White/Gray/Blue smoke out exhaust - compression tested...HG, turbo, or other?

[GSX26]

Alright so here's the scenario. Took out my turbo and manifold. I needed to heat wrap the manifold because of high underhood temps. I put in my old turbo (50 trim) when I put the manifold back in because I liked it better, and I didn't think it was actually blown (previous threads explain that I heard noises and what not and thought it was the turbo). It had a little shaft play, but all the blades and housings were completely fine. Well, it was smoking as I drove. Next day, I take it all out again and drop the 57 trim back in (no shaft play brand new). Drive it around, and it's smoking a bit, I figure it's oil left over from the 50 trim in the pipes. So I give it some gas and my knock light flicks on, I let off. I end up knocking a few more times while giving it 85% throttle probably, somewhere close to WOT. I get home and pop the hood because the thing is still smoking. What do I find? I forgot to hook up the wastegate to the MBC. So now I'm thinking, PSI sky-rocketed and maybe lifted the head/blew head gasket. I didn't look at the boost gauge, but I'm assuming it went really high. My turbo has a little shaft play now, but by no means are the blades able to touch the compressor housing. In and out shaft play, I can't decide. I'll push and pull and it feels like nothing at all, maybe like the slightest little bit but it really doesn't seem like it. Compression test came out (from left to right) 163, 170, 155, 158. Why so high on the 3rd cylinder? Does this indicate HG? It looks like there might be some beads of oil when I take off the radiator cap, not a lot though. I put in some ARP head studs a month or 2 ago. Maybe I just need to retorque them? I never did and some suggest it. What other tests can I do to decide where the smoke is coming from? Thanks guys, and sorry for the long post, trying to get as much detail as possible. Oh yeah, and I didn't have an oil restrictor, but I just put one on today and it's still smoking. The smoke is white mostly, sometimes looks gray or even blueish tint.

 

[MrBoxx]

Did you check the lower intercooler pipe for oil? Maybe the O2 sensor housing for oil residue?

 

[GSX26]

I'm going to check that out tomorrow. Do you think it would still be in there from the older turbo smoking, or would that all be burned out by now? I only drove the car maybe 15 or 20 miles since both smoking issues.

 

[gsxbri]

yeah, and make sure your oil return isnt kinked or clogged. i just had a real bad experience with that, white smoke because oil was pushing through the seals. had the turbo torn down and they said it was fine. 50$ to have it torn down and tolerance checked. but worth the piece of mind that i didn't kill my new turbo.

edit: mine still smokes. 2 hrs of running time later. there is alot of oil in there, i'm sure mine will be burning it out for awhile.....

 

[GSX26]

Thanks for the input based on personal experience. My return line isn't kinked, I guess I'll pull it tomorrow to see if it's clogged though. How much shaft play does your turbo have? It's good to know that it'll smoke for awhile too, maybe I just need to let it all burn out. Could gasket sealant burn and cause smoke? (I think some sealant got inside the exhaust while sealing it back up. Thanks

 

[GSX26]

Checked the lower intercooler pipe today...NO OIL. Not even a drop of oil in the piping. I also retorqued my headstuds, but they didn't go any tighter, so that couldn't have been the problem. I also checked out my oil return line...that looks to be fine, no kinks or clogs. Hmmm....possibly HG then. Maybe I'll pull the head anyways and put on a MLS or cometic HG while I install my new intake mani. Any other suggestions before I go and pull the head?