White smoke diagnoses.. PLEASE HELP!

[Mike_Boost]

Hey guys, first I want to say thanks for reading this really long post and trying to help me out..

Ok, so here go..

Changed clutch fluid line because it was leaking very badly.. continued to leak with new line, but i figured out that it was just loose. So I did the usual (took it off, replaced it, bled it etc).. Its fine now, but in this process I got a ton of brake fluid on the block..

While I was checking out my motor, I noticed a loose bolt on the turbo just where the shaft connects to the exhaust side of the turbo housing.. It was pretty much just sticking out and not even threaded in..

I tightened it in.. (uh oh? or no?)

Few minutes after idling I noticed a small amount of white smoke (very small amount) coming from what looked to be the under side of the turbo..
Thought it was brake fluid burning off from the hot block.. went away after a few seconds..

After about 20 minutes of idling, white smoke started to come the exhaust..
More idle time = more white smoke.. Especially when I gave it some gas..

Drove the car, it smoked some but seemed to be running very well still..
Stock boost gauge indicated boost was ok..

Was not overheating, and there is no blue smoke or leaking or burning oil anywhere..
no shaft play either..

Car starts right up and runs like a champ.. just smokes a ton after getting to operating temp..

I am LOST!!

HG? blown rings? Bad turbo?

Anything would help at this point in time..

 

[TFFC]

Could you be more decriptive of what bolt you tightened or maybe a picture? I'm thinking you might have ruined the turbo seals. But I'm not exactly sure what bolt your talking about!

 

[Mike_Boost]

Yeah i'll get a picture up later today..

 

[xxKo0paxX]

Any shaft play? that stock boost gauge doesn't read "boost".If your running synthetic oil it tends to burn white sometimes. My GSX turbo was blown and doing this,replaced,swapped it out and no more smoke.

 

[phunny]

It definitely sounds like coolant, what do you mean you tightened a bolt?

 

[Mike_Boost]

No significant shaft play..
I didn't realize synthetic could burn white too.. so maybe coolant or oil?

I'll try and get a pic of the turbo housing bolt I tightened up when I get my car today..

 

[TFFC]

You most likely blew your turbo! If your stock turbo you have oil and coolant running through it. Like I said a picture will do wonders.

 

[Mike_Boost]

Ok here's some pics.. sorry they are not the greatest.. but it will give you an idea of the bolt I may have overtightened.. (although I am beginning to think it was coincidence and the bolt may not have anything to do with it).
Added note: there is now very light, but consistent, white smoke coming from the underside of the exhaust manifold (maybe turbo). And the smell is really strong inside the cab and engine bay.

Like I said, not the best.. but here they are..

 

[infinite_kaos]

Overtightening that bolt may have cause something to crack and allowing coolant from your turbo water jacket to leak inside the turbo causing it to burn. This is speculation and it would make sense that the smoke would come right after tightening that bolt.

You could choose to temporarily bypass the water lines to the turbo and see if it continues to smoke. If it doesnt smoke after the bypass then you know its the turbo. If it continues to smoke after the bypass you can rule out the turbo as the problem.

 

[TFFC]

I still cant tell which one your pointing two, I see two bolts. did you tighten the rusted one or the gray one?

 

[Mike_Boost]

My fault..

The rusted one.

 

[black_gst]

My fault..

The rusted one.

I live in redlands, you could bring it by and i could check it out

 

[TFFC]

Tightening that bolt, should not make your car smoke at all, you did the right thing by tighening it, but it just goes into cast iron. you have a problem somewhere else.

 

[Mike_Boost]

Block test Monday..
Let you guys know if I find out anything..

 

[black_gst]

Block test Monday..
Let you guys know if I find out anything..

I hope your not paying too much for that block test. I have a block test kit.

 

[Mike_Boost]

Free

Let's just say over the years, I've brought this shop lots of business with different cars of mine (unfortunately) haha

FML big time..

Piston rings boys..

PM me if you or anyone you know is interested in a 99 gst for 2500 cash.
Can't drop a new motor in right now..

Cars runs great right now.. not burning that much.. but it will need to be fixed eventually.

Thanks for all your help guys. Appreciate it..

 

[TFFC]

What did the test show? and I don't mean (bad Rings)?????

 

[Mike_Boost]

Not exactly sure the specifics.. my shop just told me that the compression was bad I guess and that its burning a small amount of oil. Said it was the piston rings going bad and letting oil leak into the chamber..

 

[TFFC]

Ask for the results per cylinder. If its any kind of decent shop, they should document it on the work order. How many miles on the engine? Burning oil is blue not white. Are you noticing any oil loss, (like having to add a quart every once in awhile)?