Turbo seals

[SharkDiver]

Is there a way to tell if your seals are bad without changing the DP and see if it smokes?Can I just look inside the turbo for oil or something like that?I really think my seals have been bad for awhile since I have to add oil more often then I think is normal but Im not really blowing any smoke.I still have the stock DP but I do have a race pipe.

Thanks,Shark

 

[AutoXRacer]

That would be pretty hard to see since the turbo housing gets so hot to burn off the oil...but there should be some black residue left on the impellers though...

 

[SharkDiver]

There must be a way to check it..I know when I removed my midpipe to install my racepipe there was alot of oil in the stock pipe when I removed it.

 

[subparpunk03]

Have you tried calling up the dealer and saying something like "I have heard many people having problems with their turbo seals, is there a way to check if I have this problem?"

You may need to talk to a master tech instead of the service rep.

Unfortunately I don't have the mechanical know-how to really address this problem, but it sounds to my amateur brain like if there's a fair amount of oil in your exhaust / intercooler its a good bet you will get the smoke.

 

[SharkDiver]

Have you tried calling up the dealer and saying something like "I have heard many people having problems with their turbo seals, is there a way to check if I have this problem?"

You may need to talk to a master tech instead of the service rep.

Unfortunately I don't have the mechanical know-how to really address this problem, but it sounds to my amateur brain like if there's a fair amount of oil in your exhaust / intercooler its a good bet you will get the smoke.

No I didnt ask them anything..I did have the car in the shop for using to much oil about 6 months ago and they said it was normal to have to keep adding oil.I bet they never check my turbo.My car has to go in soon for the check valve tsb thing,Cruise control button not working and seized O2 sensors (I cant unscrew them).I will talk to them about checking my turbo.

Any other ideas on how I could check the turbo myself since I dont trust dealer to check stuff.

 

[speed3shon]

ive taken mine to the dealer twice for smoke, and they were unable to replicate it...

yet it smokes at WOT in 3rd 90% of the time...

i want them to see it...

 

[tru-boost]

people have been mistaking this for a long time now, even me for a while. the smoke from exhaust mods in RARELY a turbo seal problem. the smoke comes from the change in backpressure, and the way the PCV system operates because of it. if your turbo seals were bad you would know it. there woud not be smoke one day, and then go away the next because you put a cat back on it. the fix is simple, the same fix ALL OTHER turbo cars use for the same issue. put a oil catch can on it !! it has worked for a few ms6's and i will do it myself when i gat some exhaust on my car again.

 

[AutoXRacer]

people have been mistaking this for a long time now, even me for a while. the smoke from exhaust mods in RARELY a turbo seal problem. the smoke comes from the change in backpressure, and the way the PCV system operates because of it. if your turbo seals were bad you would know it. there woud not be smoke one day, and then go away the next because you put a cat back on it. the fix is simple, the same fix ALL OTHER turbo cars use for the same issue. put a oil catch can on it !! it has worked for a few ms6's and i will do it myself when i gat some exhaust on my car again.

So how do you explain the owners without smoke who have exhaust mods? (huh)

 

[Tagkat]

Some cars are smoking continuously at idle that are stock. Some cars smoke continuously after exhaust modifications. However the ones that smoke one day then not the next there is something else wrong most likely not the seals.

You could check your oil levels and see if it's losing oil.

 

[SharkDiver]

My car doesnt smoke and never really has,It just uses more oil then I think is normal.Then when I removed my stock midpipe there was oil in it.I was just thinking that the stock Cats stop it from smoking for some reason and I still have the stock DP with the Cat..
I was just really wondering if there was a way to check the seals so I could rule the turbo as ok or not ok.

Thanks

 

[matt8679]

This is what one of the guys told me at the dealership. Take the car out and bring it to operating temp. Then let the car sit at idle for 5 to 10 min. rev the engine a few time after it has been sitting and if you see blue smoke you may have a bad seal.

 

[mk_slayr]

I usually get white smoke, but it has a real acrid smell to it, very much like unburnt fuel. Usually happens when I'm at idle after I just got on the boost. Usually have to idle for 10-15 min, though it has happened it traffic before. Usually a blip of the throttle will eliminate the smoke though.

