Smoking stock T3 turbo???

[Jan Larsson]

Newly built engine for my 89 TTA and as my old stock T3 turbo had some up and down shaft play and I also got oil in the IC I bought a low millage stock T3 turbo that not been used for a number of years, no shaft play and looked good (from the outside).

Got engine back in the car and running so need to start tuning bu I noticed the turbo seems to smoke from underneath the turbo heat shield cover .... and it does not seem to be from where the passenger side header connects to the turbo or where the elbow for the DP connects.

Any chance the turbo is gone and need a rebuild? What would be the symptoms if the exhaust side is gone or the seals are gone, would you actually see it smoking?

 

[Jan Larsson]

Maybe not clear in my description but seems like exhaust smoke from the turbo (not the elbow area and not where the passenger side header connects).

Can the turbo exhaust side leak so there's exhaust smoke coming out somewhere?

As mentioned above no up down play or in/out so feels good.

 

[russgoodman]

Can the turbo exhaust side leak so there's exhaust smoke coming out somewhere?

Yes, I just replaced my stock turbo for this same reason. Guess what, no smoke now.

 

[Jan Larsson]

Yes, I just replaced my stock turbo for this same reason. Guess what, no smoke now.

That's what I suspected .... so a rebuild would be in place then?

 

[russgoodman]

That's what I suspected .... so a rebuild would be in place then?

I'm pretty sure that would fix your problem. You could pull the downpipe off and see if you can see any oil in there first.