Lots of smoke at WOT

[greddy_1700]

Hey, so my car has been going through its difficult stages lately. In the late fall I realized my turbo was blown and wouldnt boost nearly half as much as it once did. So this spring I replaced the turbo, all the seals and gaskets and started her up. Now dont get me wrong the car is running great, but lately I have noticed that whenever I do a pull or anything involving WOT the car smokes like crazy. Apparently its blue smoke, so I know its oil burning. What could be causing my car to do this? First thing that I can think of is my Piston Rings are fried (and no i didnt get that from the fast and the furious). The car also smokes a tiny bit between shifts which is why I am lead to the rings... Any ideas on where to start looking, or is there anything I can do that doesnt involve an entire engine overhaul?

 

[BrokenTsi]

Did you put on another used turbo?

 

[fourreGsixty3]

Let's not jump on your ring's being worn without a leak down test or compression test. What is your oil pressure at? It is possible that your oil pressure is high, and it get's high enough during high rpm's to push past the seal's.

Do a compression test, or leak down test cause that will help us diagnois your problem.

 

[98GSt_4life]

+10 for the compression test...

i had the same problem with my car but it turned out to be the turbo. replaced it and no smoke that i can see.

i also have worn rings on my #3 cylender (90psi)
but thats why im building up my 6 blot!!

is it a new turbo or did you get your old one rebuilt?

 

[greddy_1700]

This is a low milage used one. I got the turbo from a guy who drove his car off the lot in 1990. He replaced his 14b with a 16g at 38k. So I know its in good shape, maybe are the seals just to dry on this turbo and its leaking? I also have an aftermarket oil presssure gauge that I am waiting to put in as soon as I get a gauge pod for it. But I am thinking the compression test is a good idea. As soon as I get a chance I will do a test.

 

[Spln_Hrd]

Do the test dry then with oil and see how much pressure the oil adds. If you see large increases that is a problem

 

[greddy_1700]

Ok so i know this is a pathetic question, but how do you do the test dry? All I do when I do compression tests is pull the MPI fuse and go to town. What else should I do for the dry test? I am assuming pulling a fuse for like the oil pump?

 

[98GSt_4life]

Ok so i know this is a pathetic question, but how do you do the test dry? All I do when I do compression tests is pull the MPI fuse and go to town. What else should I do for the dry test? I am assuming pulling a fuse for like the oil pump?

for a dry test you can pull the fuse or unplug the fuel pump, take the spark plugs out, hook up the compression tester and turn the engine over 5-7 times or untill the gauge stabilizes. make sure you hold the pedal at WOT. do that for each cylinder and be sure to right down what number goes to what cylinder.

the wet test is teh same, you just add a cap full of oil to the cylinder your testing

hope that helps

 

[fourreGsixty3]

When doing the compression test, and cranking over make sure you crank each cylinder an equal amount of times. Don't crank #1 8 times, the #2 5 times, ect...
Also after the dry test, when you do a wet test, and your compression rises more then 15psi in that cylinder, those ring's are bad. Your compression should not be below 121psi.

 

[greddy_1700]

Ok, well I think I have proved its the rings without the compression test... Tell me if I'm wrong though.

So i was sitting and idling for about 10 minutes this afternoon, not driving or anything. After that long span I rev the engine to try and prove a point to a friend about the smoke thing... Well to my surprise I got a huge cloud of blue smoke at 4000 RPM... Now in neutral the turbo obviously doesnt spool. To me that leaves only one possible solution.

Is my analysis correct, or does it not makes sense and I should stop putting off the compression test.

 

[dsm-onster]

No. I've had turbos w/ blown seals smoke at idle. and ones that only smoked when getting a slight load (revving in neutral). And ones that smokes only when running in gear. I've had lots of blown turbos.

Do a dry compression check. bring the engine to operating temp before runing the check. Then do a wet compresion check.

Always disconnect the intercooler piping and open the throttle plate (step on the gas) when running a compression check. not doing this will lower the reading quite a bit. I like to take out the mpi fuse when running a check so that no fuel is injected in the cylinders in the process.

BTW, it is possible that its not rings or the turbo. A clogged PCV valve yields similar symptoms. Mine did.