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can bad turbo seals cause white smoke out exhaust?

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Old 06-30-2009, 09:42 AM
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Default can bad turbo seals cause white smoke out exhaust?

I just replaced the headgasket, checked the head/block with straight edge and looked for cracks. torqued everything down to specs with right pattern with new gasket and the car still smokes white smoke from exhaust even at idle as it did before i did the headgasket.

it's pretty much constant white smoke and if i get on it the smoke gets worse.

built motor, car runs fine, no oil in coolant or coolant in oil, compression is 180 across the board.

since the turbo is water and oil cooled i disconnected the water part and ran the car but it still smokes.

is it possible that bad turbo oil seals are to blame? i know oil is usually blue smoke but some say it can be white at times.

thanks
Old 06-30-2009, 09:45 AM
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Default Re: can bad turbo seals cause white smoke out exhaust?

yes
Old 06-30-2009, 09:59 AM
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Default Re: can bad turbo seals cause white smoke out exhaust?

Possibly. But you must make other checks to make sure that the turbo is messed up before blaming it. Did you need to resurface the head before putting on the new gasket?
Old 06-30-2009, 10:35 AM
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Default Re: can bad turbo seals cause white smoke out exhaust?

negative on resurface the head. checked with a straight edge and it was fine.

i also get a little bit of blowby out of the breather hole on the valve cover and a little out of the oil dipstick hole but i think that is normal for a build bottom end.

any other suggestions?

Also is there a way i can test or check out the turbo seals besides removing the manifold and putting in the stock manifold (aka taking the turbo out of the equation). Like if i take the downpipe off will there be excessive oil buildup or any signs that the seals went bad?
Old 06-30-2009, 10:39 AM
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Default Re: can bad turbo seals cause white smoke out exhaust?

yes, remove the downpipe and see if it has oil in it or on the hot side of the turbo.
Is your oil return on the turbo positioned correctly, cuz it could build up in there and come out of the turbo.
Old 06-30-2009, 11:07 AM
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Default Re: can bad turbo seals cause white smoke out exhaust?

oil return like hasn't changed and it's been fine so far.

how would i distinguish oil buildup in the downpipe instead of just normal exhaust black buildup?
Old 06-30-2009, 11:32 AM
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Default Re: can bad turbo seals cause white smoke out exhaust?

no,
turbos DO NOT have oil seals
Old 06-30-2009, 12:50 PM
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Default Re: can bad turbo seals cause white smoke out exhaust?

Originally Posted by TiAL
no,
turbos DO NOT have oil seals
Dawg.. you gotta EXPLAIN to them what they believe seals are, don't just beat 'em down.. Educate a bit.

#11 is a SEALING RING. The small sealing ring on the turbine shaft is also what people look at as "seals".
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Old 06-30-2009, 01:26 PM
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Default Re: can bad turbo seals cause white smoke out exhaust?

Originally Posted by oranginal
how would i distinguish oil buildup in the downpipe instead of just normal exhaust black buildup?

Because it's oily. No lie.
Old 06-30-2009, 01:33 PM
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Default Re: can bad turbo seals cause white smoke out exhaust?

Originally Posted by TheShodan
Dawg.. you gotta EXPLAIN to them what they believe seals are, don't just beat 'em down.. Educate a bit.

#11 is a SEALING RING. The small sealing ring on the turbine shaft is also what people look at as "seals".
both of which are not for oil, one is for air, one is for gas, which if 'blown' would let air/gas into the CHRA, not oil out
Old 07-01-2009, 12:49 PM
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Default Re: can bad turbo seals cause white smoke out exhaust?

smoking less now, i had too much oil in the engine. Getting very little blowby now from the breather hole and dipstick.

Now it just smokes mostly after the car is fully warmed up and when i rev it around 2000 and up.

Looks like it has to be oil as i see a blue-ish tint to it.

I'm thinking now maybe valve guide/seals and i think i can rule out the turbo.

I would think if it was the turbo it would smoke all the time especially in the high rpms when oil pressure is higher, although i do have an oil restrictor so i know that helps protect the seal from going out.

thoughts or suggestions?
Old 07-01-2009, 02:46 PM
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Default Re: can bad turbo seals cause white smoke out exhaust?

you might wanna do compression/leakdown test.
Old 07-01-2009, 02:55 PM
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Default Re: can bad turbo seals cause white smoke out exhaust?

