lewis hill Posted April 10, 2015 Share Posted April 10, 2015 Hi lads recently started to smell oil coming from exhaust when at traffic lights and get a puff of smoke come past passenger side window. Its not very thick, as soon as i see it at the window it disappears. It only seems to come once i start boosting, only seem to get one puff and thats it. I have quite a dirty sooty exhaust tip, not sure if thats making the smell once warm? Im hoping its not the dreaded turbo seals I have contacted lee at SRD but he is quite busy at the moment so trying to work out the problem myself. Any help would be much appreciated! Thanks Lewis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benjy Posted April 10, 2015 Share Posted April 10, 2015 Have you noticed it at all on start up? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lewis hill Posted April 10, 2015 Author Share Posted April 10, 2015 Have you noticed it at all on start up? Nope nothing at start up, I have read quite a bit about turbo seals and vss so I've been looking out for it but just trying to get more specific info. People seem to say quite heavy smoke but mine seems to disappear quickly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
st3ven1 Posted April 10, 2015 Share Posted April 10, 2015 (edited) I'm guessing you're fully decatted? Basically a puff of blue smoke every time you stop at traffic lights(for instance)? If so, sounds like the turbo seal, fairly sure that's what happened to one of my TT's and one of the turbos went fairly soon after. Edited April 10, 2015 by st3ven1 (see edit history) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rider Posted April 10, 2015 Share Posted April 10, 2015 It does sound like a turbo seal is on its way out but there are other things you can easily check for. Is the oil level correct in volume and colour? If it is then its not overfilled or likely to be a head gasket problem. Worn valve guides could be another cause but that's not going to suddenly have happened. So, I'd recon on turbo seals which is an expensive bummer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lewis hill Posted April 10, 2015 Author Share Posted April 10, 2015 I'm guessing your fully decatted? Basically a puff of blue smoke every time you stop at traffic lights(for instance)? If so, sounds like the turbo seal, fairly sure that's what happened to one of my TT's and one of the turbos went fairly soon after. I believe 2nd decat only. Only had car about a month and a half. I don't see any hint of blue smoke so my guess is turbo seals? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lewis hill Posted April 10, 2015 Author Share Posted April 10, 2015 It does sound like a turbo seal is on its way out but there are other things you can easily check for. Is the oil level correct in volume and colour? If it is then its not overfilled or likely to be a head gasket problem. Worn valve guides could be another cause but that's not going to suddenly have happened. So, I'd recon on turbo seals which is an expensive bummer. Damn! Last thing I need as car is in Bodyshop soon lol any idea of cost? Obviously varies to state of turbos etc but looking at 1k ish? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benjy Posted April 10, 2015 Share Posted April 10, 2015 I'd imagine £250 for a known good, 2nd hand pair of J-Spec turbo's, and the same again for labour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rider Posted April 10, 2015 Share Posted April 10, 2015 It'd probably be better if a mod moved this thread to the technical section. You can get uprated steel wheel (UK spec) recon turbos for around the £600 from renowned traders. I looked into it a year or so back but my ceramics just keep on turning just fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lewis hill Posted April 10, 2015 Author Share Posted April 10, 2015 Okay thanks for the help lads. So you think 250 odd to fit? I was hoping for 750 ish all in max. Anyone know a reputable trader that would fit for that sort of price? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lewis hill Posted April 10, 2015 Author Share Posted April 10, 2015 I'm not sure if I have UK spec turbos, does anyone know the cost of refurb? I appreciate it depends on condition but what's the normal expected price? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitch79 Posted April 10, 2015 Share Posted April 10, 2015 Mine did exactly the same, got gradually worse over a year. Then bought whifbitz hybrids, labour was around 700! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lewis hill Posted April 10, 2015 Author Share Posted April 10, 2015 (edited) Mine did exactly the same, got gradually worse over a year. Then bought whifbitz hybrids, labour was around 700! Ouch that's exiensive!! Aren't the hybrids like 1k? So they lasted okay for a year? if they fail, does it cause much damage? My first turbo car so getting used to all this technical stuff haha Edited April 10, 2015 by lewis hill (see edit history) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitch79 Posted April 10, 2015 Share Posted April 10, 2015 I asked similar questions, they probably could of gone a lot longer, but it was annoying the hell out of me! As my only car, I'd see smoke quite regular ha. About 1k aye. I honestly don't know if the fail due to the seal, as its my first venture into the turbo too. My answer was to chuck money at it and hope it stuck :-) So far so good, only had 2 weeks of driving since done tho. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lewis hill Posted April 10, 2015 Author Share Posted April 10, 2015 I asked similar questions, they probably could of gone a lot longer, but it was annoying the hell out of me! As my only car, I'd see smoke quite regular ha. About 1k aye. I honestly don't know if the fail due to the seal, as its my first venture into the turbo too. My answer was to chuck money at it and hope it stuck :-) So far so good, only had 2 weeks of driving since done tho. Okay mate thank you for that, you was pretty much in the same boat as me lol it's my daily so don't want to risk it too much! How many miles did you do in that space of time with leaking seals? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitch79 Posted April 10, 2015 Share Posted April 10, 2015 Around 6-7k Id say. Went bpu in May last year, then couple of weeks later started to notice it. Bought the hybrids at Christmas, and finally got them fitted a month ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lewis hill Posted April 10, 2015 Author Share Posted April 10, 2015 Around 6-7k Id say. Went bpu in May last year, then couple of weeks later started to notice it. Bought the hybrids at Christmas, and finally got them fitted a month ago. Okay thanks, pretty much the mileage I do at the moment anyway. Just wanted to know if I can run it like this for a few weeks while I save up really, you've eased my mind a bit now lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitch79 Posted April 10, 2015 Share Posted April 10, 2015 Yeh I'd have thought so. Just check the oil. Sure some guys on here ran there's a lot longer than me. But it was embarrassing at junctions smogging out pedestrians haha. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lewis hill Posted April 10, 2015 Author Share Posted April 10, 2015 Yeh I'd have thought so. Just check the oil. Sure some guys on here ran there's a lot longer than me. But it was embarrassing at junctions smogging out pedestrians haha. Hahaha yeah that's it, just looks like your car is about to go pop! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hitbox Junkie Posted April 10, 2015 Share Posted April 10, 2015 Save up and get then done. just take it easy but it isnt a good thing to drive it with that fault hopfully getting them sorted will fix your problem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starbuck Posted June 8, 2015 Share Posted June 8, 2015 Damn, looks like I might have the same issue. noticed it a few weeks ago and doing about 175miles a week at the moment, so need to get this addressed. Excuse for upgrades? Good thread guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
v6shep Posted June 9, 2015 Share Posted June 9, 2015 Not sure what the outcome is here, but I know of a guy on my round where I deliver who recons turbos (if that's the issue) as a hobby as he left his old place of work for a new job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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