How do you know when you have a blown turbo seal?

[CPHunter]

while driving on the streets not even hard at all. i blow white smoke out of my exhaust. i just got my motor rebuilt 800 miles ago. so it leads me to believe its not the motor but i could be wrong. so if anybody could help me out thanks -Andy

 

[brute]

It should smoke a little just idling. But when boost starts to come on, and as boost increases, it should begin to smoke more and more.

Is the smoke there at startup?

Does the smoke ever "burn off" or go away?

When does it smoke (RPM, speed, boost)?

 

[99gst_racer]

The James Bond smoke screen (under boost) is very common of a failing turbo.

Pull off your lower IC pipe. If it's full of oil, then you can blame it on your turbo's shaft seal.

 

[DSMunknown]

The James Bond smoke screen (under boost) is very common of a failing turbo.

Now would the thickness of the smoke vary to what some people see when using SeaFoam for the first time? That is, under boost, how "thick" is it? I'm sure it's noticable, so you obviously know there is a problem from the norm, but can both experiences be similar (regarding the amount of smoke)? Or does the blown seal completely out-trump the SeaFoam first-time experience?

 

[99gst_racer]

Now would the thickness of the smoke vary to what some people see when using SeaFoam for the first time? That is, under boost, how "thick" is it? I'm sure it's noticable, so you obviously know there is a problem from the norm, but can both experiences be similar (regarding the amount of smoke)? Or does the blown seal completely out-trump the SeaFoam first-time experience?

I can't accurately answer your question as I have never used Seafoam before.

But when my 14b's seals went, it pumped so much oil into the intake tract, it looked like a failed head gasket when I boosted. There was a huge trail of thick smoke pouring out of the tailpipe. Definitely noticable - Ray Charles couldn't have missed it.

 

[DSMunknown]

I can't accurately answer your question as I have never used Seafoam before.

But when my 14b's seals went, it pumped so much oil into the intake tract, it looked like a failed head gasket when I boosted. There was a huge trail of thick smoke pouring out of the tailpipe. Definitely noticable - Ray Charles couldn't have missed it.

Yeah, I figured it would probably be impossible to actually "measure" something like that. On a side note, some notice lots of smoke when using SeaFoam, while others don't notice much at all.

 

[CPHunter]

yeah it smokes even at idle and when i am crusing out of boost. but i'll be sure to check and report thanks guys

 

[kawboy]

What if it smokes at idle and then under deceleration (vaccum)

 

[chris4g63t]

My turbo just went out on me and it mainly smoked at idle after hitting boost. Pull your downpipe also and check for signs of oil. Also make it smoke really bad, turn it off immediatly and check your plugs. If there is no sign of oil on top of your plugs or pistons it is most likely your turbo.

 

[kawboy]

If it is your turbo, there shouldn't be oil on your plugs/pistons... that would be bad valve seals or possibly even piston rings.

 

[GVR4592]

What if it smokes at idle and then under deceleration (vaccum)

That's usually valve stem seals, but it can sometimes be caused by a sticking oil control ring. If you decelerate for a couple seconds and then quickly stab the accelerator does a puff of blue smoke come out?

 

[GVR4592]

while driving on the streets not even hard at all. i blow white smoke out of my exhaust. i just got my motor rebuilt 800 miles ago. so it leads me to believe its not the motor but i could be wrong. so if anybody could help me out thanks -Andy

White smoke usually indicates that coolant is in the combustion chamber. Oil burns blue, fuel burns black, water/coolant burns white, thats not written in stone but that's usually how it goes.

 

[MrBoxx]

It's been my experience and quite a few others on here that when a turbo seal/bearing blows, the smoke is commonly white or whitish gray for some reason, even though usually only oil is pooling the IC pipes. Some have said that synthetic oil, especially Mobil1, burns white/gray. Obviously though, if the white smoke smells sweet, it's coolant/water.

When the T25 went out on me, I was fogging over two lanes of traffic and couldn't see my wife following right behind me. So I'd say the smoke is pretty thick.

 

[kawboy]

That's usually valve stem seals, but it can sometimes be caused by a sticking oil control ring. If you decelerate for a couple seconds and then quickly stab the accelerator does a puff of blue smoke come out?

Would in and out shaft play on my turbo cause this?

 

[MrBoxx]

Any in and out shaft play means that the turbo is blown. The compressor wheel shouldn't move in or out at all.

 

[kawboy]

Yes I know that, but is that the cause for my car to smoke under vaccum?

 

[nightspeed87]

generally i believe smoking just has to do with the oil seals.

while driving on the streets not even hard at all. i blow white smoke out of my exhaust. i just got my motor rebuilt 800 miles ago. so it leads me to believe its not the motor but i could be wrong. so if anybody could help me out thanks -Andy

How many times did you change your oil during that 800 mile time frame?
If you dont change your oil constantly then yes you will blow your turbo during break in due to metal shavings and other particles etc. I dont have reason to believe this would cause it to smoke, but if you have removed your balance shafts during that rebuild and dramatically raised oil pressure that definitly could cause seals to blow.
What is your oil pressure reading like? And how many times have you did a oil change during your first 500miles?