Oil burning a lot under boost? [Compression Test Results]

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Oil burning a lot under boost? [Compression Test Results]

By Boods
- Mon Aug 22, 2011 11:50 am #268465 Hey guys, as you might'a seen in my build I've just got a T3/T4 put on the D15b7.

When driving it's burning a fair amount of oil, with lots of white smoke either when coming to a stop or under boost.

Believe now it could be the turbo oil seals? Any help'd be greatly appreciated.
Last edited by Boods on Tue Aug 23, 2011 12:23 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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By teal_dx
- Mon Aug 22, 2011 12:55 pm #268466 White smoke is coolant. Smoke with a bluish tint to it is oil. If you're burning coolant, I'd do a compression test because it usually means you have a bad head gasket.

By Boods
- Mon Aug 22, 2011 1:28 pm #268469 That's what I was thinking originally - assuming it was something like piston rings or the head gasket, however it definately smells like oil when burning.

Thing is there's no oil buildup on the plugs hence thinking it could be the turbo as well
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By teal_dx
- Mon Aug 22, 2011 1:31 pm #268470 If it's definitely oil and it strted when you put the turbo on, I'd definitely suspect the turbo seals :thumb:

well not really :thumb: cause that still sucks, but better than a bad head gasket :wink:

By Boods
- Mon Aug 22, 2011 1:45 pm #268471 yeah was my thinking too, it was a 2nd hand turbo which would explain it.

Are the seals replacable, or would it be better to just get another turbo instead of rebuilding this one?

By Boods
- Mon Aug 22, 2011 9:37 pm #268501 Seems to only smoke over 3k rpm [when the turbo spools up]. checked the intercooler piping and there was a tiny bit of soot in it rigt by the turbo, however took the exhaust mani off and it was just a lot of soot built up all around the ports..

Thinking the only way to see for sure it's the turbo is a compression test?
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By RWMIII
- Mon Aug 22, 2011 11:58 pm #268520
Boods wrote:yeah was my thinking too, it was a 2nd hand turbo which would explain it.

Are the seals replacable, or would it be better to just get another turbo instead of rebuilding this one?


the seals are replaceable. If it were me I would look at the price for rebuilding versus buying a new one. Whichever is the best bang for the buck I would do :thumb:
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By teal_dx
- Tue Aug 23, 2011 12:23 am #268525 CHeck the DIY thread list, I make a DIY on rebuilding a turbo. It's pretty simple and you only need a couple tools that you might not already have. A full rebuild kit is well under $100, even less if you don't need the full kit.

By Boods
- Tue Aug 23, 2011 12:15 pm #268563 Did a compression test earlier - 1 2 and 4 on 150psi and cyl 3 on 70psi. She's not sputtering or misfiring though, but at least we know the problem IS the engine and not the turbo now >.>

Burning a lot of oil and low compression in cyl 3, yet the engine is still running "alright" lol..

Oil stem seals or a ring?

By Boods
- Thu Aug 25, 2011 11:13 pm #269014 Did another compression test myself this time, and had no odd results, all were within 15PSI of each other - so problems back to the turbo.

Bought a replacement turbo spur of the moment, and now am regretting it as I've heard different oils can reduce the smoke drasticly [using a thicker oil]

Currently live in the UK and use 10w40 part synth. Been recommended 5w50 or 20w50]

Any input? Will get photos of my oil lines and need to get a guage pod to wire up the oil temp + pressure guages
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