Its all good man. Your motor is fine. I HAD THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. My old turbo went out, had it rebuilt, put everything back together, drove it around for like 2000 miles, let it sit for a while, then went to fire it up one day and smoke everywhere. Turns out I put the wrong oil restrictor in the feed line. Car would start up fine, but as soon as it warmed up it would put out a nice steady stream of white/blue smoke. And if i revved it at all it would fog out the neighborhood. I was freaking out thinking somehting was wrong. Did a compression check and everyting was fine. Anyway, after research someone told me about the oil restrictor. Had to get a new turbo. Ebay was cheaper than getting my old one rebuilt. Put all back together with a correct restrictor and 5000 miles later still chugging. HOPE THIS HELPS>
Old 07-01-2009, 02:58 PM
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Default Re: can bad turbo seals cause white smoke out exhaust?

I pulled the feed line off and stuck it in a 2 liter and turned the car over. it filled the 2 liter HALF WAY in like 4 seconds. With the right restrictor in it was more like 20 seconds. Thought i would add that
Old 07-02-2009, 04:10 PM
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Default Re: can bad turbo seals cause white smoke out exhaust?

Originally Posted by decklyn18
Its all good man. Your motor is fine.
When it blows blue oil smoke, obviously burned in the combustion chamber?

Okay.
Old 07-03-2009, 03:24 PM
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Default Re: can bad turbo seals cause white smoke out exhaust?

Originally Posted by Joseph Davis
When it blows blue oil smoke, obviously burned in the combustion chamber?

Okay.
So why is there oil dripping from my turbine housing heavily? Everytime I pull my exhaust manifold off there is no oil in the exhaust port of the head and my car smokes when I get on it and lightly at idle.
Old 07-03-2009, 03:29 PM
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Default Re: can bad turbo seals cause white smoke out exhaust?

Originally Posted by TiAL
both of which are not for oil, one is for air, one is for gas, which if 'blown' would let air/gas into the CHRA, not oil out
No kidding, Big man.. These are the misplaced name configurations people have.

Don't make me come over there and slap you, haus.. ;-) Especially after you got hitched..
Old 07-03-2009, 05:39 PM
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Default Re: can bad turbo seals cause white smoke out exhaust?

Originally Posted by decklyn18
Its all good man. Your motor is fine. I HAD THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. My old turbo went out, had it rebuilt, put everything back together, drove it around for like 2000 miles, let it sit for a while, then went to fire it up one day and smoke everywhere. Turns out I put the wrong oil restrictor in the feed line.

LMAO no it's not fine... at least yours anyways... lol
Old 07-03-2009, 05:49 PM
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Default Re: can bad turbo seals cause white smoke out exhaust?

Originally Posted by crucian
So why is there oil dripping from my turbine housing heavily? Everytime I pull my exhaust manifold off there is no oil in the exhaust port of the head and my car smokes when I get on it and lightly at idle.
It should smoke white, then. Oil smoke is only blue when burned in the combustion chamber... white smoke is from being "dripped" on a hot surface.

Most likely, if the smoke is blue, you have some engine damage resulting from 70 octane oil entering your intake tract and therefore the engine. It's not often that a turbo will literally pour oil from the hotside without it having already come out of the intake side, as well, for a good amount of time.
Old 07-07-2009, 02:13 AM
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Default Re: can bad turbo seals cause white smoke out exhaust?

hell ive been havong the same problem. ive redun the oil return everything that has been said besides the oil restrictor in the feed line or a buddy that builds turbos has different fittings im praying that will fix it i really dont wanna have to go n/a.....Its either i figure this out hopefully with all your help and get it all tuned (s300) or take the turbo off and?????? well i dont know i would love some more advice thanks
Old 07-07-2009, 07:01 AM
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Default Re: can bad turbo seals cause white smoke out exhaust?

There's really no other advice than what was given about checking oil pressures and feed fittings. Don't take off the water lines to "solve the problem"
Old 07-07-2009, 07:38 AM
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Default Re: can bad turbo seals cause white smoke out exhaust?

Originally Posted by TheShodan
No kidding, Big man.. These are the misplaced name configurations people have.

Don't make me come over there and slap you, haus.. ;-) Especially after you got hitched..
what happend the last time you challenged me?

here is a reminder, it's now in my pocket
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Old 07-07-2009, 07:40 AM
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Default Re: can bad turbo seals cause white smoke out exhaust?

OH hooooo. you got JOKES!! I'll back at 'cha!!
Old 07-07-2009, 07:50 AM
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Default Re: can bad turbo seals cause white smoke out exhaust?

So replacing this sealing ring, will not stop oil smoke in the turbo?
I'm confused?

So which parts should one have to replace, to stop a turbo from smoking?
Old 07-07-2009, 08:51 AM
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Default Re: can bad turbo seals cause white smoke out exhaust?

thicker oil and oil restrictor?


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