. I have no idea why it didn't smoke, it did have oil so thats not the reason why it didn't smoke so not really sure why it happened to do that.