Whiteish smoke only under boost

[dsmuntilidie]

I'm new to the forum and would like to apologize if this has been answered before, I'm not 100% new to cars but I know the basics for the most part.

I just bought a 97 gsx with 85,312 miles on the original engine couple days ago. The guy I bought it from did a compression test and it was all good. He had a tial recirculating bov, injen intake, ets intercooler and a turbo back exhaust (straight piped) on it. While I was driving it I noticed that under boost some whiteish smoke was coming out of the exhaust only after i shifted and then I could faintly smell burning oil, he said it was the turbo seals which I wasn't worried about cause I had another t25 at home, but when I got home and took the intake pipe off there was no oil. When I start it there's no smoke, idle there's no smoke and if I just cruise and don't get on it there's no smoke but as soon as I get on it it smokes horribly after I shift. I was thinking valve stem seals, would that be the culprit or is there something else?

Any questions about the car please let me know, thanks guys

-Brett

 

[Matticus]

Most the time if a turbo car smokes under boost (assuming its not running rich ) it can be attributed to the turbo seals going out.

If you are worried about the motor, do a leak down test.

Have you been checking the fluids? Is the coolant a weird color or low? Is the oil low? If I were you, I wouldn't drive the car much until you pin point the problem.

 

[Breezio69]

I thought white smoke was a coolant issue, maybe under boost the head is lifting even just a tiny bit allowing coolant to enter the combustion chamber. Or just a head gasket that's about to give way. Were you present for the compression test? Kind of odd for a seller to point out a recent compression test he performed then sold it smoking... just sayin.

Btw, good to see a fellow utah dsmer also with the name Bret... haha

 

[dsmuntilidie]

Would it still be the turbo seals if it doesn't throw smoke until a second or so after I shift?

I'm probably going to replace the head gasket here soon anyways just to be safe, the guy I bought it from said that another guy interested in buying it was the one who tested it. That's cool though man, if your ever in Layton let me know haha

 

[MadDashImports]

Check compression, if its good then it's the turbo seals. If the compression is low on a cylinder just put a cap full of oil in i and test it again. If the compression goes back up its rings, if not its valve guide or etc. hope It helps

 

[slickers111]

Replace the turbo.

If it still smokes, then look at the headgasket. Its most likely the turbo.

 

[Kirkamus]

2 main things. Valve stem seals/Turbo doing a leak down test will show where u have an issue in most cases. Check turbo for shaft play by removing the intake hose connected to your turbo and wiggle the shaft. If it moves easily then yeah turbo blown.

 

[98dsm31710]

Like everybody else said replace or rebuild the turbo. (Excuse for an uprade)

 

[dsmuntilidie]

I replaced the turbo today with a used t25 just to get to where I need to be. Then I'll get a 16g the shaft play on the old one was crazy, no side to side but it moved in and out about a quarter inch.

It still smokes though, is that just from the old oil being burned out?

Thanks again to all that helped out! You saved me haha

 

[My1GLaser]

Check your PCV valve! Mine wouldn't hold anything over 8 psi. I ended up putting a check valve inline cause the car would smoke during boost...