Waste gate full of oil

[Big_ml_101]

I have a 91' Talon TSi awd that recently started failing to build pressure. The car will run just fine, but wont boost at all. I took it into a local performance shop and they did a leak test and checked it out but didn't find anything. I took off the intake and the turbines spin freely with no play. I then took the wastegate off to check if it was stuck open, and when I played with the lever arm it started spurting oil. I have a stock set up, could anyone enlighten me as to what oil in the wastegate might mean and if that relates to not building pressure?

-Will

 

[Soccerguy136]

Oil seals on the turbo are worn away and allowing oil to flow past and into the wastegate passageway. Not necessarily related to not building boost but the turbo could be having issues because of it.

Have you done a boost leak test?

 

[4wsaddict]

from what you say it sounds like you have an internal wastegate and if oil has built up in the diaphragm it can cause rubber to swell and the wastegate to fail causing you boost issue. if it is an external and its not oil in the diaphragm then stick with Big_ml_101's post

 

[Big_ml_101]

This is what I pulled off the side of the turbo near the intake inlet, I'm assuming this is an external waste gate.

 

[gieri002]

Nope, that is an INTERNAL wastegate.

 

[Big_ml_101]

Well, learn something every day right? That's embarrassing haha. What I'm holding in my had in that picture is the actuator then? In that case, could the actuator being full of oil still cause my boost problems? Thanks for the responses!

 

[eDeclpse92]

Well, learn something every day right? That's embarrassing haha. What I'm holding in my had in that picture is the actuator then? In that case, could the actuator being full of oil still cause my boost problems? Thanks for the responses!

It's ok. We've all been there. But yes that is your actuator. And it should be hooked up to vacuum lines connected to your intake pipe and compressor housing as can be seen in this thread.

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/newbie-forum/330326-vacuum-hose-routing-diagram.html

So the oil is coming out of the actuator then? Not the o2 housing where the wastegate flap is? If you have an air compressor, you can test your actuator by putting air into the nipple and see if it works (the arm will move, that's what you would see). I would bolt it back on the turbo to test it. That could be your reason as to why you have no boost. It might be stuck open allowing for the exhaust to bypass the turbine wheel.

 

[Soccerguy136]

Oil in the wastegate actuator is still caused by what I said above. Oil seals have gone bad in the turbo. Needs to be addressed regardless of whether it's the cause of the boost issue or not.

 

[Big_ml_101]

92 - Very helpful, thank you! Give me a couple days to check that and I'll get back to you on what I find. I'm currently ripping the the turbo out entirely.

Soccer - I see what you're saying. My stock turbo is pretty old, I'm not surprised. I'm looking to get to ~350 hp eventually and from what I understand the stock A/T turbo won't handle that too well. Would you recommend a rebuild or buying a new turbo, and if you recommend buying what do you think would be a good fit if I'm trying to avoid changing flanges and sizes of intakes and couplers and whatnot from stock? I hear the 16g is a good place to start. Thoughts?

 

[redheadbov]

Blown turbo seals will not cause oil build up in the stock wastegate actuator. Only blow by, venting through the crankcase back into the intake(assuming everything is stock) could cause that issue. Only the vaccum line attached to the actuator can allow anything into the diaphram housing.
That would be your issue then. Replace it and boost on

 

[JusMX141]

Unless the wastegate somehow got stuck open, a faulty actuator will allow an indefinite amount of boost to be made....not zero boost. Air pressure is needed to open the wastegate...if there's a hole in the diaphragm and air is leaking through, the wastegate will not open and you'll be making as much boost as the turbo can.

 

[Soccerguy136]

Blown turbo seals will not cause oil build up in the stock wastegate actuator. Only blow by, venting through the crankcase back into the intake(assuming everything is stock) could cause that issue. Only the vaccum line attached to the actuator can allow anything into the diaphram housing.
That would be your issue then. Replace it and boost on

Does your wastegate actuator NOT have a vacuum line attached to the turbo's j-pipe?

Stock configuration has a T for the Air Cleaner and J-Pipe to T into the wastegate actuator.

There are no vacuum lines going from crankcase to air cleaner in stock configuration.

Please explain how Blow By could get into the Wastegate Actuator.

Also, lucky you OP JusMX141 knows a thing or two about turbos...namely everything.

 

[Phantom DSM]

Before you rip the turbo out, can you give us a pic of your setup with vacuum hosing etc. Is this turbo even blown? Have you removed the intake pipe and check for shaft play on turbo ? Does it even smoke? Everyone is making assumptions without more info on this issue.

 

[dsm4g63t_chris]

How much Oil are we talking here?

 

[untouchablecc]

Compressing oil into WG actuator?? I would pop off the intake and check for a shaft play and oil in the compressor cover. Try pulling off the intercooler and tipping it over and see if any oil runs out.