Turbo seal or valve seal?

[dsmzoom]

I've been searching for a couple of hours and narrowed down my situation to either a turbo seal or valve seal. When driving around, mostly under boost is when a cloud of blue smoke is present. Under a vaccuum there is very little smoke coming out. Would a compression test rule out valve seals? or is it apparent that my turbo seal is shot

 

[absolute_DSM]

The valve seals would be a problem after sitting for a while, started back up, then a puff of smoke.

 

[dsmzoom]

So should I run it at normal temp, let it sit for an hour, then start it up and if a puff of blue smoke comes out its my valve seals? But if its the turbo should I replace it or use this as an exuse to get evo16g

 

[absolute_DSM]

No, the car should be left for a while and start the car when its cold. If you start it while its cold and a puff of blue smoke comes out, expect the valve seals to need a replacement.

To aid in your quest for the Evo3 16g, I dont think you have a valve seal problem actually

EDIT - when I reread your post, you have the right idea... sitting for an hour should be enough.

 

[DSR MITSUMAN]

Check For Turbo Shaft Play If Ok I Would Think Its Valve Stem Seals.
What Is The Miles On The Car?

 

[dsmzoom]

dont use caps at the beginning of every word please, it gave me a headache. I just hit 75k today. If the valve seals check out, I'm going to get me a nice 16g to compensate hehe

 

[Killa_dsm]

I say you just pull off the turbo and see if you have oil in the exhaust manifold or where the turbine housing/o2 housing is.

 

[DIS1KRAZY]

If smoke comes out everytime you switch gears, then your turbo is probly going out. check the turbine and see if it has a lot of play.

 

[DontStartModdin]

If smoke comes out everytime you switch gears, then your turbo is probly going out. check the turbine and see if it has a lot of play.

Shaft play don't necessarilly effect the turbo seals.

If it's just under boost, than it's most likely the turbo seals.

My buddy had the same problem and it turned out to be his valve seals. Everytime he shifted, blue smoke. As well as at idle.

 

[theebluecrx]

Your plugs will probably be the best way to tell.PUll them and look for oil.

 

[dsmzoom]

And if there is no oil I can rule out valve seals?

 

[absolute_DSM]

If you have oil on your plugs at all youre looking at rings or valve seals. Doing a compression test dry and wet can rule out the rings and point it towards the valve seals.

Check out this old site about compression tests -
http://www.geocities.com/dsmgrrrl/FAQs/compression.htm

 

[kenamond]

If you have no boost leaks (including PCV valve) and good compression, you can do a boost leak test and check for air coming out the VC breather. If so, that would indicate intake valve stem seals.

As far as the turbo is concerned, you can check for oil in the LICP (but don't mistake oil film coming from the VC breather). If it's not from the breather, it has to be from the compressor. If not, and as someone mentioned, you can drop the turbine housing and look for oil upwind of the turbine wheel. If there's oil there, it's coming from the combustion chamber or maybe one of the ex. mani. studs that thread into oil galleys. If not, and there's oil in the O2 housing, it's probably coming from the turbine.

That's all my ideas.

 

[adidalax]

I agree with kenamond. Check for oil in the lower IC piping & your O2 housing (pull the O2 sensor). If there is a decent bit of buildup (like crap coming off on your finger), especially from in the IC pipe, then this will be your first tell-tail sign of worn / leaky turbo seals.

To answer your question about a compression test, yes this should get you closer to figuring out the source of the oil (whether turbo or valve seals). If you see considerably less compression (15psi+ difference) on a single cylinder compared to the other 3, this will narrow you down to either rings or valve seals (instead of turbo). If this is the case, you might also want to go do or go get a leakdown test done (http://www.geocities.com/dsmgrrrl/FAQs/leakdown.htm) to figure things out for sure.

 

[dsmzoom]

I checked my shaft play, little to none side to side, no in and out. I pulled my plugs, they were black but it looked like carbon not oil, they also had white on the prongs. I am pretty much stumped..should I do a compression test now?

 

[kenamond]

I checked my shaft play, little to none side to side, no in and out. I pulled my plugs, they were black but it looked like carbon not oil, they also had white on the prongs. I am pretty much stumped..should I do a compression test now?

I'd still check for oil in the LICP (read my previous post). But yes, you should do a compression test. Don't forget to warm up the motor. And the leakdown test link provided by someone else above also has a compression test page if you're not familiar. It also has the specs for good vs. bad compression for 1g, 2g, spyder, etc. It's all for stock cams though (didn't check your profile).

 

[adidalax]

I checked my shaft play, little to none side to side, no in and out. I pulled my plugs, they were black but it looked like carbon not oil, they also had white on the prongs. I am pretty much stumped..should I do a compression test now?

You positive it's blue smoke and not black?

EDIT: Also, you running that BOV open-atmosphere?