Turbo problem or something else?

[Eclipst]

I have a stock 92 gsx, only having a boost controller and a 2.5" exhaust with no cat. The boost controller is set to 16 psi. Today, I was on the highway and fllored it. After 12psi, the car started to feel sluggish, eventually loosing power, and a cloud of smoke came out of the exhaust. I got on it again, not reaching full 16 psi, and it felt fine. I am unsure of what the problem could be rather than the turbo. But if the turbo is the problem, it shouldnt be spooling at all. But if not the turbo, what else could it be?

 

[98eclipseRS]

Your turbo will still spool fine if one of the seals are blown so don't count the turbo out yet. When did the cloud of smoke come out. Under boost? Between shifts? deceleration? How often does it do this?? Take off the boost controller and hook your wastegate up like stock and drive around like that see if it still does it. Also check your turbo for shaft play. Check in and out and side to side. I little bit of play is alright but that doesn't give you much room, when I say a little bit I mean a little bit. One last question, what color is the smoke.

 

[Eclipst]

The cloud of smoke came out after i let go of the throttle. It would only do this on high boost basically anything over 12psi. But I will definitely check out the turbo for shaft play, and will put everything back to stock just to narrow down the possibilities. The smoke is more of a light grey color. I do not believe it is a bluish color.

 

[98eclipseRS]

Well if you run sythentic gas then it will be white as well.

 

[Eclipst]

The smoke only occurs when i get on it. If i drive normal hitting like 12psi, no smoke occurs. Will check out turbo some time this week, so I hope everything is okay with it, if not, time to go bigger and better.