Am I looking at signs of bad turbo seal?

[nightmare]

I've had my '88 turbo for about a month now. I've put in a new clutch, fixed some wiring issues, re-did the vacuum lines, and waiting on my EGR stuff to come in so I can re-install it. The cars been great after I got all the little stuff fixed on it. I have an AEM tru-boost gauge hooked up. I usually have been running 8lbs (because it's going to be my daily driver). But I have my second setting set at 10.5lbs (for when people want to play:icon_evil).
Lately.... not everytime, or all the time. My car has been smoking quiet a bit while I'm stopped at an intersection. It always smoked when I start it up (valve seals more than likely).I've used maybe a quart of oil in about 800miles. Which the car's valve cover does leak some to. It carries boost fine, and as much smoke as I'm seeing... I would think it would've fouled a plug by now. The smoke doesn't smell sweet... It just smells like my old riding mower.
If a seal is bad... How long can you limp on it? I just got done sinking $1200 in it 2 weeks ago. So I gotta recover from that.
And how hard is it to do the rebuild on the turbo? I have the mechanical knowledge to tackle the job. But is there any special tools?

 

[rawmk3]

I've had my '88 turbo for about a month now. I've put in a new clutch, fixed some wiring issues, re-did the vacuum lines, and waiting on my EGR stuff to come in so I can re-install it. The cars been great after I got all the little stuff fixed on it. I have an AEM tru-boost gauge hooked up. I usually have been running 8lbs (because it's going to be my daily driver). But I have my second setting set at 10.5lbs (for when people want to play:icon_evil).
Lately.... not everytime, or all the time. My car has been smoking quiet a bit while I'm stopped at an intersection. It always smoked when I start it up (valve seals more than likely).I've used maybe a quart of oil in about 800miles. Which the car's valve cover does leak some to. It carries boost fine, and as much smoke as I'm seeing... I would think it would've fouled a plug by now. The smoke doesn't smell sweet... It just smells like my old riding mower.
If a seal is bad... How long can you limp on it? I just got done sinking $1200 in it 2 weeks ago. So I gotta recover from that.
And how hard is it to do the rebuild on the turbo? I have the mechanical knowledge to tackle the job. But is there any special tools?

A turbo job isnt something to tackle by yourself. Atleast the actual rebuilding of one. I would send it out to someone and have them rebuild it. There is a shop on the forum that can rebuild em (cant think of whom off the top of my head). But you may wanna check your head gasket. Do a compression test on the motor before you do the turbo. I have a BHG in my 89 right now, and that is the only thing it was doing. As i would come to a stop it would blow a ton of blue smoke out, and when I put my aftermarket temp gauge in i found that I was running hot to. But it didnt show anything on the stock gauge. I thought valve seals at first too, but sorry to say in my case that just wasnt the case. I would check the HG though before you bother putting the money into the turbo.

 

[nightmare]

That's what I'm worried is going to be wrong with it:cry:. I don't have any of the other signs of a BHG. But that doesn't mean it's hiding from me. I'll have to get my compression tester out and get one of those block testers from the parts store. And check it all out this weekend. The previous owner did say he did the re-torque on the factory headbolts. But with 167,000miles under it's belt. I think it's time:nono:.
Well... I guess it's beck to driving the escort GT again:3d_frown:

 

[rawmk3]

Block test it, and do a leak down. That would be my first parts to figure out what is wrong. If your losing oil check rings, and compression. It could be burning in the combustion chamber, and you notice it more at a stop.

 

[fixitman04]

check the axial play in the turbo, and check for signs of oil in your turbo piping. if no oil in the pipes/play in the shafts look elsewhere (bhg)

 

[ATL88Supra]

ok 1st off, do not listen to those guys..., there are only 3 places where you can get smoke from (OIL) asumeing it is oil you ARE burning Turbo seals Rings, and valves, that being said start lookin

smoke colors follows, White coolant, blue oil, black fuel

 

[Rennat]

if by vavles you mean the valve stem seals... then yes. but not the vavles directly.

OEM trubo rebuild is 275, at least from the place i used.

but do a leak down test to see if your valve seats, HG, or your rings are bad... because a leak down test will tell you if any of those are wrong.

and i've been driving on my bad vavle stem seals for a little while now... my friends all laugh when i boost and they get a smoke screen. haha

 

[92TealSupra]

if by vavles you mean the valve stem seals... then yes. but not the vavles directly.

OEM trubo rebuild is 275, at least from the place i used.

but do a leak down test to see if your valve seats, HG, or your rings are bad... because a leak down test will tell you if any of those are wrong.

and i've been driving on my bad vavle stem seals for a little while now... my friends all laugh when i boost and they get a smoke screen. haha

That screen is just letting them know, they're not going to catch you.

 

[rawmk3]

ok 1st off, do not listen to those guys..., there are only 3 places where you can get smoke from (OIL) asumeing it is oil you ARE burning Turbo seals Rings, and valves, that being said start lookin

smoke colors follows, White coolant, blue oil, black fuel

Umm OK, so you really need to learn about cars. Cause that is exactly what I said. If his rings are bad, his valve stem seals, or turbo seals are bad there will be blue smoke.

A BHG is more than likely the case here, since OIL FLOWS THRU THE BLOCK and into the head. Thus if you have a BHG you will get oil in the head too (sometimes). The smoke screen he is getting is more than likely blue and black. A turbo seal would probably mess up the o2 since your talking about oil blowing out the exhaust side. And telling someone to pull the intake pipes to see if there is oil in there is pretty much a moot point since the stock PCV system doesnt have a catch can, and is going to get some oil into the intake
system.

