On thursday night I started the car for the first time after the turbo install (open DP at this point, so I didn't have an 02 sensor), and for the first 3 or 4 mineuts, whenever I reved it up, at all, it would let out some white smoke. At first I though - CRAP! not the oil seals... but the smoke didn't smell like burnt oil at all. After running it for about ten mineuts, the smoking stopped completely.
Here are my theories:
1. I spilled a decent amount of coolant in the engine bay, along with degresser, and other liquids throughout the install, so they were just smoking a little due to the heat
2. The lack of an O2 sensor for some reason caused the smoke
3. It was FREAKIN COLD in the garage, so the car just had to warm up, and the smoke was the same smoke you see coming out of exhausts on any normal winter day
4. The seals are actually dead, and I'm screwed.

I'm not terriably worried about this, just had some free time and thought I'd get you guys' input on it

 

well a buddy of mine his turbo was somking last week and it wa his turbo seals. He just bought a new turbo and solved the problem. His smoke was a blue-ish color though.

 

So the smoke stopped, right?

Was it actually coming off the turbo or just the exhaust or both? When mine smoked, it was cause my oil return was crimped.

 

I'm honestly not sure where the smoke was coming from, because it was open DP. Right now I'm thinking that it was just normal exhaust smoke from a cold start.

But yeah, the smoke stopped after a few mineuts


[Modified by johnisenglish, 6:18 PM 1/9/2003]

 

the initial start after install always seem to do that. I first saw it happen on a greddy kit. It's probaly just burning off new painting coating. But do your checks

 

yes both my turbos smoked when I first installed them. Normal. It should go away in a day.

 

Damn, whenever mine quits smoking I know it's time to add some oil

Seriously, if the turbo is leaking oil past it's seals, the smoke should be blue and smell like oil. White smoke is either coolant or more likely paint/grease burning off of the new parts.

-Chris

 

Cool. With what all of you are saying in mind, I'm feeling pretty confident with my origional thought that it's not the sign of any big problem - just residue burning away

 

yep, have fun

 

yea mine smokes every once in a while but only at a idle. wish I knew why

 

Yea, mine smoked right after the install too, but it went away the first couple of days.

 

mine has been in my car for about 2-3months already