Hey guys, got a question that’s stumping me. I have a boosted LS on stock internals that’s been tuned for roughly 6 months. Running great, no problems until recently.
In the last month, when I beat on it and I’m on the gas I see white smoke coming from the rear. I ran a compression check today after letting the car sit for half an hour, and I’m at 180, 175, 180, 180. Prior to the turbo install I was 185, 180, 185, 185 and had a leak down loss of 7%, 8%, 6%, 7%. I didn’t do a leak down test today since the compression test looks similar to what it was prior to the turbo install.
There is no coolant in the oil, I checked the dip stick and also took the valve cover off. There’s no oil in the coolant, the overflow tank is fine, and it doesn’t burn oil or coolant so I’m pretty sure it’s not the headgasket.
It’s not the rings as I thought might be the culprit prior to the compression test, so with that also out what could it be?
what’s the temperature? we’ve had some cooler days here lately that affects that a bit. if none of your level’s went down i wouldn’t really worry about it. maybe do a leak down test to make sure.
If everything on the car is good as you say it is, then could be the seal in the turbo. 90% of time you will get exact concern as you have. Your turbo may just need rebuilt, or new seal.
I’ll do a leak down next, not sure when with the holiday weekend. Outside temps have been 80ish, nothing crazy.
Turbo is 6 months old, bought it brand new. If it does need to be rebuilt how do I check? The shaft play is an indicator?
Fuel issues would be black smoke, not white. I use 93 octane so it’s not low octane or water in the fuel since it doesn’t sit in the tank. Bad injectors I doubt they’re also 6 months old. What symptoms are there for a bad intercooler, which also is 6 months old.
After having a turbo rebuilt (a garret) and whatching the tech do the rebuild I was shown there are no oil seals in a turbo. At least not the garret I had or any I have worked with.
It sounds to me that your losing that ring and getting some bad blow by under boost. If you were losing oil from the turbo you can tell on the intake side by pulling the IC pipe and rubbing your finger in there. If you get oil wamo turbo’s leaking and need to check end play on the shaft. If no coolant in oil and head gaskets good along with those compression numbers sounds like the rings. I have seen a cracked ring do this before. Only burn oil under boost. Seeing smoke in the rearview under boost while driving can be mistaken on color depending on how much smoke your getting. Just throwing what I can your way from things Ive seen whith similar issues.