Turbo seals?

[Supra Blues]

A while ago I posted questions on smoking exhaust.

Symptons: Would not smoke upon immediate startup. After about 30 seconds it would smoke at all times and ecspecially when given gas, and when given gas it would leave a trace of black spray on the concrete directly behind exhaust tip.

Last week I pulled the upper IC pipes, no oil. I also pulled the 02 sensor and it was covered in oil.

Yesterday I pulled the turbo off. The lower IC pipe that connects to the turbo did not have very much oil in it at all. The accordian hose where the PCV is connected had some traces of oil, but nothing I would consider excess.

Here's the important part:

Turbo elbow was soaked in oil. The exhaust side of the turbo had a whitish, milky residue around the wastegate. The exhaust side impeller had traces of oil. Also, the turbo inlet (side that mounts to exhaust manifold) had some traces of oil in it too, but the exhaust manifod itself was dry.

Everyone has already said turbo seals so unless anyone else has any other opinions, I am gonna first, try and replace the seals myself or just buy a rebuilt one or have mine rebuilt.

Also, my turbo has the regular CT-26 stamped on it, but it also as the letter "A" on it. What does that stand for?

 

[MisterTurbineTwister]

Generally, you won't see oil anywhere in the exhaust manifold, even if oil did pass through it. The manifold will burn anything and everything off of itself just from heat.

You could have bad seals or the turbo housings could be distorted or fractured, creating a leak too. The milky residue kind of scares me. You should drop your oil and check inside one of your cam covers (or pull the oil cap) and inspect for signs of rust or brownish residue.

When the turbo seals go out, it does a lot of the same things that a bad head gasket will do (mix antifreeze and oil, throw oil in the intake side of the engine, etc.). Check your antifreeze level to see if it's low. The seal inside the turbo could have allowed both oil and antifreeze to go places it shouldn't.

Sounds like you need to rebuild your turbo or get a new one. But it would be a good idea to check for signs of a blown head gasket (or improperly torqued one) as well.

I'm not sure what an "A" cast stands for. I don't know if my turbo has this either. Just never noted it, I guess.

 

[Supra Blues]

The engine was just rebuilt. It was torqued properly.

I checked the oil filler cap and no white-ish residue. The coolant is not low.

The oil was just changed recently and I don't recall seeing anything that looked like mixing of the oil and anti-freeze.

yes, I too was a bit worried when I saw the milky residue.

The only thing that is still used on the engine (other then sensors and big components) is the turbo and its seals.

 

[MKIIINA]

didnt you already have a thread like this and we said that it was your seals and you should replace them?

yup you already asked about this......http://www.supramania.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1361
come on man.....

 

[MisterTurbineTwister]

If you've been through the engine, that narrows it down to your turbo and your diagnosis is right. I would opt for replacing the unit rather than try to rebuild it. It may or may not accept a rebuild, but a different compression and flow ratio turbo may benefit to the HP and TQ numbers.

Now would be a good time to start looking into increasing your boost and fuel numbers.

 

[Supra Blues]

didnt you already have a thread like this and we said that it was your seals and you should replace them?

yup you already asked about this......http://www.supramania.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1361
come on man.....

Did you read my first post?

A while ago I posted questions on smoking exhaust.

Come on man....

I am just trying to get a definitive answer before I spend $500 bucks on a rebuild and it was just this weekend that I had time to pull the turbo and turbo elbow to see what was really happening. In addition, there is a few new paragraphs of new symptoms I found after pulling it.

Didn't realize you were posting cop. :icon_roll

 

[Supra Blues]

If you've been through the engine, that narrows it down to your turbo and your diagnosis is right. I would opt for replacing the unit rather than try to rebuild it. It may or may not accept a rebuild, but a different compression and flow ratio turbo may benefit to the HP and TQ numbers.

Now would be a good time to start looking into increasing your boost and fuel numbers.

I'd like to but I am at the end of my dough rope and the car needs a crap load of other restoration.

I found a place near me that would rebuild it for $500. I am still checking on other prices though. Gonna stay stock for now as it needs new interior, paint, wheels, tires, windshield, brakes, shocks, bushings, center support bearing, etc.

 

[MisterTurbineTwister]

Don't drive your car on a bad turbo. It can kill your engine just like a bad head gasket. Fix the turbo first, as it will cause you a hell of a lot more cost than just the initial $500 in damages done to the engine otherwise if you leave it and drive on it.

 

[MKIIINA]

Did you read my first post?



Come on man....

I am just trying to get a definitive answer before I spend $500 bucks on a rebuild and it was just this weekend that I had time to pull the turbo and turbo elbow to see what was really happening. In addition, there is a few new paragraphs of new symptoms I found after pulling it.

Didn't realize you were posting cop. :icon_roll

not a post cop :umno: just that this could have been solved in one thread rather than starting a new one. that other one will now die a death w/o knowing what happened or what needed to be fixed.

regardless 500 sounds like alot for a rebuild there are other places that will do an upgrade for that much (providing that the core is good). majastic turbo for one will do it for less than that.

 

[Boostedstr8six]

Yeah man, it sounds like the oil is getting past the turbine seals (hot side). The milky gunk could be from exhaust condensation mixing with the oil. That, plus fresh oil in the elbow indicate a relatively short run time the last time you ran it, otherwise the oil would have likely burned off. Just my hypothesis. Your best bet is to find a decent used ct26. That'll cost from $75-150 so it's a lot cheaper than a rebuild or upgraded rebuild.

I'm pretty much in the same boat, although mine isn't leaking as bad yet.

 

[Supra Blues]

not a post cop :umno: just that this could have been solved in one thread rather than starting a new one. that other one will now die a death w/o knowing what happened or what needed to be fixed.

regardless 500 sounds like alot for a rebuild there are other places that will do an upgrade for that much (providing that the core is good). majastic turbo for one will do it for less than that.

Okay, that makes more sense then your orginal post which I thought was a little inflamatory.

As far as the other post dying w/o the solution - if someone in the future does a search for "turbo seals" or "white smoke" or "smoking exhaust" the search will respond with both threads and the answer will be available.

Anyhoo, I called around yesterday afternoon again and found someone who would rebuild it for about $400.

Yes the last time I ran it only for about 1 minute or so. Smoking so bad I didn't want to drive it anywhere.

 

[Supra Blues]

Reviving the thread to let everyone know the following:


Turbo was rebuilt for $450.

Rebuild = no smoke = me happy... :icon_cool

Was basically smoking all the time towards the end there.

Early symptoms were smoke upon decel (engine braking) and accel and idle.

At cruising speed though (freeway) not a whole lot.

Anyways, thanks to everyone to help me diagnose the prob.

 

[MKIIINA]

thanks for the conclusion to a thread sounds like you got it all worked out now. have fun w a new working turbo!