rings/valves/turbo

[MA70Snowman]

Okay i've been trying to figure this out for awhile now. unfortunatly have not had much change laying around to properly go for a decent diagonsis. Any way

Car: 1987 Turbo 5speed
Problem:
* GREY smoke after boosting, (amount of smoke is related to time and level of boost, longer more smoke, more psi more smoke.)
* Smoke occasionally at idle. (hold gas peddle at about 2K and it blows out after a couple seconds)
* hints of smoke under hood comming around ex. mani and turbo.
* liberal coating of oil in IC pipes
* Have already replaced turbo.
* Smoke smells strongly of oil.
* Coolant levels remain fine.

Have not done a recent compression test but compression was almost perfect 2 months ago. w/ ~3 psi variables between cylinders

MODS: Lex afm w/ 3" filter adapter, 3" elbow back exhaust. pvc IC piping, HKS SSQV, Profec-B Spec II (set to 6(lo) 11(hi) 80% of driving done on low), 550 rx-7 injectors flow tested and cleaned, LC-1 WB, Megan AFPR, oil catch can with NA junction pipe plumped to catch can then to TB port (had it T'd to goto TB and accordian but revised) Charcoal can removed.

 

[WhtMa71]

So wait...your pcv system is routed to the TB vac. port? Maybe im not understanding what youre saying. A poor pcv system can make your engine burn oil and a little vac. hose connected to the TB isnt sufficient. Are your spark plugs oil fouled? Does it blow smoke out when you first crank it up in the morning?

 

[MA70Snowman]

So wait...your pcv system is routed to the TB vac. port? Maybe im not understanding what youre saying. A poor pcv system can make your engine burn oil and a little vac. hose connected to the TB isnt sufficient. Are your spark plugs oil fouled? Does it blow smoke out when you first crank it up in the morning?

My PCV is routed to the BIG port facing inwards (towards the spark plug galley, its the stock location for the PCV system) spark plugs have normal soot on them nothing to be worried about.. the engine runs FINE. aside from the smoke you couldn't tell anything was wrong. and no smoke when i first crank it in the morning. doesn't get noticable till its warmed.

 

[WhtMa71]

Did you replace the turbo with a rebuilt one or was it just a used one?

 

[mhopemk3]

If you rev it and let it idle down will it smoke? If so, unbolt the turbo from the manifold and pull it off enough to leave a gap between the turbo and manifold. Rev it and see if smoke comes out of the manifold. If you have oil in the pipes then check the PCV as mentioned above.

 

[blackturbona]

these symptoms are identical to my car, except i get blue smoke after boosting and idling not grey.... and my turbo isnt fresh

 

[MA70Snowman]

RedEJ8- Replaced w/ a used one but checked the specs no in/out shaft play and acceptable side to side play. (i honestly can't imagine 2 turbos being bad, and the one i pulled off was pretty well on its way out the door)

mhopemk3 - if i rev it it'll usually clear out if its smoking, I will try seperating the turbo from the manifold and see what that yields. as far as checking the PCV system.. WHAT exactly would I be looking for. I"m running big lines to and from the catch can. and from every post i've read about catch cans its routed correctly, at one point i even went the extra length to "T" it off comming from the catch can, to route it to the accordian pipe AND the TB (like the stock application) I figured it might have something to do w / my smoking and so got rid of the T and had it routed to JUST the TB, but it didn't make any difference.

 

[88YotaTurbo]

Pics of your catch can routing? or a paint bmp diagram

 

[MA70Snowman]

 

[88YotaTurbo]

i have mine set up the same way.

 

[MA70Snowman]

Yeah like i said, I read all the posts i could find on the Catch can, i know its good, there's just a debat on if the red is better then the red+green or not.

sooo... any other ideas out there. I don't want to pay the 94$ for a diagnostic if I don't have to.

 

[MA70Snowman]

anyone?

 

[MA70Snowman]

UPDATE: so i took her out to the DMV today. got on the highway and went up to 12 psi.. no smoke.. kept accel.. fine.. let off the accel.. POOOOFF!!!! HUGE GREY cloud of smoke behind me... lasted about 100-150 Meters and then cleared up.. cruised.. no smoke.. 1psi.. let off gas poof little smoke. now on the way home.. i took it to 6 psi.. let off smoke got back on it went away really quick.. then let off and POOF huge smoke. i did notice when i did that I could actually see a little blue in between getting off of the gas and getting on the gas. got home and popped the hood some smoke comming from around the turbo/exhuast area but not alot. (grey also) so... bottom line i'm fking stumped.

 

[mhopemk3]

Just an FYI.. I have a freshly built 60 trim that I have to send back due to smoking. It can happen.

 

[MA70Snowman]

so out of shear boredom i decided to start tearing the engine apart looking for SOMETHING, ANYTHING, that might clue me to what might be my culprit.. so i take of the accordian hose.. OIL! i guess i never caught it before because i usualy let the turbo timer run and i guess it cleared it out.. this time i got home and was thinking of keeping it warm for a compression test so shut it off and let cool for 20 mins went out side and pulled it. So.. thinking the turbos bad.. again. would blown turbo seals be grey smoke?