Is my turbo blown?

[big green]

My car is burning oil a little at idle and allot when I'm driving especially when I boost. I was worried that it was the headgasket or piston rings, but there was no oil in my coolent overflow. There was also no oil in my spark plug well. But was a ton of oil in my upper intercooler pipe. Now I think my turbo may be blown. I test it for shaft play and I can move it side to side and up and down. Its a T-25. Does it sound like the turbo or do you think it still could be a headgasket or piston rings?

 

[Dark_Horse]

If there is blue smoke coming out of the tailpipe it could be the piston rings. Do a compression test, both wet & dry. You can pick up a compression tester for around $30 - $50. Also sounds like you've got some shaft play and is time for a turbo rebuild.

 

[big green]

I just noticed that the exhaust is spitting oil whne you rev it up. What does that point to?

 

[67goatpimp]

piston rings

 

[SpeedFreak03]

Well if you have shaft play then your turbo is shot, regardless of anything else. Now the oil in the intercooler pipes also leads me to believe that the turbo seals are shot. I wouldn't jump to the conclusion of piston rings yet. Replace that turbo (you need to anyway because of the shaft play), and that should solve the problem. If your not sure, then do a compression test. If it's too low, then it is your rings. If it's too low, add a teaspoon of oil to each cylinder and test again (always test when the engine's warm). If the compression rises significantly, then your rings are shot.

 

[big green]

If the turbo is blown, should I have a hard time reaching boost and holding it? Is it possible the valve stem seals need to be replaced, instead of the piston rings?

 

[1stGENracer]

Well if you have shaft play then your turbo is shot, regardless of anything else. Now the oil in the intercooler pipes also leads me to believe that the turbo seals are shot. I wouldn't jump to the conclusion of piston rings yet. Replace that turbo (you need to anyway because of the shaft play), and that should solve the problem. If your not sure, then do a compression test. If it's too low, then it is your rings. If it's too low, add a teaspoon of oil to each cylinder and test again (always test when the engine's warm). If the compression rises significantly, then your rings are shot.

Just because a turbo has shaft play doesn't mean its shot. It depends on how much shaft play there is. Does the impeller hit the inside of the housings at all when you move it? Your turbo can also be leaking oil into the exhaust and intake side, causing the blue smoke. Oil spewing from the tailpipe would more be from the turbo, if it was rings the oil that would be getting in the cylinder would most likely get burned up on the powerstroke. But also that "oil" that you see coming from the tailpipe could just be moisture with all the exhaust soot mixed in it.

Just because theres no oil in your coolant, or no coolant in your oil doesn't mean that youre head gasket is still good. A head gasket can blow and just leak into the cylinders and not into anything else, or vice versa.

Valve seals are usually just a start up smoking, and high RPM smoking unless they are really bad. I just replaced my valve seals, and 2 of them didn't even have the tops to them anymore, all my car did was puff a little at start up, and a tiny bit at real high RPM's. But valves seals are possibility.

I would be guessing more towards the turbo. Check to see if the impeller is hittting the housing of the turbo. Also clean off the inside of the turbo and pipes as much as possible and then go drive around and see if theres a bunch of oil in there again. You also may want to take off the linf coming from your valve cover that goes to the intake tube and block off the tube on the intake so no oil is coming from the head into the intake.

 

[johnk]

I tried rebuilding my 14b when it started burning oil and it had a little shaft play side to side and not up and down. Just do yourself a favor and put the 100 bucks for the rebuild towards a newer turbo. Or you'll be replaceing your turbo next summer like I am.

 

[big green]

Well I did a compression test. I got 150 psi acrross all 4. I had friend come over and check for shaft play, He siad it was completely shot. Looks like I'm upgrading

 

[1stGENracer]

I tried rebuilding my 14b when it started burning oil and it had a little shaft play side to side and not up and down. Just do yourself a favor and put the 100 bucks for the rebuild towards a newer turbo. Or you'll be replaceing your turbo next summer like I am.

You did it wrong if your replacing it already, and side to side shaft play is normal, as long as its not to much.

 

[johnk]

It must be bad then. I'm burning about a quart with evey tank and 1/2 of gas. It's not leaking where and compression checks out the car smokes when I boost and the intercooler has oil in it again so all signs point to the turbo being shot. Plus boost is low. 7 PSI tops

 

[big green]

Well I'm ordering a 16g or a Big28 today. My car is almost stock. Can I run these turbos at stock boost levels until I get the right fuel mods?

 

[talonator1488]

could someone tell me where to get a turbo rebuild kit?? Ive been looking for one for my 14b. Whoever rebuilt there turbo and uit blew that fast should have had it blanced.

 

[johnk]

i got mine at www.turbocity.com it was like a 100 bucks i think. Enough to think about just getting a new one IMO