could i have a bad turbo

[miller97tsi]

i have read on a couple of threads that i could possilby have a bad turbo. i dont hit boost until 45-4800 rpm. how can this be? what can i look for? it oes burn some oil when i take off and at idle. someone help me please this is really starting to make me mad.

 

[The Boost Creep]

what color is the smoke? white/black/bluish. does it smoke at idle or just when you get the turbo spooling and heated up? if its not the turbo, smoke could be coming from bad exhaust valve seals or a bad ring. and you could have a boost or vacumm leak with the slow spool issue.
but with the smoke off the start and no boost till 4k+. most likely you need a rebuild kit for the thrust plate, journal bearings, seals. remember to get the turbo balanced after you rebuild it.

 

[DSM nOOb]

check for a really really bad boost leak. s

 

[miller97tsi]

its kinda a white smoke at idle and then when i take off and shifting. are there any good spots to check for boost leaks

 

[chico904]

If you want to rule out the turbo, then check it. Take off your intake pipe to visually check the turbo. Check the blades, in and out play, side to side play.... You can also unbolt your downpipe, reach your fingers through the 02 housing to the turbo, and check for oil.
As far as boost leaks, you might have a couple large ones, or one small one. Do a BLT. As for the question of good spots to check for leaks, check your intercooler pipes and couplers, where the throttle body meets the UICP, BISS screw, BOV.

 

[paultheninja]

Check for shaft play in the turbo. If its moving your turbo might be bad

 

[miller97tsi]

i do have side side shaft no in and out so i dont knowif its bad for sure

 

[chico904]

A little bit side to side is fine. Is there oil on the exhaust side?

 

[paultheninja]

Side shaft is fine. Do you have any up and down shaft play? Your turbo is probably fine. Does the car smell like gas when your first start it up? My friends talon ran just a hair rich and blew a little smoke out of his exhaust. Try a boost leak test first