How do you know if the turbo is blown?

I_H8_1.8 · Post by **I_H8_1.8** » Mon Mar 22, 2004 8:50 pm

I noticed today that there was some smoke coming off of the front of the turbine side of the turbo, and it smells like burning oil. It looked like there was some on one of the bolts in the turbine housing on the driver's side of the turbo. Is it likely that the seals are leaking? The turbo seems to be working fine. Any info/suggestions would be appreciated, as I did a search and didn't come up with much.

ciper · Post by **ciper** » Mon Mar 22, 2004 11:06 pm

Id check valve cover gaskets.

I_H8_1.8 · Post by **I_H8_1.8** » Mon Mar 22, 2004 11:11 pm

I'll take a look, but I just replaced them, and I made double sure they were torqued correctly.

ciper · Post by **ciper** » Mon Mar 22, 2004 11:14 pm

Okay even better, the O-Ring for the rear cam.

legacy92ej22t · Post by **legacy92ej22t** » Tue Mar 23, 2004 3:47 am

Is it dripping on your up-pipe and burning off? If so then the rear cam seal on the passengerside (as mentioned by ciper) or the oil supply line that comes from the back of the passengerside head for the turbo is probably leaking.

I_H8_1.8 · Post by **I_H8_1.8** » Tue Mar 23, 2004 4:07 am

I took another look at it tonight. It was dark, but from what I could tell, it looks like there was some oil on the backside of the center section/front part of the exhaust side, on the little flat part of the uppipe flange. If it's not coming from the center section of the turbo, the only other thing close by that I could see is the oil return hose, which looked dry. The smoke is definitely coming off of the turbo itself; at least it's burning off from there. I'll have to try and check it again during the day, when I can hopefully see everything better. The valve cover looks fine, and all the bolts are tight. Unless it's spraying from the rear cam seal, it doesn't look like it could get to where it's burning off from the cam seal. Also, the oil feed line is dry, the banjo bolt is tight, and it's dry around where the line bolts to the turbo. All of this is making me think the seals are shot inside the turbo, but I really don't know for sure.

ciper · Post by **ciper** » Tue Mar 23, 2004 4:08 am

Does it smell like oil, it could also be coolant smoke.

I_H8_1.8 · Post by **I_H8_1.8** » Tue Mar 23, 2004 4:22 am

Yeah, it's definitely oil. I have a fair amount of experience smelling both from my turbo projects!

I_H8_1.8 · Post by **I_H8_1.8** » Wed Mar 24, 2004 2:39 am

I took the turbo off tonight, and there is a bunch of oil where the center section meets the exhaust housing. I think I'll need a new turbo.

Pics can be seen here:
http://www.rs25.com/forums/showthread.p ... post214603

NICO · Post by **NICO** » Wed Mar 24, 2004 8:47 am

is there white smoke comeing out of your exhuste. how much boost do u run and how many Ks on the motor with that turbo.

vrg3 · Post by **vrg3** » Wed Mar 24, 2004 5:05 pm

This may be a dumb question, but are the oil lines to the turbo solid, particularly the feed line on top? You might want to try changing the copper gaskets on the feed line just in case. Someone may have removed the line once and reused the gaskets even though you're not supposed to.

I_H8_1.8 · Post by **I_H8_1.8** » Wed Mar 24, 2004 7:33 pm

I get some smoke from the exhaust, but it's from running extremely rich. I'm running about 9 lbs of boost on the stock RHB5 turbo. I don't know the mileage for sure, as it came from a junkyard that told me it was from a '93, but I found out with vrg3's help that it's actually a '91.

I checked the oil feed line, and it is completely dry. I got a new banjo bolt and washers before I installed it. It's definitely coming from the bottom somewhere; either the oil seal or possibly the oil drain tube gasket.

NICO · Post by **NICO** » Thu Mar 25, 2004 11:25 am

check all your rubber hoses, pcv and your blow off valve. if there all ok i would say your turbo is smoked, but how my turbo still works after 20years of 18psi.

THAWA · Post by **THAWA** » Thu Mar 25, 2004 3:14 pm

how do you have a 20 year old turbo?

I_H8_1.8 · Post by **I_H8_1.8** » Thu Mar 25, 2004 5:16 pm

check all your rubber hoses, pcv and your blow off valve. if there all ok i would say your turbo is smoked, but how my turbo still works after 20years of 18psi.

I checked everything before pulling the turbo; however, almost the entire pcv system is new, and I've had the bypass valve on the car for a while now, so I'd say that's okay. I went to a local performance shop and had two people look at it, and both of them said the carbon seals were likely shot. I certainly don't doubt it from the way the turbo looks, so I'm now looking for a WRX turbo.

I was also wondering about the 20 year old turbo!

NICO · Post by **NICO** » Thu Mar 25, 2004 10:53 pm

sorry i made a mistake i was thinking of some thing else 12years old. i get so stoned some times.

I_H8_1.8 · Post by **I_H8_1.8** » Fri Mar 26, 2004 12:17 am

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How do you know if the turbo is blown?

How do you know if the turbo is blown?