Are my turbo seals leaking

[Justin Terry]

I was wondering if there is any way to check and see if there is any way to check to see if the turbo seals are leaking. The reason I think they are leaking is because the car smokes on start up. Usually it only smokes when I crank it up when its cold. But sometimes it does it when its warm also. But it doesnt smoke once im moving or getting on it. thanks

 

[Justin Terry]

woops repeated a sentence.

 

[turbo buicks]

you could probably disconnect the downpipe (assuming you are using a stock 2 piece downpipe) and look for oil. also my dads 87 vette smokes after starting it up but stops after about 2-3 secs. it justs spits a bunch of smoke out quickly. my friend said it could be the valve stem seals leaking oil into the cylinder while the enigne sits then burning up in the cylinder during the intial combustion cycles which would explain the brief smoke at startup after sitting for a while.

 

[Justin Terry]

I forgot to add that the motor only has about 1200 miles on it and the heads are mildy ported stock iron heads. That have new valve stem seals. The seals are only on the intake. The parts place said they didnt have them on the exhaust valve. No the downpipe isnt stock.Its a 3 inch. thanks

 

[turbo buicks]

they are correct, the exhaust valves dont have stem seals. how many miles on the turbo? is it new or used? maybe just some condensation in the pipes or something. if it was a turbo seal i would think it would smoke always but i may be wrong. who did the rebuild on the engine?

 

[Justin Terry]

I bought the turbo used its a 61 with and .82 exhaust housing. I couldnt tell how many miles are on it but it didnt have any shaft play at all. The place that built the motor is a machine shop around where i live. They have built a couple turbo buick motors. Including a stage 2 girdled one.

 

[turbo buicks]

the only guess i can give to whats leaking is the turbo seals and since it was used you dont know its exact history. i would take off the DP and look for oil in it or in the turbo b/c thats where it sounds like its coming from. the car does smoke out the exhaust right? if not it could be a number of things, rear main leaking on hot crossover, oil burning off as engine heats up, etc. i had oil that leaked on mt crossover and if i remember right it did look like it was smoking from the back when i drove forward.

 

[Justin Terry]

Yes the smoke is coming out of the exhaust becuase when i crank it up I can get out and look and it comes out both pipes. So the only way to check it to take the downpipe off. I kinda didnt want to do that because i put 1 of those gaskets on it from ATR and it will proly tear and it cost 12 or so dollars and and has only been on for like 800 miles. But if I have to then I have to. Thanks

 

[cmokem]

Normally smoking right after start-up is an indication of valve seals. When my turbo bearings went (xhaust side) in would smoke after idling for 5 minutes then stop. I pulled the downpipe off and could not see any oil residue becaause it all burnt off but you could smell the burnt oil. Do you have any oil in the intake track. How do the plugs look??
HTH's
Bob

 

[Justin Terry]

Where do I need to look in the intake track the up pipe. And I will chack the plugs and take a look. I will get back to you and tell you wut they look like.

 

[cmokem]

Justin..I would check your up-pipe and I/C...if you do see oil in there chances are its the compressor side of the turbo leaking

HTH's
Bob

 

[Justin Terry]

Plugs look fine. They look about brand new. No oil residue in the up pipe or throttle body. So I dont know what it is.

 

[cmokem]

if you warm the car up then let it sit for 15 minutes and restart the car will it smoke...if it does its prolly the valve seals

Bob