cardsfan

The bottom end is built: 20 over cp pistons, scat rods, etc
The head was not rebuilt.

It was broken in n/a, with no problems, 3k miles later I installed the turbo kit. Not long after that it started smoking, bad. It smokes alot after it idles for a min or so, but not right away.

Diag: I figured it might have been the stock pcv setup, so I pulled out the pcv valve, and plugged the port on the intake manifold. Still smokes. Could the fact there is no vacuum source cause that much smoke?

I pulled the charge pipe off the turbo to check for oil in it and found none, for good measure I idled the car and let the turbo push air out on the ground, no oil there either.

I pulled the plugs to do a compression test, the plug on the far right (no 1?) plug was the only one with oil on it. That cyl had 175 psi, the rest had 165.

My guess is either the oil control ring or valve seals and or guides.

Please share any info and experience you have related to my problem. Thanks in advance, oh and I've done alot of searching but haven't seen anything exactly like my situation.

blackmugensivic

Turbo seals?

SiRCiviC94

try another turbo

BigMike0147

You need to check the hot side of the turbo too. You could be pushing oil past the seals and into the hot side. It just happened to me. Is there an oil restrictor on it??

cardsfan

No oil restrictor. If it is hotside turbo related, that wouldn't explain the oil on one plug or any plug as far as I can tell. Of course I could be wrong.

BigMike0147

No, you're pretty right about that, but it's also weird that you'd have a leak at your valve stem seal AFTER you put on the turbo. But it is possible. I would think that a leaky seal would have started when you put the head on the motor after the rebuild, but you never know.

If you're not running a restrictor, then it could be your issue that the startup pressure of the car (possibly close to 100 PSI) is too much for the seals on the turbo. What size line are you running to the turbo?? -4 or -3??

cardsfan

It is the B&R -3 kit, And their return kit. It isn't just at start up, it is anytime the engine returns to idle. Eveything I've read says not to use a restrictor with journal bearing turbos, but I do have one I can put in (if I can find it).

BigMike0147

Yeah, that's strange that it's anytime the car is at idle.

With a -3 line, you shouldn't need a restrictor, but it's possible. Since the oil is in the cylinder, it could be something related to the head, head gasket, or rings. That's all the ways that I know oil can enter the cylinder without coming in through the intake.

The only problem with that is that you did a compression test and all looks good. If it's smoking a lot, then you've got to be getting quite a bit of oil into the cylinder though. Did you have the head decked when you put the motor back together??

Freshdot

what happens when you're on the throttle? does it just disappear? this is important knowledge as well to help you diagnose. If it disappears i'd bet its that #1 cylinder oil ring.

cardsfan

No, I didnt do anything at all to the head. When cruising I notice no oil burning, even at low speed, at wot there is a puff of smoke.

shawty22

My buddy had TERRIBLE smoke at idle. One day he forgot to put the oil cap on...we went for a beat run:..and no smoke at idle. Turned out to be to much crank case pressure because catch can filter got clogged with oil. We put a rag on the catch can instead of the filter...hasnt smoked since. Mybe try that? Take the oil cap off at idle and see if it goes away?

cardsfan

I'll definately try that.

Freshdot

yea taking a ride without an oil cap sounds like a great idea, give it a shot.

by the way that higher number on the compression test for cylinder 1 could quite possibly mean that ring is starting to go bad..considering under compression the number goes up..hence oil filling the piston to wall gap.

cardsfan

Ok, I tried the oil cap off thing and it did not help. I let the car idle for a while and the smoke never got as bad so I went to pull it back in the garage, as soon as I reved it up it started smoking bad. So idk.

Freshdot

i was kidding when i agreed. it's got to be something in that cylinder, did you not absorb my post?

cardsfan

I actually didn't see your post till now, we posted our last posts at the exact same time. Guess I'm going to be rebuilding it again

joe b

I think you have a problem with the turbo . I had the same problem back in the day with a turbonetics t3/t4 . I put on a garret and problem solved .

B and B

iTrader: (3)

Is it draining properly?

cardsfan

If my oil rings are bad would the cylinder walls be scuffed or would there be any other visual signs I could look for while I have the head off?

riceburner700

i would check the oil drain like stated above

B00st3d-dc2

First thing to do is isolate the problem. Take off the turbo and put a header on the car, so you know if it's the turbo or the motor.

Glock17

Before you start taking out the head do what Boost3d-dc2 said below. If the motor is still smoking you can do leak down test to see if it your bottom end or top end.

cardsfan

With no oil in the charge pipes, and with the car still smoking with the turbo not feeding air into the motor, I just assumed it was not the turbo, at any rate the head is already off.

B00st3d-dc2

Could have just been going out the exhaust side..

cardsfan

Yes but that would not explain oil on the spark plugs.