Smoking bad, all times, oil consumption

[jk2379]

I was driving my car kinda hard when the problem occured. I wasn't killing the car, maybe around 10 psi. From what I've read, could be turbo or seals seem to be the most obvious problem. I did a pressure test on the coolant system. As soon as you start the car, the pressure rises to about 17-20 psi and flucuates rapidly. I was told that is a sign of a bad head gasket cause the pressure should start at about 2-3 psi and climb as the car runs and gets warm. With the car off, it maintened pressure in the coolant system and there were no signs of leaks. How would I check the turbo and seals for malfuntion? Turbo doesn't make any loud noises and boost up to 15-17 psi with no problems. I also know I've developed a crack in my tubular manifold which ticks and smoke under the hood, but this smoke is clearly coming from the tailpipe.

Sometimes it smokes a little at first start up and will smoke a little more after it gets warm. After driving awhile, it will smoke some just cruising, but smoke real bad at 7-8 psi or higher. Checked oil, probably about 1-1/2 quarts low, just did oil change about 1500 miles ago, no oil on ground under it. The smoke is white in color. When I first did the coolant pressure test, the upper coolant hose was collapsed as if it went in to a vacuum. Put coolant in it drove a little, same thing. Put some more in, hose hasn't collapsed, but I didn't drive it that much after. It wasn't smoking at all before, just a lil' black smoke under 15-17psi boost, which was probably fuel, but I hardly ever ran the car that hard. Any suggestions to fix or check problems would be greatly appreciated. I want to see if I can fix it because I'm thinking of selling it since I got a new car or just keep it for fun here and there.

 

[I-luv-em-all]

you should do a compression test and see what your numbers are, but its sounds like you may need a rebuild.

 

[jk2379]

I was told when I bought the car, the engine was rebuilt, that would be probably about 10k miles ago. From looking inside the valve cover, seems to pretty fresh looking, no bad build up or whatever, so I'm thinking at least the top end was rebuilt. The motor itself runs great, though after idling awhile now it will go up and down and has even stalled a time or two. But from what I recall, it didn't start doing that until the smoking problem.

 

[I-luv-em-all]

ok, then next check the turbo by taking the intake pipe of and see if their is any oil in the compressor side, or if the turbo pipes have any oil in them. As for the almost stalling you should clean the throttle body its quick and easy, also check for boost leaks.

 

[jk2379]

Your talking about taking the intake pipe that leads to the filter off where you can see the compressor wheel? I'll try that tomorrow, what else could I check for?

 

[Mr.Tao]

I've had oil come out of my turbo before and i thought it was the turbo, but it has no shaft play and it boosts perfect. took off the exhaust manifold and there was the problem, oil coming out from the ports. Head Gasket.

 

[jk2379]

Damn, well the pressure test pointed towards the head gasket and you saying oil going into the exhaust from the head gasket, I'm kinda leaning toward the head gasket! I don't know if I should attempt to fix this myself or what. This sucks! I'm still gonna check the turbo, guess it won't hurt. I really don't think the turbo has any problems though due to its performance. Well I guess I'll see later today.