Boost at 5 psi?!?!?! White smoke, NO HP!!!!

[chovis38]

Ok, yesterday, I installed a Warlboro high flow fuel pump, and also rewired it perinstructions at www.vfaq.com. I also, changed my exhaust manifold gasket, and exhaust manifold studs. NOW, when at idle, or when I let of the gas, or just get on the gas a little, white smoke comes from my exhaust. Could it be the fuel pump? What else could it be.
Oh, and I am also only boosting at 5 or 6 psi. I think that might be a bad turbo. I am installing a big 16G next weekend, but that wouldn't cause the white smoke, would it? Any help would be fantastic!!!

 

[Twizzle]

, be prepared to be bombarded with tons of replies of "bad headgasket" check your oil cap for coolant/water residue. if you have some, its a headgasket, unless you had another opening for water to get in. i just had this problem yesterday, but mine was due to a stupid mistake of letting water get in my intercooler. check your outlet pipe from your turbo housing for oil, if so, its a blown turbo. it most likely sounds like a blown turbo to me.

 

[chovis38]

I was thinking the same thing as well. Right around full spoolup, the turbo makes a loud whistling/rattling sound, kind of like the bearing is bad. I had a feeling it was the turbo a while ago; that's why I ordered a new big 16G. I am waiting on the gaskets though; that's why I haven't put it on yet. Ok, let's say that THAT IS MY PROBLEM- why am I putting out white smoke? Blown H/G? I don't think so because I haven't driven it in a week or so, and then I drove it up to my shop yesterday to work on it, and there was no smoke at all; it was only boosting around 13 or 14 at that time, even though I had it set for around 17. It only started smoking after I put the fuel pump in, and rewired it per www.vfaq.com. ??????? Thanks for the reply!!

 

[SpeedFreak03]

White smoke means water/coolant is burning. Water can come from the engine or the turbo, which means headgasket or turbo seals are shot. Do a compression test to see if it's the head gasket. My guess would be turbo is shot tho.

 

[chovis38]

Ok, that would make sense. That idea that the turbo seals are bad, and the turbo is blown sure gives me a ray of sunshine and hope that it's not the HG. I will check it out more tomorrow. I sure hope it's that damn turbo!!! I am getting tired to driving around my other car!!!

 

[chovis38]

I checked it out today, and I checked the shaft play in my turbo..... it is so terrible. Probably when the turbo spools up, the impeller is rubbing on the sides of the housing, and maybe damaging the fins as well, thereby causing less boost, and less HP. Also, a while back, I noticed that there was a little bit of oil at the bottom of the turbo, and also a little bit in the intake pipe as well. I have heard that this is a blown turbo because of the seals or what not. Obviously, the turbo is shot... what would have caused that? Over time, wear and tear? Overboosting? All of the above? Also, I took oil and coolant samples just to make sure that it's not a blown HG, and the coolant was a little dirty, but of no concern ( I have never had it changed, or flushed), and the oil was SLIGHTLY milky, not enough to convince me. I think that from the blown turbo, coolant is making it's way into the oil return line, and back into the oil, thereby giving me a SLIGHTLY milky look to the oil. I think after I change the turbo, oil, and coolant, everything should be peachy!!! Does any of this sound reasonable to anyone else. Feedback would be great!!!

 

[SpeedFreak03]

Well if the turbo has shaft play, it needs to be replaced anyway, regardless of weather its making the car smoke. The coolant naturally gets dirty over time, thats why its a good idea to flush it, and replace the t-stat and hoses. I am 99% sure that replacing the turbo will solve all your problems!

 

[chovis38]

That's my general consensus as well. I looked at the turbo fins with a light, and saw that they impeller fins were bent up----- well, duh, you're not going to make any psi if the fins are !@~#ed up!!!! It is all so obvious now. About 2 weeks ago, I had a feeling it might be the turbo, so I ordered a new one anyway; however I can't install it b/c I didn't have all of the required gaskets. They should arrive Thursday or Friday; so I can't wait until then!!! Again, what could have caused the turbo to go....? Wear and tear, over boosting? Thanks for all of the feedback!!

 

[awd4g63]

Be careful with that turbo, you don't want any metal shavings coming through your intake into your engine. Good luck with it.

 

[SpeedFreak03]

Yea just normal wear and tear I'd say, but I wouldn't drive the car until you put the new turbo in (because of the metal shavings). Also check your oil level in case any oil has been burned away.

 

[chovis38]

Yeah, don't even worry about it; I haven't driven it for 2 weeks now. The first time I heard the noise, I stopped driving it, and ordered new parts right away. The only time I drove it from then was a couple of days ago, to the shop to work on it. That was the only two times; and even when I did drive it, I didn't get on it, because there was no point; it was slow and it sounded like garbage. And yeah, my oil level is seriously low as well. I have been driving my 1991 5.0 convertible for a while now. It's ok, but it's not the same as turbo awd!!!!!!