just started smoking - turbo options

[corner-hard]

ok - so my 08 ms3 has 40k miles, very well maintained. Today I start to slightly smoke (white/bluish) and then at a long idle - lots of smoke(boom01).

So my question is: should I just rebuild the stock turbo or can I upgrade to the GT2871r on stock internals? I am running the HyperTech tune (liking it so far) with a few bolt-ons (ets topmount, inlet pipe, short ram and cat back).

I've checked my oil level and its normal. Is it harmful to continue to drive while she intermittently smokes?
Thanks.(thought)

 

[axisboldaslove]

ditch the hypertech (since you can't get a custom tune on it) get a bigger turbo, keep it on low boost, pick up a cpe standback and get a custom tune....GT series turbos = no more smoking....should be fine on stock internals as long as u get a safe tune

 

[Wurf]

ditch the hypertech (since you can't get a custom tune on it) get a bigger turbo, keep it on low boost, pick up a cpe standback and get a custom tune....GT series turbos = no more smoking....should be fine on stock internals as long as u get a safe tune

What might he expect to pay for all this?

• Bigger Turbo
• CPE Standback
• Custom Tune
• Ancilliary parts - larger TIP, new MANI, better IC

 

[Jchouin1]

ok - so my 08 ms3 has 40k miles, very well maintained. Today I start to slightly smoke (white/bluish) and then at a long idle - lots of smoke(boom01).

So my question is: should I just rebuild the stock turbo or can I upgrade to the GT2871r on stock internals? I am running the HyperTech tune (liking it so far) with a few bolt-ons (ets topmount, inlet pipe, short ram and cat back).

I've checked my oil level and its normal. Is it harmful to continue to drive while she intermittently smokes?
Thanks.(thought)

I love my 2871. It boosts early enough to load up the engine in lower rpms, so you still need to be mindful of the rods as with the K04. 15psi or so should put a smile on your face, but you will need a dp to use it. It really is nice having a turbo that can efficiently boost to redline. Just keep the boost reasonable and you'll be ok on stock internals.

 

[corner-hard]

so has anyone worked with any turbo rebuilding companies like Protege Garage or BNR? Protege Garage is quite a bit cheaper but I've had a few buddies have communication problems with them.

 

[Jackis]

Just a quick question - why are you targeting only turbo replacement options (and other relevant stuff which coems from BT - rods, pistons and so on)?
When I started smoking just as you described - I did just turbo repair kit (bearings replacement and rebalancing for 200$) and PTP pill in PCV hose (25$). 2 months have been passed - no smoke so far. Guys who did turbo reassembling said me it was fine for them and I could even just put it back, but I decided to do it just for the case
What you do describe is not turbo seals fail for me but PCV system fail...

 

[Wurf]

Just a quick question - why are you targeting only turbo replacement options (and other relevant stuff which coems from BT - rods, pistons and so on)?
When I started smoking just as you described - I did just turbo repair kit (bearings replacement and rebalancing for 200$) and PTP pill in PCV hose (25$). 2 months have been passed - no smoke so far. Guys who did turbo reassembling said me it was fine for them and I could even just put it back, but I decided to do it just for the case
What you do describe is not turbo seals fail for me but PCV system fail...

Sort of the point of my post.
Do you want to fix just the smoking problem or put thousands into your motor upgrading it and fixing the smoking problem as a side benefit?

 

[axisboldaslove]

he could just upgrade the turbo without mani, dp, fmic....only real thing he would need is a larger diameter TIP...even though i wouldn't recommend going this route

just running an atp turbo will run cooler engine temps and BATs which is another benefit of a Bigger Turbo

 

[axisboldaslove]

What might he expect to pay for all this?

• Bigger Turbo
• CPE Standback
• Custom Tune
• Ancilliary parts - larger TIP, new MANI, better IC

Depends on if he wants to stay with the stock flange..if so then ATP & BNR is his only choice as far as Bigger Turbo (PG, PTP) aren't bigger turbos they can just flow more then the stocker due to lighter and larger turbo internals and make more power then the stock turbo but ultimately they are still K04s (compressor wheel, clipped turbine blade, exhaust housing is PnP and they come with better seals)...if ur just looking to upgrade the stocker then i would go with the PG Reworked K04 great product for the price you can't beat it as with a lot of PG products also.