Lots of questions.....
I can read up on catch cans if some one wants to post a site, heading out now though.
How hard is it to install a catch can? What brand makes the best kit? How does a catch can work? If I install a catch can will it prevent smoke if my seals are leaking? If it fills with oil is that a sign I have bad seals?

-mk

 

[tru-boost]

This is what one of the guys told me at the dealership. Take the car out and bring it to operating temp. Then let the car sit at idle for 5 to 10 min. rev the engine a few time after it has been sitting and if you see blue smoke you may have a bad seal.

he is wrong. if a turbo has a bad seal it will be most noticeable under heavy throttle. if you see it at idle while at operating temp (what my car did) or when accelerating after an idle period, it is most likely pcv blow by. that is how the PCV system works. under idle air is drawn in through the breather tube that connects to the intake tube. the air travels through the crank case and into the intake manifold. it is very common for that ait to carry oil vapor along with it. and what happens when oil gets into the intake and burnt....??? smoke !!!

 

[matt8679]

he is wrong. if a turbo has a bad seal it will be most noticeable under heavy throttle. if you see it at idle while at operating temp (what my car did) or when accelerating after an idle period, it is most likely pcv blow by. that is how the PCV system works. under idle air is drawn in through the breather tube that connects to the intake tube. the air travels through the crank case and into the intake manifold. it is very common for that ait to carry oil vapor along with it. and what happens when oil gets into the intake and burnt....??? smoke !!!

Just passing what the dealer said!

 

[SloaneSloane]

It would be nice to know how to check it before you put on a DP and smoke all day long like i do now. I am going to a mazda3 meet on sunday just to show off my smoke. Driving my car to work everyday is embarrassing, its the best when im at a stop light and can see my smoke cloud passing my car.

 

[HIGHBRED8]

you removed the mid pipe and found oil? that ive never had happen on any car ive owned. 3 of witch were decently modded turbo cars and one was a n/a converted to turbo. and the smell should smell like burnt oil not fuel. the srt would reek of fuel with the straight through exhaust and pop a flame here and there so that clearly was fuel. but ive never seen oil pooling in my exhasusts before, intake tract sure but never exhaust. how often and how much oil are you having to add? for a brand new car this thing has issues my 97 oldsmobile did.

mental to self. no modding until these type of post become archive material.

 

[Andrade08]

Oil in your exhaust pipes is not a blow by problem. That is going to be bad Turbo seals. Oil in your intake/boost tubes and the IC is a blow by PCV/breather issue. I just changed my boost tubes and there was oil in the hot side tube. That is fom Mazda not doing a bang up job on the PCV system. Every MS3 out there could benifit from an oil catch can/tank system. I am going to start looking into a set up after what I saw yesterday. It wasn't a ton of oil but it was real wet and built up in the low spots. This oil in your intake system will never see your exhaust in a wet form. It will be burnt to chit by then.

 

[AWDRACER6]

I usually get white smoke, but it has a real acrid smell to it, very much like unburnt fuel. Usually happens when I'm at idle after I just got on the boost. Usually have to idle for 10-15 min, though it has happened it traffic before. Usually a blip of the throttle will eliminate the smoke though.


-mk

Mine does the exact same thing now. I didnt have smoke coming out when i had the stock exhaust. But now with the cat back on there it smokes after long idles.

 

[AWDRACER6]

I still think he is asking HOW to check the turbo for bad seals......

 

[voiceKoil]

people have been mistaking this for a long time now, even me for a while. the smoke from exhaust mods in RARELY a turbo seal problem. the smoke comes from the change in backpressure, and the way the PCV system operates because of it. if your turbo seals were bad you would know it. there woud not be smoke one day, and then go away the next because you put a cat back on it. the fix is simple, the same fix ALL OTHER turbo cars use for the same issue. put a oil catch can on it !! it has worked for a few ms6's and i will do it myself when i gat some exhaust on my car again.

Just curious, how would the catch can help? I know it pulls oil and and moisture from your intake, and "catches it", but if your seals are blown I dont think a catch can would solve the issue.

Or are you saying JUST if you have this issue when an exhaust is installed? That if it is not turbo related?