Bad Turbo Seal? Where To Send??

[ChevyNo1]

Hey guys, I don't have a Buick, but I've got a twin-turbo Camaro, and I need your help, if anybody can help it's someone from here.

I recently put a brand new motor/heads into my car. I've been experiencing blue smoke on cold startup, not right away though. Takes about 30 seconds for it to start. It only lasts for about 10 minutes, then I can't see any smoke at all. I figured it was valve seals ( since it does it on decel also ) and had them replaced. WHILE the car was at the shop it started leaking oil from the passenger side turbo. I don't know much about turbos, but it appears to be leaking from the center section, I guess that would be the seal has gone bad? It's not a fast leak, it leaves a 2-inch puddle after sitting about 12 hours. So if the car has only sat 2 hours, it smokes, but not as much. I have checked and it appears it is only leaking on the exhaust side, does not appear to be getting into the intake.

I am in Phoenix, AZ. Do any of you know of local places to fix this? If not, who would you recommend? And how much will it cost? These are Garrett ball-bearing turbos, 35's.

I had plans to dyno-tune the car this weekend . . . if it is truly only leaking into the exhaust there's no reason why I can't tune it correct? If it were leaking into the intake that would be a different story.

Thanks all!!

- Dug

 

[JCotton]

Dug,


Couple of things first, are these new turbos and if so, what kind of oil pressure you running. Those turbos don't like more than 40lbs oil pressure and your returns need to be sufficient, usually #10 lines. If the turbos are bad, according to my source, Garrett does not repair them. Replacement cost is somewhere in the $1000.00 range for each one, that would be just for the center section, reusing your comp and turbine covers.

 

[ChevyNo1]

Hey, the turbos are not new, but they don't have much mileage on them . . . I would guess 15K miles tops. I am not positive on the pressure, but I think it's around 40 when warmed up . . . I'll take a look. This is a kit put together by Incon Turbos ( now defunct ). It worked perfectly on my old setup, nothing has been changed other than the motor.

Thanks a lot for the help!!

- Dug