At a crossroad (white smoke)

[ILoveMyTsi]

Hi guys, first off this will be a long post as I want to give as much information as possibe to help aid in replies. Ok so the car is a 92 eagle talon tsi awd with 133,000 miles on the clock and I purchased it about 2-3 months ago in sad shape. Changed oil when I first got it, needed a battery as it sat for a year, put an air breather on the valve cover, put a dejon tool intake pipe (only had the tube for the bov recirculation, which didnt need the one for the breather anyways, but I just blocked off the evap canister with a big bolt in the end of the hose that would go to the intake pipe) on for the stock maf along with the old school hks canister and filter, new wipers, a boost guage, and a mbc which I have set to 9 psi, and a 3 in catback so far. I havent drove the car very much because the transmission is bad, no 1st at all and all the other gears except 5th and reverse grind. As I was told the car has sort of had a rough life, the previous owner admitted he kinda beat on it and launched it quite often at 5500 dumping the clutch, also told me the car was stolen for a weekend and I'd assume they drove it like they stole it in that time. So just recently(seems like it started soon after I put the catback on) when I have driven it it puts white smoke out the exhaust almost right from start up, like maybe 5 mins before it starts doing it, its not bad at first, but once I drive it, like say to work, when I get there and jump out and look at the exhaust it is smoking quite bad and if you ask me smells like oil, also I dont notice it when I am driving, just sitting at lights and when I get to work. So from the info I have read on here, it points to bad turbo, valve seals or piston rings(blow by), taking that into account I wanted to start with the turbo, so yesterday I went out and took all my ic pipes off and the intercooler and cleaned them with mean green, thing is there wasnt ALOT of oil in the pipes, a nice film was about it and the tb elbow looked clean inside also, so wouldnt that rule out the turbo or could it still be bad on the hotside? There is alot of oil around the exhaust manifold gasket, but cant really tell if thats from a leaking valve cover gasket or what. My MAIN QUESTION is should I proceed with removing the turbo and replace it with my spare 14b I have that showed no signs of being bad with only 105,000 miles on it compared to the 133,000 the stock has or just put the ic and pipes back in and have the shop just replace the turbo with my spare as a precautionary meausure when they have it off to replace the valve seals or piston rings as I dont feel comfortable tearing into that as even the turbo would be the hardest thing Ive ever done on these cars. Would there be any tests to try to distinquish if it is the valve seals or the piston rings? Or just have them replace both and be done with it? Sorry such a long post guys, thanks for your time.

 

[richardc475]

oil is Blue smoke not white, White is coolant, Could be the head gasket. Do a compression and a leak down test.

 

[ILoveMyTsi]

I dont know if that is ALWAYS the case with the smoke color(not saying your wrong), and wouldnt the car run like crap if it was the head gasket? She runs like a dream besides the smoke and I never have to add coolant and there are no leaks. Regardless I will perform a compression test and leak down test as you mentioned and report back, but until then anyone else have a response? Mods, wiseman? Thanks again guys.

 

[98mitsubishigst]

That was the last problem my eclipse had before i tore her down..
180k miles and she ran beautifully
Oil everywhere in the engine bay, coolant leaks everywhere
then white smoke! kinda smells sweet/but kinda doesn't?

Well, I tore my motor down and the head gasket was fine
and the rings were fine.

so i hope that narrows it all down for you =)

 

[GooeyGus]

I've heard some people say that when a turbo goes bad, the smoke put out has a slightly different shade than just pure oil burning. Less blue, more "gray".

I cant confirm nor deny this as I've never experienced it, but if I had to guess I would say that this is because if a turbo goes bad, it could be burning a mixture of both oil and coolant into the exhaust, causing a slightly different color smoke.

I would swap your other turbo on just for kicks. It doesn't take too long and if it doesn't work, at least you've eliminated one option. If it does work, you're good to go!

 

[400hp93talon]

swap the turbo you have to remove the heat shield it has 3 10mm bolts holding it on i believe(you may have to unplug the 02 sensor cause the wire runs over the heat shield stock i think)disconnect the coolant and oil feed and return lines then remove 2 14mm(or 12mm) bolts and 2 14mm(or 12mm) nuts on studs that connect the turbo to the manifold then remove the vaccum lines on the wastegate and the compressor side of the turbo(intake side) then unbolt the down pipe from the turbo im not sure what size those r stock then you gotta disconnect the coolant and oil feed and return lines its simple just take your time if you do it!!

 

[richardc475]

As I said before, before swapping out turbo's make sure your engine is solid, do a compression and a leak down test.

 

[MrBoxx]

Check the turbo for shaft play before you do anything. It takes a second to do. If there's ANY in-out play, the turbo is bad. Any noticeable up/down or side/side play means the turbo is most likely bad. If the compressor wheel is scraping the inlet, the turbo is bad.

THEN do your compression/leakdown test.

As mentioned, oil burning from a turbo tends to be whitish/gray, not blue. And if you're not smelling sweet coolant burning, then it's oil.

 

[907gs-t]

Check the turbo for shaft play before you do anything. It takes a second to do. If there's ANY in-out play, the turbo is bad. Any noticeable up/down or side/side play means the turbo is most likely bad. If the compressor wheel is scraping the inlet, the turbo is bad.

THEN do your compression/leakdown test.

As mentioned, oil burning from a turbo tends to be whitish/gray, not blue. And if you're not smelling sweet coolant burning, then it's oil.

AA++ that's whats wrong with mine blown turbo shaft seals lots of in & out shaft play & of course the famous 007 smoke screen.

 

[ILoveMyTsi]

First off thank you everyone so much for your replies. Well I checked the turbo for shaft play when I first got the car AND when I put the Dejon intake on and there was absolutely no shaft play either way and the car has only been driven 3 times at most since the intake. Thats why I am confused, no shaft play, ic and pipes were not filled with oil, only a light film, no coolant leaks or having to add coolant. It does seem like this car has a lower oil pressure reading on the guage then my 90 gsx and 95 tsi if that is helpful at all. I will get the compression test and leak down test done as soon as possible as you all suggested for sure. Thanks again guys.

Well guys, I just spoke to a buddy of mine that works at a shop and he said it could possibly be a stuck injector and its dumping way too much fuel. Is that a good possibility? He also said they can do a hydro carbon test? To see if there is exhaust in the coolant I believe as he said somtimes you can pass a compression test and still have a bad head gasket. Ill just have this, compression test, and leak down test done and if everything checks out I will replace the injectors and turbo with the spares I have. Hope thats a good plan. Thanks guys.

 

[400hp93talon]

Possibly if the injector is not putting enough fuel into the cylinder would make it smoke like it does? Idk Ill do some more research on it!!

 

[Ppenguin2134]

I'm having white smoke shoot out every time I up shift. I'm also hearing a loud howling sound when I accelerate. Haven't checked my turbo for any shaft play, but can I assume it's the turbo? It still spools and I still have boost, but it's not running like it should. Burning a lot of oil too.

 

[MrBoxx]

Check your turbo for shaft play before you drive again. Don't drive the car until you've figured out the problem and FIXED it.