But if you wanted to upgrade to a Bigger Turbo and stay with the stock flange then ATP would be the choice..if you wanna do it right here is the ESTIMATE on a price list

ATP Turbo - $1,500 - $1,800 (seen them new for $1,500)
Used ATP Turbo $900+(Just sold my 3071R for $925 used less then 10K miles)
CPE SB (Used) - $500+
Tune - $250 an hour...takes about 2 Hrs *mostly
PG FMIC - $599
Larger TIP - Used $200+
Mani -Used $350+ New $500+
DP - New $300+ Used $175 +

Don't expect 400+HP with the ATP turbos though i had a 3071R and prolly would have made only 350-370HP give or take due to the stock flange not being able to push a lot of exhaust gas out compared to a T3

Or

You can go with a custom T3 Setup like me and do a turbo upgrade the correct way with out the ATP fail flange

 

[Wurf]

What about the BNR Hybrid?
I kind of liked that idea as it is PNP and eliminates two weaknesses of the stock K04 - the seals and the shaft.

 

[axisboldaslove]

What about the BNR Hybrid?
I kind of liked that idea as it is PNP and eliminates two weaknesses of the stock K04 - the seals and the shaft.

i personally think the BNR's are too expensive and are still too small..
thats just my opinion and i don't wanna start a flame war...

it ultimately depends on your power goals

if ur willing to get some custom work done for a T3 setup like mani and dp...once you buy the mani and dp your turbo options for T3s are endless and will flow more then the stock flanged turbo and let alone T3 turbos are more inexpensive then stock flanged Bigger Turbos New or Used

also

BNR upgrades are still the stock flange so as yes it is an upgrade...but you can only flow so much exhaust out of the stock flange...and again

DEPENDS on how much you wanna spend and what your GOALS are

if i was OP and i am just looking to upgrade the stocker and don't wanna spend a lot of money and don't mind a little bump in power and don't have big HP goals...then like i said earlier i would go with the PG Reworked K04...i had one and it was great!

 

[_MSprotegy]

what i dont get is why get a "big" turbo but only run low boost? its like haveing a chick with huge jugs and not motor boating them.

 

[axisboldaslove]

what i dont get is why get a "big" turbo but only run low boost? its like haveing a chick with huge jugs and not motor boating them.

actually it's not...

bigger turbos upgrades at least anything that isn't a reworked K04 or ptp sst are gonna bump up your torque curve a little to a lot more depending on how big you go...which is better for the life and rods of the DISI MZR motors

by upgrading to a bigger turbo your BATs and engine temps are going to be way lower then the stocker...which is a huge benefit

(if i was on a stock motor like OP) I would run low boost on a Bigger Turbo to be mindful that the stock rods suck ass

yes there are many members (maybe not on this forum) that are running Bigger Turbos on higher boost levels on stock internals...which they got big balls for doing so but the ones making big numbers also have really good tunes and tuners to help make that possible

 

[corner-hard]

Well as an update: yesterday at 11am I changed the oil early (by about 850miles) and switched to 5w40 full synthetic. I have yet to get the smoke as of this morning. I have the PT Performance "pill" on order - hoping that the problem wont be an issue for a long time.

 

[Jchouin1]

what i dont get is why get a "big" turbo but only run low boost? its like haveing a chick with huge jugs and not motor boating them.

hahahahahahahaha, lol

 

[Wurf]

Well as an update: yesterday at 11am I changed the oil early (by about 850miles) and switched to 5w40 full synthetic. I have yet to get the smoke as of this morning. I have the PT Performance "pill" on order - hoping that the problem wont be an issue for a long time.

Thicker oil and PCV mods - A much more affordable solution to the problem of smoking if it works.

 

[cleancutx]

Sorry if I didn't catch this, but you only have 40k miles, don't you still have power train warranty?

 

[SallySpeed3]

I have the PTP pill as well but I was still getting smoke every now and then, only after first start up. I used ATR to set my idle at 900 and no problems since (knock on wood). Come time for oil change I'll also have them use 5w40 or 10w40 synthetic.

 

[Wurf]

I have the PTP pill as well but I was still getting smoke every now and then, only after first start up. I used ATR to set my idle at 900 and no problems since (knock on wood). Come time for oil change I'll also have them use 5w40 or 10w40 synthetic.

Interesting - I don't see any exhaust mods in your sig, yet you've had smoking issues?

 

[sok07]

Pull your intercooler and check to see if you have any accumulations of oil in it. If so, clean it out and see if the problem reoccurs.

In my case, a disconnected line on the catch can (EliteEngineering catch can) was the cause of my smoke at idle condition. The line slipped off on the crankcase side attached to the stock pcv was not allowing the valve to open during vacuum. So it was causing oil to blow by. I reconnected the line, and car still smoked. It wasn't until I pulled the TMIC and cleaned out all the oil with carb cleaner and dried it did the smoking stop.