Turbo smoking!

[Wayside]

Alright so I've been reading and I really can't seem to find an answer for this problem I'm having.My Ca18det has a S15 Silvia Spec R T28 Dual Ball Bearing Turbo set to 1.0 Bar of boost right now. I recently Replaced the clutch in the car and while i was replacing the transmission one of the coolant lines for the turbo got in the way and came off, naturally some coolant came out. I had to reroute the line and fill the radiator. I was driving home and Car started overheating really bad. Got it home and ultimately decided that stock radiator was a total POS. Changed out the radiator running straight coolant through it, went to start it and turbo started smoking real bad. I bought a new waterpump, but I really don't think its related. Haven't had a chance to see if car is still overheating yet, because I haven't wanted to let the car run very long while the turbo is smoking like that.

My AFR is reading its running real lean, but I don't know if I can trust the reading, because prior to this issue the AFR would jump all over the place.

Any ideas guys??? I'm really stressed...

[r34 gtr]

How old is the turbo?

[The_Chosen_One]

Make sure you didnt kink the oil return line. Same thing happened with my GT28R, turned out the return line was kinked.

Where exactly is it smoking from? Exhaust, or around the turbo area?

[ca18detgabby]

what kind of a/f meter are you using? wideband vs narrow? if it jumped all over the place it sounds like you are using a narrow band which mean next to d!ck in reality.

the line being kinked would be my first guess as well, but what color smoke is it anyway?

being that everything resides around moving that line around...... seems to be like you already know what the issue is.

[Wayside]

Well, I recently bought this car which had been in a wreck and I've been workin on it for a little while now...I'm not sure how old that turbo is seeing as how it came with the car, but it may have been used...I have an invoice saying that the seals had been recently replaced and turbo had been rebuilt..color of the smoke is white.. There doesn't seem to be any kink in the line, it's steel braided and seems to be okay....I'm using an autometer afr gauge, but I don't know whether its a wideband or narrow...this is my first turbo vehicle...I've studied turbo motors in theory in automotive school, but not much experience, especially this motor. where is the AFR gauge hooked up?

[r34 gtr]

If you have a totally snazzy oxygen sensor with a whole crapton of wires (5) going to it, then yay, if not, then nay.

[ca18detgabby]

If you have a totally snazzy oxygen sensor with a whole crapton of wires (5) going to it, then yay, if not, then nay.

very discriptive.........

idk where you af gauge is connected..... Im sure their are wires attached to it........ follow them and report back your findings.

either that or go on autometers site and find your gauge........ should be easy enough.

with white smoke....... you sure you arent running rich???? and the white smoke is unburned fuel. a toast 02 sensor or even just a wire they shook loose when you were playing with things could easily be the reason your AF meter is reading otherwise.

running super lean is not a function of a blown turbo as far as I know.

[The_Chosen_One]

Just so you know GT28R or any GT Dual Ball Bearing by Garrett can not be rebuilt, once they go they become a paper weight.

[HighwayStar22]

white/grey smoke is oil.

I burned three T25's before I realized the banjo fitting of my oil feed was blocked after I checked the line, block, pressure, and just thought my turbo had gone bad.

My turbo seal was gone. Two seized, and one smoked really bad pouring oil into the dump and exhaust. Smoke at idle, but not under boost, and smoke off boost means the seal is toast and you're done.

My car smoked so bad at idle, on the way to my local shop I had people honking at me because it was so bad. It was a literal smoke screen at idle. Under power it went away though. lol Those were the days.

[Two-Fortee]

Overheating? Are you SURE its coming from the turbo and not the head. Could be burning coolant ie blown headgasket.

[Wayside]

Allright guys, so I checked it out today and there was a lot of stress on the oil return line, I moved to an other location where it could freely flow. At first it didn't smoke, but then it started up again (white, smoking at he exhaust too). It's having a real hard time idiling too. Not to mention theres oil all in the intercooler and piping.

I'm really afraid the turbo is blown now...or at least a seal/gasket on it. Are you guys positive that Garrett turbos can't be rebuilt? If that is the case anyone know where I can get an other S15 GT28R BB turbo at a decent price? Would a Greddy or even an ebay t3/t4 turbo work just as well? Once again, this is my first turbo motor and from what I've read the S15 GT28 BB turbo is the best for good street and track performance. Thanks for all the help!!

[HighwayStar22]

Allright guys, so I checked it out today and there was a lot of stress on the oil return line, I moved to an other location where it could freely flow. At first it didn't smoke, but then it started up again (white, smoking at he exhaust too). It's having a real hard time idiling too. Not to mention theres oil all in the intercooler and piping.

Sounds like it's hella blown. That's oil seeping into the turbine and compressor side from the seals.

[RS12Turbo]

you mentioned you are using straight coolant? Thats not a good thing either, as far as cooling goes. You need to be atleast running a 50/ 50 mix.......or use straight distilled water with a bottle of Water Wetter

[The_Chosen_One]

Yes GT Ball Bearing turbos can not be rebuilt. I was in your shoes before I got lucky though and was able to save my turbo since I got the smoke in time.

Also are you 100% sure its a S15 GT28R turbo? S14's came with exact looking turbos but some were non ball bearing. A way to check is the turbine housing has a fin thats round. This seperates the wastegate gases and turbine gases and helps to keep turbulance down.

If you get the serial number it can help determine if BB or not, its a silver plate near the oil inlet.

[Wayside]

Yea I'm sure its the s15 bb turbo...I am aware that a 50/50 mixture is called for, but I've ran straight coolant many times before on other cars and it always seems to cool perfectly. Is there any reason that would make this bad that you know of? I've never had a problem, so I thought I would try it since this motor runs really hot. Hmmm....I'm guessing its blown then, ebay/greddy t3/t4 turbo??? good priced s15 gt28r??

[Two-Fortee]

Just curious, but why would a blown turbo cause overheating?

Just trying to learn not be a d!ck

[Wayside]

A turbo is moving lots of hot air from the motor, and if it is not working properly naturally overheating will occur. Just hink of how fast a turbo is spinning, enough that it needs oil to help cool and lubricate the parts.

I checked it out some more today....I don't think it's blown!! generally a blown turbo will smoke from the exhaust not from the turbo itself. After finally geting to look at it in the day, I think that there is something else down in there burning...maybe something plastic or rubber that's too close to the wastegate. Either way I'm prety sure that its just a blown seal on the turbo and it is still salvagable. I started her today and she ran good and idled fine, no overheating either. She was making boost and running steady. After about 5 mins she started to miss and then finally smoked out the exhaust underboost, but I think still very much salvageable..I'm gonna pull the turbo and get the seal replaced. I'll keep you guys updated. Thanks for the help!