Smoking at idle, Bad turbo?

[Mike70gtx]

I'm starting to notice quite a bit of smoke, escpecially after I drive a while and come to a stop light. I also noticed smoke coming from under the hood around the turbo housing. Could the turbo be bad? Is it also possible that the valve guides are bad, didn't notice smoke on start up.
It's a stock turbo and was only supposed to have a few hundred miles on it. Yeah, right>

 

[Jerryl]

I'm starting to notice quite a bit of smoke, escpecially after I drive a while and come to a stop light. I also noticed smoke coming from under the hood around the turbo housing. Could the turbo be bad? Is it also possible that the valve guides are bad, didn't notice smoke on start up.
It's a stock turbo and was only supposed to have a few hundred miles on it. Yeah, right>

From the read, it sounds like the smoking started after the turbo exchange?
Valve guides may be bad but they do not "suddenly" go bad.

Check for oil after the TB on the inlet side of the turbo.
It should be dry.

Remove the down pipe and see if it is moist.
Check for exhause leaks under the hood.

Also, verify your PCV.
You can diconnect it, take a 10 mile drive and see if the smoke diminishes.

As far as smoke under the hood ......
Are the bolts on the turbo tight and no leakage? Look for leaks at the exhaust elbow at the turbo.
Also verify the doughnut seal and uppipe for corrosion under the mesh (If you have the OEM up pipe)
This is not "residual oil" from installtion is it?

That should keep you busy for about 4 hours. Ask me how I know


Edit:
OOOOPS, hope you are talking about the 84 and not your 87

 

[Mike70gtx]

I'll check that stuff. This is on my hot air car. It seems like this started when I put stock turbo back on and changed from synthetic oil back to regular. Almost immediately after that I got a clicking sound like a stuck lifter. Put some additive in and it eventually went away. At idle could the oil be seeping back through valve guides and be more noticable?

 

[Jerryl]

I'll check that stuff. This is on my hot air car. It seems like this started when I put stock turbo back on and changed from synthetic oil back to regular. Almost immediately after that I got a clicking sound like a stuck lifter. Put some additive in and it eventually went away. At idle could the oil be seeping back through valve guides and be more noticable?

If the oil is seeping back through the guides at idle if would have to be at the intake guides as the exhaust is normally under pressure. Having stated that, you may have some worn intake valve guide seals, but .........

I would suspect the turbo if that is the only thing you changed and are now burning/smoking oil.

 

[Matto]

but you shouldnt get any smoke from inside the engine bay, it should be coming out the exhaust if its the turbo.

I would check the oil drainback tube, make sure it is on correctly. Then check the PCV valve

These things I would check if the smoke is coming from the engine bay.

Matt

 

[Jerryl]

but you shouldnt get any smoke from inside the engine bay, it should be coming out the exhaust if its the turbo............

Well, I respectfully disagree with this statement.
Note that the only change was the turbo .......... and oil.
If the seal on the intake side of the turbo is blown, and the oil gets into the engine, and it burns the oil, and the up or downpipe is/are leaking, you WILL get smoke under the hood. Trust me ..............

........I would check the oil drainback tube, make sure it is on correctly...........

Agree ........ Forgot about that one.

 

[Matto]

Well it shouldnt have smoke in the engine bay if everything is tight

I have never had a leaky up pipe or header except for right at the crossover junction, so I was thinking about my own car.

I always use the high temp sealant on all joints as well.

Matt

 

[BRAD_PADGETT]

What color is the smoke? I had a pressurized block which threw oil into the intake and the smoke was intermitted and white. THe original OEM uppipe will leak over time-mine went bad as well. Good luck- Brad

 

[FWD turbo]

I had a pressurized block which threw oil into the intake and the smoke was intermitted and white.

What caused your block to be pressurized Brad, and how did you fix it?

 

[Jerryl]

Well it shouldnt have smoke in the engine bay if everything is tight
I have never had a leaky up pipe or header except for right at the crossover junction, so I was thinking about my own car. I always use the high temp sealant on all joints as well.

Agree!
One "should" not get any smoke under the hood or out of the exhaust …….. and one "should" be able to run 12 PSI boost on a HA with zero knock.

If you have never had any leaks from your OEM up or down pipe, or between the elbow and turbine casting on a John Craig rebuild turbo, consider yourself fortunate or knowledgeable or proficient.
In no way am I downgrading the work from John C, he does superior work and would send a Turbo to him again anytime!

Anyway, we are getting of track …………..
Mike70, You may want to verify all connections of up and down pipe and (an important one as motioned by Matto), the oil return tube. It is may not be easy to find the source under the hood with the OEM fan blowing across the compartment. If there is smoke out of the tailpipe at idle, there are other mechanical issues.

 

[Mike70gtx]

Quick update. I haven't had time to do any major diagnostics. But I'm leaning toward the turbo. Car can idle and not smoke, I rev it up some (5 to 10 seconds) and it doesn't smoke right at that time. Right after that it will smoke for a little while. The oil in the engine compartment is seeping down the bracket that the turbo is fastened to and seems to be coming out right before the exhaust side of turbo (where the intake side and exhaust side of turbo come together) and it bolts to bracket.