Should I buy the turbo? Need advice.

[diablos991]

I will start off with my question: Should I buy the turbo, or should I keep performing tests.

Here is my situation. I noticed, a little while back, that my car would belch out a puff of smoke after shifting. (which is getting larger the more I drive.) I did a compression test and my results were as follows: 165 165 155 165. I then added oil to the 3rd cylinder and it did not increase considerably. (piston rings out of the question.) My car passes emission testing with flying colors and does not smoke when idling or when decelerating. (ASSUMED: exhaust valves out of the question.) I then examined all of my intercooler piping and intercooler and found that I had a stream of oil in my lower intercooler pipe, intercooler, and upper intercooler pipe. The oil was then traveling through the BOV into the intake and there was oil in the intake and on the lip of the compressor housing. (ASSUME: bad turbo) But then I check my compressor wheel for shaft play and find that it has no in-and-out shaft play, and it moves about a cd's thickness side to side.

So should I perform a leakdown test or shoudl I just order my FP bigT28.
Do you guys think that a new turbo would solve this problem?

I want to thank anybody that took time to read this whole thread and especially those who respond and help me out.
~Shawn

 

[Splitpi]

I will start off with my question: Should I buy the turbo, or should I keep performing tests.

Here is my situation. I noticed, a little while back, that my car would belch out a puff of smoke after shifting. (which is getting larger the more I drive.) I did a compression test and my results were as follows: 165 165 155 165. I then added oil to the 3rd cylinder and it did not increase considerably. (piston rings out of the question.) My car passes emission testing with flying colors and does not smoke when idling or when decelerating. (ASSUMED: exhaust valves out of the question.) I then examined all of my intercooler piping and intercooler and found that I had a stream of oil in my lower intercooler pipe, intercooler, and upper intercooler pipe. The oil was then traveling through the BOV into the intake and there was oil in the intake and on the lip of the compressor housing. (ASSUME: bad turbo) But then I check my compressor wheel for shaft play and find that it has no in-and-out shaft play, and it moves about a cd's thickness side to side.

So should I perform a leakdown test or shoudl I just order my FP bigT28.
Do you guys think that a new turbo would solve this problem?

I want to thank anybody that took time to read this whole thread and especially those who respond and help me out.
~Shawn

I think you should perform the leak down test. Your compression is out of spec (especially on the 3rd number). And since you did the oil test, I'm 90% certain that the issue with #3 is your valves so... you may need to replace your valves first. Get the motor back up spec, then worry about the turbo.

 

[diablos991]

I thought that it was within spec. I have read that the "need rebuild renge" is around 133

http://www.dsmgrrrl.com/FAQs/compression.htm

 

[Splitpi]

I thought that it was within spec. I have read that the "need rebuild renge" is around 133

http://www.dsmgrrrl.com/FAQs/compression.htm

There is more to it than the flat number. The #3 differs from any othe cylinder by 15. The max limit according to the shop manual is 14 psi in difference from any given cyclinder. The manual states the culprit (because you put the oil in the cylinder and the pressure did not increase) is either a burnt or defective valve seat, or pressure is leaking from the gasket.

http://www.dsmtuner.com/forums/showpost.php?p=50353284&postcount=15

But as far as bare minimum pressure, you need it above 133 psi as your link states.

You know what... my math sucks... I am sorry you are off by 10 psi not 15 psi... so you ARE IN spec. I am leaving my post as is though so that hopefully it is provides some light for somone else. But I would definitly keep an eye on that #3 and make sure it does not drop another 5 psi.

Now my question about your oil in the IC piping. Do you have a catch can or some sort of filter coming off your valve cover breather? The reason I ask is because oil leaks down through the intake, through the turbo and into the IC via that valve cover breather line and that is normal.

 

[diablos991]

Now my question about your oil in the IC piping. Do you have a catch can or some sort of filter coming off your valve cover breather? The reason I ask is because oil leaks down through the intake, through the turbo and into the IC via that valve cover breather line and that is normal.

Its cool. I am going to do another compression test in about a month from the first to watch #3.
I have an inline filter in that crankcase breather line running into the intake. I think there is a pic of it in my gallery. (the engine compartment one.) The oil that was in the intake is caked on pretty good, and the oil in the intercooler piping was about a half inch stream lining the pipe.

 

[kenamond]

The oil in the IC may be your turbo. Clean out your intake pipe, lower IC pipe, and as much of the compressor inlet/outlet as you can. Disconnect your breather hose from your intake pipe and let it hang (or put a catch can on it) and cap the intake pipe nipple, then go for a drive. Check your lower IC pipe and compressor exit for fresh oil. Maybe it's just recirc'ed oil from the breather, but if you clean it out and remove the source of it (breather) and still get oil, your turbo is leaking oil and will probably die soon.

You could rebuild your stock turbo for alot less than a FP B28, but maybe you just need an excuse for the upgrade

 

[erebusknight]

One of the biggest performance gains many people see on any car with moderate mileage is the PCV. These always go to crap and people usually notice a difference after changing it. The turbo seals are never perfect. They are going to leak at some point in the cars life. In your case it may be sort of high.

On another note I did a leakage while I did compression.
My Compression 1-4: 155-140-135-140
My leakage 1-4: 5%-15%-20%-25%
Now I am redoing a head my self for now but even with those numbers I pass emissions and I still have decent power at 106,000 miles

So anyway if you got money to spend get new plugs, PCV, filter, fluid changes, etc. because I know people pick at it a lot but I know many people bypass the necessities or just ignore them until they break

 

[diablos991]

So anyway if you got money to spend get new plugs, PCV, filter, fluid changes, etc. because I know people pick at it a lot but I know many people bypass the necessities or just ignore them until they break

I changed all of those already in hopes that they would solve my problem. I am leaning towards the fact that I may have to do a leakdown test.

Does anybody know a good shop in the ogden/layton area that will perform one? what are the costs? (I don't have the gauge or the air compressor needed)

 

[diablos991]

I just checked and there is more oil in the intercooler piping system. There is also oil spatters blowing out fot the BOV.

I held the car at a steady 5,000 rpm and there was no smoke. However, when I revved it and made the turbo spool/Blow off, it blew the smoke. (Could this be evidence that the headgasket/seals are ok?)

I like the feedback I am getting. Lets keep it going.

 

[Splitpi]

All this talk of compression testing made me decide to do my own on this car for the first time since I bought it (6 months ago).... I'm not too happy.

1&4 had ~150 psi. 2&3 were ~180 psi. I poured a little oil in 1&4 and the pressure rose to ~155 psi.

Grrr... looks like piston rings are going.... but on the bright side the pressure is still above minimum. I just have to watch them from now on.

 

[fwdeclipse]

I changed all of those already in hopes that they would solve my problem. I am leaning towards the fact that I may have to do a leakdown test.

Does anybody know a good shop in the ogden/layton area that will perform one? what are the costs? (I don't have the gauge or the air compressor needed)

I dont know anyone in the layton area but in salt lake there is a shop called addit2yourtoy and his name is joe he can help you do that leakdown test.Im not sure of his number but its in the phone book and hes in sandy.

 

[diablos991]

I dont know anyone in the layton area but in salt lake there is a shop called addit2yourtoy and his name is joe he can help you do that leakdown test.Im not sure of his number but its in the phone book and hes in sandy.

Has anybody had this done? If so what did it cost you?

 

[diablos991]

For future searchers that come across this thread, my problem ended up being the turbo seals. About a month after this, I noticed some side to side shaftplay. Well I replaced the turbo, and no more smoke.

Hope this helps.