the ute has started blowing smoke out the exhaust, my first thought was rings, but it only seemed to blow smoke after backing off and engine braking, i took off the dump pipes and found not much oil in the exhaust or back of the turbos. i degreased everything and left the car overnight, in the morning there was oil under the car and i traced it up to the back turbo which had a lot of oil inside the housing now

from this i decided the oil seal must be stuffed in the turbo, and i took it off and had it rebuilt. now i put the rebuilt turbo on and took off driving again. since then (only a week ago) it has been blowing a little bit of smoke after driving for say 15mins. but the last two days it's gotten a lot worse and pumping smoke almost constantly after driving for 10-15mins

initially i thought it was still blowing smoke cause there was probably left over oil in the exhaust from the dead seal

but last night i took the ute to my parents and left it there it was blowing smoke so bad

without pulling apart now i pressume it must be rings... but does this mean my turbo was ok?

im pretty confused

there is some blow by from the crank breather indicating the rings arnt entirely healthy but my turbo motors always had this even when they were going well


anyone able to shed some light on this one?

the other question is why would a setup make 15psi boost then after having a turbo rebuilt only make 8psi, but i wont even get started on that one here

Sounds a bit like something is getting hot and then leaking oil...?

Initially I thought valve guides when you said it smokes when backing off after accelarating. The inlet is under so much decompression when backing off it can suck oil down the guides if the they are excessively worn or the stem seals are stuffed...

Although it does sound a little like rings now when you say it smokes constantly, check the other turbo first, if no sign of oil.... unfortunately youll have to pull it out

How much power did you get out of it being an A15 Turbo, Im keen to see what sort of figure I may end up with???

Just thinking.... going from 15lbs to 8lbs.. sounds like one turbo isnt working?? Does it feel sluggish like ones not working??

have u got your oil lines perfectly vertical? i was told if they arent within 5 degrees of vertical that oil can back up and force itself out the seals into the housings.....

valve stem seals perhaps? also do a comp test that will confirm or deny the rings theory.

Are you a M.E.????

How about a compression test or a leak down test???

Have you checked how much vacum your runnin???

I have never had a close look at your setup but I'd suggest having a look at your oil return design. I gather because you are runnign twin turbos you were probably tight on space for sitting the things so you probably didn't get an ideal oil drain setup?

I put a turbo on my old FJ20 and had quite a shallow angle on the oil return pipe back to the sump and the thing pumped out smoke. The turbo was in good nick and there was nothing wrong with the motor. What I worked out was happening was that oil wasn't draining quick enough and when you get a build up in the low pressure part of the turbo core it can quite easily get past the seals.

Worth a look?