Smoking Turbo AGAIN? I am so depressed...

[mmtphoto]

I have owned this 88 daytona shelby z since it was new (thanksgiving 1987), and in early 2002 the thing started to smoke like a skywriter-I parked it, it sat for almost 6 years, and I bought a turbo and wastegate from Turbos Unlimited (Garrett) and installed it this past spring, and have put about 2000 miles on it-it runs great, boosts about 12 lbs, good on gas, smooth idle-I only drove it occasionally, the car is really clean and everything works still-the last time I took it out, I noticed a puff of smoke mostly when you leave a light or when it goes into minor boost (3-6 lbs>)- I kidded myself and thought maybe the power streering hose that leaks down by the rack was spraying oil, and that was it-I gunked it, parked it and it sat for a few days-until today...now, it smokes worse, out the tailpipe, when you get on it at all or off a stop-still runs perfectly, ...I am so bummed.

Is there any way I can determine if it is, in fact, the turbo, and not, maybe, a valve seal?

Anybody interested in a pristine, one owner, shelby - i can send photos, and am just north of Philadelphia.

[moparfreak3]

what color smoke are you getting?
White-coolant
Blueish-oil
Black-fuel(running rich)

[mmtphoto]

it is white-maybe a head gasket? it runs perfectly, so I doubt that, and from having gone through this once before with the turbo, it is supposed to be not probably that coolant line in turbo (around the bearing) is the cause of smoke...it's white smoke, though.

[crazymadbastard]

Pull the radiator cap off and see if you get bubbles- headgasket. If you have oil on the spark plugs it could be the valve seals or the rings. If you drop the downpipe and see up the wastegate and it is oily, then it is the turbo. Good luck- how much for it?

[detobias]

hard to tell what color smoke yur seeing sometimes...

anyhoo - I suggest a compression test to help diagnose if its a head gasket failure, after you check for bubblez

[mmtphoto]

good suggestions, i will look at the radiator tomorrow to see, it really runs like it always does though-perfectly smooth idle, quick off the line and strong pull when boosted up to 12 lbs, makes me crazy since I really just got it back after all those years of sitting. If it is the headgasket, why would it run the same? The smoke is white, no mistake, and there are no unusual engine noises--I called the insurance co today and put the car in 'suspension' so it is insured for vandalism and theft, but cannot be driven, $39 for six months, I am going to make room in the garage and park it there and decide what to do...

I spent a bunch of money on it this summer, new sony CD player, amp, speakers, tires, new brakes all around, strut brace, new poly motor mounts, interior and exterior are almost perfect, engine is immaculate, always fixed it with the best parts and babied it the whole 21 years I have had it-

what a drag, after a few days of feeling sorry for myself, I am going to figure out what the problem is and fix it.

[detobias]

valve seals do get hard and stop sealing after about 20 yrs or so

not *too* hard to check - pop off the VC .. could be replaced with head on the car if yur clever

when I got my head rebuilt I used the newer style dual spring teflon valve seals...

[mmtphoto]

well, I got under it today and checked it out-there is a little bit of oil on the gasket that is between the compressor and exhaust turbine housings, so it must be the seal...I am reading in other locations about restricters for the oil lines, and i have not removed the drain line to see if there is a blockage there yet, but I would have to doubt there would be-anyone know if a oil restricter is a good idea, where does it go, what size?

the PVC systems seems to be working properly, and I hooked up the tube from the air cleaner to the PVC, thinking that it might have something to do with it-no change.

since I bought this car (new, in 1987) I have religiously changed the oil in 2 to 3000 miles, have used synthetic since it became available, never overheated it, do not beat on it-I did remove the cat about 1000 miles after putting in the new turbo, think that has any bearing on the problem?

this turbo only has 2000 miles on it, so I am a pissed that it is smoking-I run 10W-30, good filters, do I really have to remove this turbo and get it fixed, again???

[jim34]

If there is no oil on the spark plugs and the compression is good then it probably is the turbo, maybe it wasn't rebuilt properly or it could be a restriction in the oil supply, overheating turbo from a lean mixture or even a boost leak causing the turbo to spin too fast

[mmtphoto]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jim34 If there is no oil on the spark plugs and the compression is good then it probably is the turbo, maybe it wasn't rebuilt properly or it could be a restriction in the oil supply, overheating turbo from a lean mixture or even a boost leak causing the turbo to spin too fast

plugs are clean, compression is even at 135-140 all cylinders, I need to remove the outlet tube to the turbo oil line to see if it is blocked at all-I have not 'overboosted' it, and do not beat on it-it will boost just past 12, but I rarely get it up there, I've had this car for over 20 years and really do not push it too hard-I am going back and forth with a guy in Arizona who does turbos and he is inclined to think that the PCV system may be an issue, thinks that crankcase pressure is a possibility. I may just remove the oil fill cap and see if that makes any difference at all, open to any and all ideas...

[midnighttoker]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmtphoto The smoke is white, no mistake

if its white smoke its a head gasket

[whE3Ls]

did you check the oil return line on the turbo. could be kinked and the oil cant leave teh turbo so it gets burnt.

[mmtphoto]

Quote:

Originally Posted by midnighttoker if its white smoke its a head gasket

it is not white, it looked white from the driver's seat, but it is a bluish white and smells like oil-absolutely from the turbo.

[86LaserXE-XT]

have you pulled the Valve cover and checked the valve stem seals?
I'm sure after 20 years they have got to be hard as a rock and possibly breaking up and will start to clog your oil pump pickup.

I'm thinking the seals because you said you get a puff of smoke when you get on it. or take off from a stop.
I've had the same problem before on other vehicals and it was the seals or wore out valve guides.

all the turbos I've known that had leaking seals, smoked like your old one did(ALOT)

a headgasket I'd think you'd notice your water level dropping occasionaly.

It could be the rebuilt turbo leaking I guess, but I'd go with the cheap/quick/easy fix and go for the valve seals. they can be replaced without removing the head or cam.

and for the love of all of us TD'ers here please post some pictures
sounds like a very nice car from your descriptions, one that I'd love to get my hands on maintained as well as you've described

[ButchSuppe]

Sounds like a head gasket, being blown you can get BOTH oil and coolant into a cyl. More than likely # 1 cyl. thats where they usaully blow. Have you checked the dipstick for milky oil ?