1G Turbo failing

[VictorPxrrx]

So I've searched the forum for an answer but haven't found one pertaining exactly to what's happening to me.

My car gives out a white/grayish smoke from the exhaust. This only happens when I leave it idling for a while and then drive it. It only lasts a bit after I start driving it and then goes away. Car does the same thing but only a bit to mildly when I'm under boost. My car also eats up oil and I have to keep constantly checking it.

I do have a small leak from the turbo return line but is very minimal and I will be fixing it this weekend. My oil pressure is a bit down from usual as well (a little bit above the "L" line at idle and at the first line at cruising speeds (3000rpm). Turbo also spools to 15psi which is what MBC is set at but drops down to around 12psi. I checked the turbo and it has very little play but some of the fins are chipped.

Under vacuum right before I start making boost the turbo makes a whaaaling noise. Turbo is the original 14b that came with the car and has about 135,000 miles on it.

This all happened after I went to the track last weekend except for the whaling noise and wasting of oil. It did waste quite a bit of oil at the track as well. Sorry for the long story guys but any info will be much appreciated.
Thanks in advance.

-Victor

 

[meyer795]

They all burn oil. The white smoke is probably from that. I don't know about the turbo noise though, could you post an mp3?

 

[DSM AWD TSI]

They all burn oil. The white smoke is probably from that.

They all might burn oil but they don't all definitely burn so much that there is visible smoke! If your blades are chipped there's a good chance that when they got chipped they messed up the bearing or seal and now oil leaks into your exhaust and makes the white smoke. It could be, though, that they chipped BECAUSE the bearing wore out and they hit the turbine housing. Either way, smoke is not normal.

 

[JusMX141]

Turbo oil smoke will begin to appear under boost and load when oil pressure is at it's greatest.

My FWD TSi did the same thing when I bought it. Upgraded the 14B to a 16G that I built myself, and the idle smoking was still there. It ended up being the valve stem seals which were hard as bricks after 130k of use. The car is currently getting fully rebuilt.

 

[VictorPxrrx]

Thanks for the advice. It just started doing this recently.

One thing I forgot to mention is when I got the car the guy told me he had taken it to a shop (ums racing) and they had told him that the turbo was going out. Also when I build boost it sounds like a supercharger sound. Will it help if I check the down pipe to the exhaust for oil?

 

[Boosted3s]

The noise you are hearing is from the compressor wheel. Once they are damaged they will make some terrible sounds. Just get a 16G and a new turbo gasket set and all should be well.

 

[Afroclipse]

Thanks for the advice.It just started doing this recently.One thing I forgot to mention is when I got the car the guy told me he had taken it to a shop(ums racing) and they had told him that the turbo was going out. Also when I build boost it sounds like a supercharger sound.Will it help if I check the down pipe to the exhaust for oil?

did you check the play.

 

[Boosted3s]

He said that it had minimal play but if the wheel is chipped it needs to be replaced. It could be out of balance which will greatly accelerate wear to the bearings and seals.

 

[VictorPxrrx]

Yes it has very little play. Just the turbine looks pretty banged up. Will it help to come to a conclusion if I check for oil in the intercooler piping and exhaust down pipe?

Also why would it just smoke after a while of idling and not smoke all the time?

 

[Rob10_99]

When your idling it sounds like it is pushing oil into the intake/exhaust. Idle long enough and then put some heat into it, then it burns/smokes the oil.
Do a compression check yet? after 100k + you need a new turbo regardless, time for a 16g!

 

[VictorPxrrx]

When your idling it sounds like it is pushing oil into the intake/exhaust. Idle long enough and then put some heat into it, then it burns/smokes the oil.
Do a compression check yet? after 100k + you need a new turbo regardless, time for a 16g!

compression checks out good across all cylinders. That's what I was thinking was causing the smoke. Yea I guess it is

 

[Alex Bland]

my car did this to i thought rings where bad then i pulled it out and the O-ring that comes in the rebuild kit is like hard plastic and had to chip it out. I would imagine it might lose some boost if the blades are chipped? not sure though, mine smoked just like urs did i would say re-build it and see if that helps

 

[VictorPxrrx]

my car did this to i thought rings where bad then i pulled it out and the O-ring that comes in the rebuild kit is like hard plastic and had to chip it out. I would imagine it might lose some boost if the blades are chipped? not sure though, mine smoked just like urs did i would say re-build it and see if that helps

it was building boost fine before this. This all started happening after a trip to the track. Maybe I pushed it too hard for how old it is? At the track I also noticed that when I tried to up the boost a bit with the MBC it still wouldn't boost past 1 5psi.

I found a 14b in good condition in my area for $100 or should I wait it out and save for a 16g?

 

[lnvisiblejon]

save for a new 16g. you will be alot happier

 

[snakeyes711]

Yeah, thats about how mine did. I turned on an on ramp, and popped the clutch to boost, and I heard a shattering sound, and smoke just rolled out. I found most of the compressor blades in the intercooler.

Go with the 14b, then save a few bucks to get a 16g. You can always sell the 14b.

 

[mitsuman3000]

About the white smoke,,,,check the big vac line that goes to the intake from the brake booster, if its wet with fluid your booster is toast. Mine did the same thing when my booster took a dump, I was burning brake fluid apparently. New booster and haven't had the problem since (like 2yrs now). Other than that, white smoke usually means burning coolant (blown head gasket) which could also explain why the boost drops off, since your lifting the head under extreme boost. These are just a couple of things to look at, that I have delt with first hand, doesn't mean it is the right answer. I would still invest in a 16g if I were you. One of the best investments I ever made for mine .

 

[VictorPxrrx]

Thanks to everyone that has chimed in.Well to my surprise my oil pressure it back to normal(according to stock gauge) and I haven't had the smoking problem anymore.Oil level is also fine.So Im very lost and confused now.The other wierd thing is that if I'm in 2nd gear and do a pull it boosts to 15psi and drops to about 13psi but if I do a pull in 3rd or 4th boosts stays around 15-16psi.

Could it be just that I'm doing the 2nd gear pull in higher rpm than the 3rd or 4th gear pulls or ??? I'm confused on why this is happening.There are no other leaks except for the one I mentioned before.Other then then that engine bay is clean.Can anyone help clarify or have some experience for whats happening to with my car.Thanks in advance.

-Victor

 

[snakeyes711]

WTF in your last post you said upping the MBC it wouldn't boost past 5psi? or 15.

 

[VictorPxrrx]

It wouldn't boost more then 14 or 15psi