Alright guys I have a big problem. I have a recently built B16a2 (about 5000 mi.), stock sleeves, 9:1 CP's, Eagle rods, tunned with Crome running a 57 trim T3/To4E Garrett turbo.... So I checked my oil about a week ago and it was damn low. Obviously I thought either burning or leaking. I replaced my spark plugs at that time and all of them looked fine, and no oil around any of them except for a little, but not much, around the threads on #3. I had my mechanic today put my car up on the lift and found no leaks anywhere.

One thing we did notice is that the feed line from the oil pan to the turbo sits right above my traction bars and has had a kink in it from time that the turbo has been on. I noticed this when I had my tuner do the install, and did not think of it as being a problem.

Now, at idle when warming up or sitting at idle for a period of time, it will start to blow whiteish smoke out; while driving under any condition (high revving, full boost, or just regular driving) no smoke comes out and my exhaust tip shows no signs of lean fuel. But I can smell that burnt oil smell coming from somewhere in the engine bay after I drive it. I haven't done a leak down or compression test, but if I had a ringland blown, wouldn't I blow smoke out while I am driving? Here are some thoughts:

1. Since the feed line has a kink in it, is it possible that the turbo could be spitting out oil through the exhaust because of build up?

2. The head gasket could be it too, but wouldn't I have oil around my spark plugs.

3. I don't have a catch can, just the hose that runs from the intake to the breather.

4. Could it be in the tune?

I really would appreciate some communication from anyone with any valuable knowledge or suggestions to try and locate my problem other than pulling the motor and head right away. Thanks a lot gentlemen.

 

i am lost, your feed that you are talking about around the traction bar, is it the big -10 line? that should be the return, and if it is kinked, then yes you may be burning it as it is having a hard time getting back into the oil pan and may be squeeking past the seals. and even if it isnt if the return line is kinked, you still need to adress it anyway.

 

if its oil backing up then u need to fix it quick cause u'll smoke the seals.

 

to me it sounds more like a turbo thing rather than a head problem. Had the same issue with mine..had a kink in the oil return line and was blowing white smoke. Fixed that issue, but when i took the turbo off this weekend there's obviously oil leaking somewhere into the exhaust side, and it's just burning off when the turbo warms up. once it's hot, the issue goes away. also, you're running a turbo timer right so it's not coked up oil burning off when you start the car?

 

Thanks for the salvation in your replies. Yeah, I am going to fix the line in the morning and hope it solves the problem. And no I don't have a turbo timer, but I do let my care idle for a minute to a minute and a half before I shut it off. Is this not a sufficient method? I thought I read somewhere that a turbo timer is not a must if you let the car idle for a little bit.

 

yeah that's fine. actually, i do the same thing since i'm too cheap to buy one right now and have lots of other items in line ahead of that...

 

Sounds like the issues i was having before i fixed my oil return line!


GL!