How much can a turbo smoke?

[diablos991]

Hey guys,

I have never had to deal with turbos going out before, and I was wondering: When a turbo's seals go out how much smoke comes out? Is it possible for so much to come out under boost that it resembles a 007 smokescreen? Also is it possible for a seal to go bad in the T-25 that would cause coolant to be pushed pushed into the downpipe as well?

Like I said, I have never had one start going out before. Please, those with experience with this, educate me.

 

[Precision]

If you have coolent in the down pipe you have a bad HG not a bad turbo. When the car is smoking is it blue or white? Blue=smoke, White=coolent and water. I have had both happen to me and it sounds like a bad head gasket.

 

[diablos991]

Well I have another thread related to my problem. I was just curious about the type of smoke people see.
But my compression is 165 165 155 165. I am getting a leakdown test done sometime next week.
The smoking ony occurs when the boost is above 9 PSI. I can rev to 5k being careful not to spool up the turbo, and it doesn't smoke at all. The car passes Imissions with flying colors.

But when it does smoke it is about 1 second after I shift from high boost, and boy does it smoke..

Turbo has a little side-to-side shaft play, no in-and-out, a little oil in LICP, and smoke is a whitish blue and smells relly weird.(maybe a hint of sulfur to it.

 

[DevilSperm]

If the seals are REALLY blown it will look a bit like mine

 

[1993eclipseGS]

Is there oil in your coolant? Coolant in your oil? Does your car seem any slower? Do you have the stock return line on the turbo? If not, Is it kinked/crushed causing the oil to get pushed through the seals and out the exhaust?

 

[diablos991]

Dang devilSperm. Mine smokes like that out the exhaust. (about the same color.) There is no oil in my coolant or coolant in my oil. My car doesn't seem slower. I do have the stock return line but I am waiting until my next oil change to check if it is clogged. There are no dents or anything on the return line.

P.S. Do you guys know if pep-boys or Checker would rent one of those coolant checkers that will check for crap in the coolant?

 

[1993eclipseGS]

Any autozone/advanced auto will rent those to you, And they give you your money back as soon as you return it.

 

[diablos991]

Cool. I think I am going to do that. I have heard of HG leaking but not mixing oil and coolant. That would be a good way to check. Is it possible that a HG would only leak under boost? I would think so because boost puts pressure on that area of the engine.

 

[DevilSperm]

I didnt have my exhaust hooked up at that time, that was coming straight out of the o2 housing.

 

[diablos991]

Well I just got the Hydrocarbons tested and it came up as 0. My compression and hydrocarbon tests lead me to believe that its the turbo or that oil return line.(stock metal one)

What do you guys think and is there a way to check that return line for clogs without draining the oil? I just barely got my oil changed.

 

[1993eclipseGS]

Take your licp off, And your intake pipe. Check for oil. If it's pushing oil out the seals, It would smoke. This can also be caused by a clogged/kinked return line.

 

[diablos991]

There was a little oil in the LICP and Intake(just a stream about 1/4"ish wide and some film). Also there was a small pool on the part of the turbo that the intake conntects to.

I just want to be sure what the problem is. I don't want to buy a turbo and have that not be the problem.

 

[1993eclipseGS]

Is your crankcase hose connected to the intake? Is this shooting any oil into the intake tract? If not, And that oil is where you said, I would think the oil is leaking out of the turbos' seals, And finally coming out the exhaust which would cause it to smoke. Did this problem just start occuring, Or did you do anything to the car right before it started?

 

[diablos991]

Yes the crank case hose is connected and I have an inline filter to catch the oil blowby.

It has usually smoked a little when under heavy boost. But it started smoking alot shortly after I had a Water Pump installed.(My dumb a$$ didn't replace it with my timing belt)

I have checked the timing at the cam gears and its lined up, but I don't have the means to take off the rest of the cover right now. (the shop I use is relocating)

 

[diablos991]

For future searchers, my smoking problem ended up being the turbo. I felt some in and out shatplay shortly after this thread. I replaced it and now no more smoke.

Hope this helps.

 

[UMR98GSX]

I hope you upgraded!