A set of valve stem seals would be more when the car has sat and had a chance for the oil to leak down the valve guides into the head. Thus causing a smoke screen on start up only normally. ( not saying u cant get one at other times, just more on start up.)

And rings would definatly show up in a pressure test and leak down test, not to mention in HP.

 

[bluedragon17]

From what I went through when my turbo blew out, under normal acceleration it would be fine, however once I hit boost it was an instant smoke screen. And it was stupidl thick thick lingering white smoke. Did all the above mentioned tests and found nothing. Replaced the turbo and bingo no more smoke!!! Thats just my experience. I agree with the other though, do the block test and leak down. Not to repeat everyone for like the billionth time also......

 

[fixitman04]

i have been a toyota master tech since 97, worked on countless turbo cars including many supras. i shoulda been a little more specific, oil at the boost side of the turbo or excessiveoil in the charge pipes. most ct-26 turbos that i have seen seals go bad in have lost the compressor side oil seal, and commonly do not leak into the exaust side, they typically leak oil into the charge side under vaccume and then blow the oil into the air/fuel mix causing smoke. if you question the turbo at all check it for play. it is rediculously easy to check. just take the elbow off and push the compressor shaft side to side there should be little to no play, and the wheel should be clean(no oil ). if it is , your problem is somewhere else.


as for there only being three places for oil consumption to be coming from....wrong.

i have seen everything from a bad pvc valve to a bad headgasket cause iol consumption and quite a few other places in between. belive it or not i have even seen a valve cover gasket cause a car to burn oil(through the sparkplug)

 

[rawmk3]

i have been a toyota master tech since 97, worked on countless turbo cars including many supras. i shoulda been a little more specific, oil at the boost side of the turbo or excessiveoil in the charge pipes. most ct-26 turbos that i have seen seals go bad in have lost the compressor side oil seal, and commonly do not leak into the exaust side, they typically leak oil into the charge side under vaccume and then blow the oil into the air/fuel mix causing smoke. if you question the turbo at all check it for play. it is rediculously easy to check. just take the elbow off and push the compressor shaft side to side there should be little to no play, and the wheel should be clean(no oil ). if it is , your problem is somewhere else.


as for there only being three places for oil consumption to be coming from....wrong.

i have seen everything from a bad pvc valve to a bad headgasket cause iol consumption and quite a few other places in between. belive it or not i have even seen a valve cover gasket cause a car to burn oil(through the sparkplug)

Agree'd. That 3rd valve cover i believe its called is a bitch. That thing will leak oil like crazy. I pulled mine off and put a couple O rings on em to create a tight seal. Torqued em down to 20-25ft lbs I believed was the tq I set, and called it a day. Have had not 1 problem since then in that area. But him claiming oil only comes from 3 places is just plain dumb. A crack in the block or head would def cause some OIL issues.

 

[nightmare]

Alright... We'll have to be patient:aigo:. I won't have time to leakdown check the motor or check compression until this weekend. I checked the shaft play when I first got the car (4-weeks ago) it was fine. The PVC system was all ripped off from the previous owner. I have to make a catch can for it. And It could be smoking all the time... I might just only notice it at stops. But it does boost fine. so....... BHG maybe:icon_mad:.

 

[fixitman04]

Agree'd. That 3rd valve cover i believe its called is a bitch. That thing will leak oil like crazy. I pulled mine off and put a couple O rings on em to create a tight seal. Torqued em down to 20-25ft lbs I believed was the tq I set, and called it a day. Have had not 1 problem since then in that area. But him claiming oil only comes from 3 places is just plain dumb. A crack in the block or head would def cause some OIL issues.

the car i saw the valve cover gasket causing it on was not a toyota, just using it as an example, it was a ga-16 in a nissan sentra. the plugs are recessed like ours and the valve cover surrounds then with an o-ring, the plugs porcelin was cracked and the plug recess was full of oil. it was actually drawing oil through the porcelin on the intake stroke.

just making a point.

 

[nightmare]

Alright. I finally got to do a compression test finally.
no.1-155lbs
no.2-160lbs
no.3-151lbs
no.4-155lbs
no.5-160lbs
no.6-170lbs
So I don't think it dropped a ring. And I didn't get a pressure tester for the radiator. So I can do a leakdown test.
I've never had to add any coolant. And she's used 1 quart of oil since last fill up(330miles). My antifreeze looks like new. I pulled the drain on it and drained it to look at it.(So no oil in it). And the car doesn't smoke at every stop. It just does it when it wants to. I did check the shaft play and it has alittle play but it spins freely. And my intercooler pipes only had a light oily film in them.
So... It looks to be leaking oil from the exhaust side of the turbo. My plugs were clean. They were the perfect grayish-tan color. So...no signs of burning oil or coolant.
I know some people said to leave turbo rebuilding to the pro's. But is it really that hard to do.... or just a bad idea because you cant balance the compressor wheel?

 

[Rennat]

you can rebuild the turbo at your house, but dont count on it last long.... you dont have the tools or the equipment to assemble it and balance it like a true turbo shop could.

not to mention they could do it in 1/3 the time... haha

 

[nightmare]

Yeah... I figured it probably wouldn't last long. I'll just wait and send it out to get rebuilt. I want it done right. So the cars reliable. All I want is for a reliable car that hauls ass. I'm pretty happy running 10lbs of boost on a modified elbow and 3inch exhaust. With stock AFM and 440cc injectors.
What is the stock trim size on a ct26? I read somewher that a 50, 54, 57 trim is an upgrade. To me the 57trim sounds the best. So that's what I'll be running after a rebuild.

 

[ATL88Supra]

funny how people just LOVE to run to the old BHG bullshit..