She's picked up a filthy habit, smoking; such a dirty girl.

[Clawhammer]

So lately while I idle at a traffic light, after a few seconds of sitting there she'll start smoking out the tailpipe. A lot. A steady stream of smoke until I give it gas and rev it up, then it stops.

The smoke is gray, I guess. I don't know, it's smoke. It's not dark like unspent gas, it's not white and vapory like coolant. It might have a tint of blue or it could be my imagination. I can't smell it because I'm not gonna get out of my car in traffic and run back and sniff it like a spring breeze. The funny part is, when I get to my destination I'll get out and stand back there for like 5 minutes and it won't smoke at all. It's annoying.

As far as I've observed, it only does it once the car is warmed up. While it's still cold (and idling higher) there's no smoke.

Does anyone have any knowledge of these symptoms?

Coolant and oil levels have been steady over the last week.

Could I maybe have an injector that's hanging up? That'd be nice. I don't want it to be anything major lol.

Ideas guys? Thanks.

[sajori]

rings

[Driftnismo]

lmao, nice title, but ya I'm gonna go with rings, I have a bad third piston ring and it was smoking while driving, I've torn out my motor and tossed in my old KA24DE for the time being, just gonna rebuild my motor for fun

[Clawhammer]

Wouldn't it smoke all the time if it was the rings? Guess I'll have to find someone with a compression tester just to be sure.

[crzykrackr]

Mine did pretty much the same thing when my turbo was dying....

[boro drift]

TURBO. I had the same problem. You get smoke at idle because the turbo is spinning so slowly, the oil has a chance to run out of the cartridge. When you rev it up, the seal will start working again,(turbo seals are like tiny piston rings). I put a new S15 turbo on my red top and it hasn't smoked since.

[Clawhammer]

I've been needing an extra kick in the *** to get an S15 turbo...

[IanS]

I would put my money on a failed oil seal in the turbo. Whether you plan to rebuild your current turbo, or you plan to replace it, make sure to clean out the oil return line, the most common cause of blown turbo seals, is a restricted oil return.

[Clawhammer]

I guess my next question is, how long does she have?

[IanS]

I guess my next question is, how long does she have?

Keep an eye on your oil level, when my first turbo took a dump, I drove it for about 10,000 miles until I could afford a new one, it only smoked at idle, more when it was hot. Check your hot pipe, its likely the oil is only leaking into the exhaust, if thats the case, all you are going to do by driving it, is destroy you catalytic converter and oxygen sensor.

[boro drift]

FRsport.com sells the S15 turbo in a kit. It comes with everything you need to install it. The most important thing is the oil fitting on the turbo. It has a smaller orafice becauase a ball bearing turbo needs less oil than a journal bearing turbo. Also, once the cartridge of a turbo starts leaking oil out of either end, it's done. Turbo City told me this but I rebuilt the turbo on my Supra anyway. It slowed the consumption down but didn't stop it.

[IanS]

Also, once the cartridge of a turbo starts leaking oil out of either end, it's done. Turbo City told me this but I rebuilt the turbo on my Supra anyway. It slowed the consumption down but didn't stop it.

Thats not true at all. I rebuilt the T25 on my car now, it doesn't burn a drop of oil, and its been on the motor for 2 years and around 30,000 miles. Ive rebuilt more than a handful of turbos with great success. As long as you replace the seals, bearings and thrust plate, as well as clean everything properly, there is no reason a journal bearing turbo cannot be rebuilt.

[boro drift]

I stand corrected. Maybe my turbo was to far gone, or I damaged a seal.

[Koshin]

not to threadjack, but I am having a similar problem. My car idles perfect runs like a stocker but everyonce and I while when Im grannying around, I get tons of smoke out of the exhaust at idle, as soon as I get moving, no more smoke. It is white smoke, but doesnt smell like coolant. I did get out in traffic to smell it afew days ago. Any ideas...

**ENDING THREADJACK**

[boro drift]

Exact same thing my car did. It still ran good, but would smoke at idle when comming to a stop. After I replaced my turbo it hasn't smoked since.

[Clawhammer]

Looks like we've all had or have the same problem. She runs and idles great just like you guys.

I checked my hotpipe last week when I first noticed this and it's oil free. I don't have a cat and I'm suspicious my O2 doesn't work anyway.

I actually first noticed this a few months ago. I got off the interstate and was sitting on the off ramp waiting for the light when a giant plume of smoke flew past my window. When I got to my destination I got out and waited for smoke, revved it a few times and got nothing. I just assumed it was a car behind me. Then nothing till last week when this started (again).

Thanks guys.

[Koshin]

yeah but the finny thing is mine only does it like once every couple of weeks or so, very sparingly....I think that for some reason mine loads up on fuel for some reason every once and a while...BTW I'm not running a cat either...

Rich

[IanS]

yeah but the finny thing is mine only does it like once every couple of weeks or so, very sparingly....I think that for some reason mine loads up on fuel for some reason every once and a while...BTW I'm not running a cat either...

Rich

Sporadic oil leakage is a common symptom of a restricted oil drain.