Garage Storage Organization and Garage Cabinets

william · **Smoke from turbo, or rings?**

What are the symptoms of rings, vs. turbo seal smoke?

Engine had new pistons and rings installed, and a used turbo purchased from a board member who said it did not smoke. New pistons and rings were put in, the block had about 20k kms in it since a hone job, and there was plenty of crosshatch. Rings haven't been "broken in" yet, but I have never had a rebuild smoke on me before. The car has only been in and out of the garage a couple times, less than 2 or 3 miles on it. Turbo spools fine.

There is plenty of blue/white smoke when revved. Idling, the exhaust looks fine, but when you rev it either idling or driving, it smokes. It doesn't smell specifically like burning oil, but it has a distinct blue tint to it. I will be doing a compression check next. My understanding is that a turbo would smoke fairly steadily, at idle after warming up? This is definitely related to engine load, so I am expecting it to be the rings, but I want to narrow it down before I go any further.
Stock airbox and PCV system on the car, and there is no indication any of the smoke is coolant related.

Thanks,

turbo-tease · 07-18-2007, 10:18 PM

This sounds exactly like what mine is doing also! I can't seem to figure out my problem either, mine is a 2.5 t1. what is yours?

impuresoul2k3 · 07-18-2007, 11:05 PM

I believe a bad turbo usually smokes when it hits boost, but I could be wrong

william · 07-19-2007, 10:04 AM

Mine is 2.2 TII. My understanding is that turbos start to smoke at idle after the engine warms up. I think the problem I am having is related to the rings not seating. This is the first time I have done a re-ring without a cylinder bore or hone, so I am not sure what to expect. I guess I will "break it in" and see where I am at...

87turbodance · 07-19-2007, 11:52 AM

My understanding is that you MUST hone the cylinders if the ring are changed or the rings wont seat.

90Acclaim · 07-19-2007, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 87turbodance

My understanding is that you MUST hone the cylinders if the ring are changed or the rings wont seat.

+1

**jim34** · 07-19-2007, 12:39 PM

Honing is mandatory, I use a medium stone and then a fine stone and my rings always seal up quick.
You could take it back apart and hone it and put it back together just have to buy new gaskets and your engine will run much nicer with higher compression readings you can see on the gauge.
In my experiance's with a bad turbo they usually leak from the exahust side so you wont see any oil on the plugs and if you do find oil on the plugs you will find large puddles of oil in the intake/intercooler piping if it is the turbo but if no oil in the pipes and wet plugs than its the engine

RPMurph · 07-19-2007, 01:20 PM

if it was rings, it would smoke most on engine braking and almost none when on the throttle/in boost

william · 07-20-2007, 10:45 AM

Thanks for the responses. There are lots of conflicting opinions on some of these things; it certainly makes for interesting reading.

jaysshelby78 · **turbo?**

I just had a turbo go bad. when you first start the car there was no smoke at all. after about 45 seconds the exhaust got hot enuff to burn the oil the turbo was leaking in there and it would smoke from then on. in boost, off boost, idle, reving ,it don,t matter. the plugs were all clean and nice.

Swapped out the turbo without pulling the head (easier than you think) and no more smoke. Turbo was leaking on the exhaust side, don,t know what they do if leaking on the other side. maybe this will help?

william · 07-23-2007, 09:55 AM

Yes, that helps, thanks!

markrochesterrc · 07-23-2007, 10:18 AM

when I blew my stock turbo, it smokes at idle. I thought it was rings... I removed the turbo, and started the car, no smoke...

I then realized the output of the turbo was covered in oil, I blew a seal.

rib256 · 07-23-2007, 10:52 AM

I have a stock T2, and mine would smoke at idle and deceleration. I found nothing on the spark plugs and my compression is great. I replaced the turbo Saturday, and no more smoke. I also picked up 2 pounds of boost and no lag.

Dodgeglht · 08-11-2007, 12:54 AM

Hmm, sounds like what my 85 2.2 T1 is doing. I thought it might be valve guides, but maybe it's my turbo. Only thing is the smoke eventually goes away.

**lotashelbys** · 08-11-2007, 02:15 AM

Ok,usually smoking on just start-up will have to do with valve stem seals. If it does during deceleration it usually is the exhaust side of the turbo is on its way out. Also between gears when you are you are in boost it will blow out a puff if the turbo is going. Mistus are way more notorious for doing this and dont last as long. I remember when I was big in 8valvers I had an 89 TII Garret I kept swapping between motors(dont ask) and the turbo was blowing smoke for 20K plus before finnaly getting too bad. The easiest way to tell if its too bad is if it has axel play. A little radial play never hurt anything